BooksBarbecue
Back Time for the Dead Save as PDF
Chapters (94)
  1. Cover
  2. Time for the Dead
  3. Dedication page
  4. Map
  5. Epigraph page
  6. Prologue
  7. 1
  8. 2
  9. 3
  10. 4
  11. 5
  12. 6
  13. 7
  14. 8
  15. 9
  16. 10
  17. 11
  18. 12
  19. 13
  20. 14
  21. 15
  22. 16
  23. 17
  24. 18
  25. 19
  26. 20
  27. 21
  28. 22
  29. 23
  30. 24
  31. 25
  32. 26
  33. 27
  34. 28
  35. 29
  36. 30
  37. 31
  38. 32
  39. 33
  40. 34
  41. 35
  42. 36
  43. 37
  44. 38
  45. 39
  46. 40
  47. 41
  48. 42
  49. 43
  50. 44
  51. 45
  52. 46
  53. 47
  54. 48
  55. 49
  56. 50
  57. 51
  58. 52
  59. 53
  60. 54
  61. 55
  62. 56
  63. 57
  64. 58
  65. 59
  66. 60
  67. 61
  68. 62
  69. 63
  70. 64
  71. 65
  72. 66
  73. 67
  74. 68
  75. 69
  76. 70
  77. 71
  78. 72
  79. 73
  80. 74
  81. 75
  82. 76
  83. 77
  84. 78
  85. 79
  86. 80
  87. 81
  88. 82
  89. 83
  90. 84
  91. Epilogue
  92. Acknowledgements
  93. About the Author
  94. By Lin Anderson

When she opened her eyes again, she found herself staring into a glistening spider’s web, spun between the winter heather. And there she was, the little fly struggling to free itself, while ever closer the spider came. Reaching out, she broke the cobweb, scattering the threads, freeing the fluttering fly. Then rising, she checked out exactly where she was.

The light was fading fast. She would have to make a night stop soon, but she wanted to be well away from the nearest road and any evidence of civilization before she set up camp.

47

As soon as she was in range of Portree, Rhona pulled into a passing place and gave Chrissy a call.

‘You haven’t lost the dog?’ Chrissy said immediately, only partly in jest, Rhona thought.

‘As if,’ Rhona retorted. ‘And we’re on our way into Portree now. Lights were out at Target Sports, so I assume Donald’s in Portree too?’

‘Donald’s at work in the Isles and I’m at the station, awaiting an update on the MIT’s arrival.’ Chrissy’s voice held a note of excitement.

‘Do we know who they’re sending?’ Rhona said a little guardedly.

‘Not McNab,’ Chrissy promptly offered, ‘although I thought it would be him, seeing as the dead guy was a catch of his. They’re sending DS Clark.’

Rhona was pleased to hear that. She liked Janice Clark and thought her a steady partner for the wayward McNab.

‘So why not McNab?’ she found herself asking.

‘Not sure, but Janice will tell all when she arrives. So,’ Chrissy added, ‘where did you go for your doggie walk?’

Was that suspicion Rhona heard in Chrissy’s voice? If it wasn’t, it would be a first.

‘Can we meet in the production room?’ Rhona said. ‘There’s something I want to show you.’

By the time Rhona drew up in the square, the promised snow had arrived, light swirling flakes that immediately melted on the warm windscreen. Blaze jumped out, and with a goodbye lick, headed for the Isles. Rhona waited until the collie was safely inside before crossing to the police station.

‘So,’ Chrissy said, closing the production room door behind them. ‘What do you want to show me?’

Rhona brought up the image on her mobile that she’d taken of the contents of Seven’s bag.

‘What am I looking at?’ Chrissy said, interested.

‘Mementos of Afghanistan, I think.’

Chrissy’s questioning look grew more serious as she studied the photograph Rhona had taken in the tent.

‘Fuck’s sake,’ she muttered. ‘Is that a real scorpion?’

‘I believe so. They’re pretty common in some Afghan provinces. Worth lots of money now to those who catch them.’

‘And the metal disc. Is it a service tag?’

‘No service details so not a human tag. I wondered if it might have come from a combat dog called Rex.’