Rhona, having been summoned to the fore to do her bit, now brought up Dr Jen Mackie’s analysis of the soil on the shoes, confirming that the last place they’d been worn was in the wooded area of the girls’ den.

‘Karen said she came back from the chapel to the den to meet with Mary, but Mary wasn’t there. So she changed back into her own clothes and left the dress, veil and shoes in the plastic bag. However, when she went back later the bag had gone.

‘Karen also confirmed that the jumper we found in her loft was Mary’s and that she’d found it lying in the woods behind the den when she returned later. There is a possibility that traces of the killer may be on that jumper.’

McNab thanked Rhona, then stood for a moment in silence. By his expression, Rhona knew what was coming next wasn’t going to be the good news she’d hoped for.

‘Within the last hour, Mr McCreadie has been in touch to say that Karen left his house undetected and is now missing again.’

A babble of shocked chatter burst around Rhona.

McNab carried on. ‘No one saw her leave. However, we believe she made her way back to her home, where she then took her car,’ he said. ‘So it’s likely she intends travelling further than her immediate vicinity.

‘Judging by Karen’s frame of mind, her friend at the recovery cafe, Marge Balfour, believes Karen may have decided to face her demons. What those demons are we don’t yet fully know.’

The murmurings grew again.

‘However, according to Professor Pirie, who has also spoken to Karen, she is still in a fragile mental state and may in fact be a suicide risk. So let’s find her as quickly as possible.’

As the crowd departed, Rhona caught up with Janice.

‘Did you know about Karen disappearing?’

‘It was as much of a surprise to me as it was to you,’ Janice told her, obviously annoyed that McNab hadn’t told her.

At that moment, McNab appeared as though from nowhere, causing Rhona to wonder if he’d been listening in.

‘I was just talking about you,’ Janice said, unruffled by his sudden arrival. ‘What’s up?’ she said, noting his expression.

‘Jean Barclay just called me. She’s had a visitor. Karen Marshall arrived at her door an hour ago. Confessed to Jean that she was responsible for Mary’s death. That she’d replaced Mary at her confirmation, leaving Mary at the den. If she hadn’t done that, Mary would be alive today.’

‘Did she tell her why Mary didn’t go herself?’ Rhona said.

‘Apparently, Karen babbled a story about wanting a place in heaven, like Mary. Then she upped and left.’

‘Why didn’t she just tell Jean the truth?’ Janice said.

Rhona thought of the recording and what Karen had said when McNab asked if she knew who’d been interfering with her friend.

‘She’s protecting the innocent, just like her father told her to.’