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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

As Chrissy absorbed this line of reasoning, Rhona quickly added, ‘And Archie said she had an injury to the back of her head, which she said she’d got from a falling branch during the lightning storm.’

Chrissy waited, sensing there was more to come.

‘The location of the blood and scalp residue on the birch trunk was at her height,’ Rhona said.

‘So you think she was the one injured in the woods?’

Rhona did think that, in fact was beginning to be sure of it.

‘Assuming that’s true, there is still nothing to suggest that what happened in the woods has anything to do with the body on the beach,’ Chrissy challenged her.

True, and yet . . .

‘Jen Mackie detected cocaine in the soil sample we sent.’

Chrissy considered that, and Rhona knew her forensic assistant was playing devil’s advocate, which was what she wanted.

‘Donald saw the guy in the toilet, remember? He was high and so probably were the others.’

‘For cocaine residue to be detected in the soil . . .’

‘There was likely more than just a little in the vicinity,’ Chrissy finished for her. ‘And you wondered at the onset if there might have been a stash there.’

Rhona changed tack. ‘Paul Watson was known here as the Snowman.’ She repeated what Archie had told her.

‘Jeez. If the locals hated him that much . . .’ Chrissy said in a worried tone.

‘Maybe someone did help him over the edge,’ Rhona finished for her. ‘The footsteps you found . . .’

‘And we’re back with the necklace,’ Chrissy said. ‘Are you going to tell Lee about the chain?’

If she did, she would have to tell him she’d been going through Seven’s private things, which sounded more like something McNab would do and which she would admonish him for. Maybe the sin-eater case had changed her in more ways than just the flashbacks.

‘Apart from the possibility of the Afghan necklace, there is no direct link between the medics and Paul Watson, and Lee will be focusing on the reason why Watson was here on Skye in the first place.’

‘True, but . . .’ Chrissy didn’t look convinced.

‘But what?’

‘You don’t usually give up that easily. If the necklace does belong to the girl, it would place her on that clifftop, which means she may know something without even realizing it.’

48

This time, McNab did go by the cafeteria and, catching sight of Maria serving, waited until she was free.

‘What? Am no pretty enough fur ye?’ Derek, who also worked behind the counter, challenged him.

McNab made a point of looking him up and down. ‘Naw, you’re not.’

‘Fair do’s,’ Derek grinned.

Maria, who’d heard the interchange, now presented herself in front of McNab. ‘Buying for Ollie, I take it?’

‘What’s his current favourite?’ McNab said. ‘Apart from yourself.’

She gave him the eye. ‘Are you saying he’s soft on me?’

‘Don’t tell me you don’t know that?’