‘McLaughlin, as noted earlier, was not a fit man. Once down on all fours, getting up again wouldn’t have been an easy movement. The likelihood was that he collapsed forward on death, and was found in that position.’

‘So,’ Richie said as they disrobed and stuffed their suits into the waiting basket, ‘did that help point the finger at anyone in particular?’

‘Someone who can wield a knife and who perhaps had a desire for revenge,’ Rhona said.

‘Was he a suspect in the Mary McIntyre case?’

‘Everyone who lived on that street in 1975 is a suspect. McLaughlin submitted to a DNA swab and it didn’t find a match on anything we took from Mary’s remains or the grave,’ Rhona told him.

‘Though he may have known something that he wasn’t willing to share with the police?’ Richie said.

‘That was always a possibility,’ Rhona agreed.

‘I saw that he was giving interviews to the press about the Street of Evil he was forced to live on as a child.’

‘He had, according to Magnus, a fine conceit of himself,’ Rhona confirmed.

‘So where does that leave you with the Mary McIntyre case?’

‘We continue with our examination and tests from the body, clothes and the locus, and hope we find a way to identify Mary’s killer.’

‘Which will take a lot longer than an autopsy.’

‘A lot longer. Not that I’m disputing the skill involved in forensic pathology,’ Rhona said with a smile.

‘I’m sorry the forensic dinner didn’t go so well,’ Richie said, changing the subject.

‘No matter. I caught up with my son, Liam, albeit briefly,’ Rhona told him. ‘Fortunately, he feels the same way about Edward as I do.’

Richie looked pleased by that. ‘So do you maybe want to try for a second meal without such a table companion?’ he offered.

Rhona now realized that this was what the conversation had been leading up to. Richie was a nice guy, obviously available, and keen to get together. She should, of course, be straight with him, and tell him she was in a relationship.

Which wasn’t strictly true, she admonished herself.

Instead she said, ‘DS Clark got engaged last night to her partner, Paula. She’s having a drinks party tonight to celebrate. Chrissy and I are going. Would you like to come along, meet a few more of Police Scotland and the forensic service?’

Richie looked pleased by the invitation. ‘I would,’ he nodded.

Rhona told him where and when.

‘I’ll see you there then,’ he said with a smile.

On her way back to the lab, Rhona considered the wisdom of the invitation, then decided it was kinder than turning him down flat. Plus Dr Walker needed to get to know as many of the police and forensics team as he might work with in the future.

Chrissy, when told, of course had a different take on things. One Rhona should have anticipated.

‘Poor Dr Walker’s got the hots for you, Dr MacLeod. You know that and yet, and yet, no mention of Sean?’ Chrissy shook her head in admonishment.