It wasn’t the first time a vehicle had come off the road at this spot, Lee had told her. Visitors to the island often drove too fast on the steep and winding roads, never anticipating what lay beyond the next bend. Add to that the sudden drop in temperature after the rain, turning road surfaces into a skating rink, and it was easy to see why the jeep had left the road.

What wasn’t so obvious was why it had caught fire, seemingly trapping both occupants inside. Contrary to popular opinion, due mostly to watching Hollywood movies, cars did not suddenly burst into flames, even when they plunged down a hillside.

Chrissy, having stepped back from the remains of the vehicle, now re-entered its radius.

She’d already collected DNA samples from the bodies. They would be checked against the DNA database of known criminals, and also with the MOD, to be sure the victims weren’t in fact the serving soldiers.

Approaching the burnt-out vehicle again, Chrissy raised her mask. She had been at numerous scenes of crime, but the overpowering smell of burnt human flesh was very particular. She was reminded of a scene she and Rhona had dealt with in a skip on the outskirts of Glasgow. The body they’d examined there had burned above the waistline, the intensity of the fire in the metal container exploding the brain. The lower half had been left unmarked, protected from the flames by the compression of the closely packed cardboard that had served as a blanket for the former soldier, gone AWOL and living rough.

As Chrissy stood, such thoughts playing out in her head, she spotted Donald waving to her from outside the perimeter tape. He was concerned, she knew, that having allowed Rhona to take his dog, he couldn’t now make contact with them.

Chrissy went over, to at least reassure him.

‘Rhona told me she would be off-grid. We don’t have to worry yet,’ she said.

Donald didn’t look convinced. ‘Have you any idea where on the peninsula she’s heading?’

‘No. Why?’ Chrissy said.

‘I know this sounds weird, but I’ve lost Blaze in my head. That’s not a good thing.’

When Chrissy didn’t immediately respond, he added, ‘You’ve got a kid. You would know when he was in danger, yes?’

Chrissy thought about wee Michael. How he was always in the back of her mind, until she thought something was wrong, and immediately he consumed all of her thoughts.

‘What do you think’s wrong?’ she said.

‘I think my dog’s injured. Or dead,’ Donald said, his face too pale for comfort.

‘Don’t,’ Chrissy said, thinking of Rhona, rather than the dog.

Donald gestured to the burnt-out vehicle. ‘This isn’t normal on Skye. It’s like we’re in a war and not of our making. I’m going to head out to Duirinish and make sure they’re all right.’