As he drove up the road towards Ard Choille, the two big black 4x4s appeared. Drawing into a passing place, he watched them go by, the smoked windows concealing the occupants, although he made the assumption, as predicted, that the women and two of the men were on their way to the airport for the flight south. If so, then only Stratton and his sidekick Chalmers would be at home. He found himself relieved to be rid of Poppy, Jessica and Viola, although not so much his one-time ally Naomi.

Arriving at the Bothy, he discovered Karla’s wee red Mini parked outside, and gave a silent cheer that things had turned out well for Colin, despite the stramash at the ceilidh.

Loath to march in on his assistant without warning, he went to fetch the dogs from the kennel, knowing their barks of delight would either rouse Colin or else interrupt him.

The two Labradors were mightily pleased to see him and he took some time showing them that the feeling was mutual. When he rounded the Bothy with both dogs at heel, he found a slightly sheepish but obviously delighted Colin out front, and even more impressive, dressed and ready to go.

‘They let you out.’ He gave Greg a maniacal grin.

‘They did, on orders that I don’t go anywhere.’

‘Word is they lifted Josh.’ Colin looked worried by that.

‘He was in a cell along from me,’ Greg told him.

The word ‘cell’ didn’t go down well with Colin. ‘You don’t think Josh did it?’

‘I don’t,’ Greg said. ‘If he had he would have been a massive fool to go and smash up her grave.’

‘But what if he didn’t know she was buried there?’ Colin said, wide-eyed.

‘Murderers usually bury or hide their victims’ bodies,’ Greg reminded him.

‘Not always,’ Colin informed him. ‘I’ve been watching True Crimes and there was this one where the killer went back to hide the body and it had gone. Disappeared. Someone had taken it away and buried it someplace else.’

Greg thought back to his own reaction when he’d first viewed the body, his first thought being how had she got there. Might Colin have a point?

Judging it was time to change the subject, Colin said, ‘D’you want me to go with you to see Stratton? He was mightily pleased you were locked up, I have to say,’ he added angrily.

‘Which means he’ll be mightily miffed that they let me out.’

‘Also, your Detective Snyder is back in the village, conducting interviews again. Rumour also has it that a guy turned up. Someone Ailsa knew from Glasgow. He was staying at the campsite the night she went missing. He says she visited him there, then said she was going home.’

If that was true, and Ailsa had been at the campsite after she left Beanach . . .