‘How is Detective Sergeant McNab?’ Alvis was saying. ‘I saw him only briefly when he made a Skype call to Rhona.’

This remark brought a twinkle to Chrissy’s eye. ‘So that’s why he was so desperate that I come here. He didn’t like the handsome Inspector Olsen having Rhona all to himself.’

Alvis, always the gentleman, merely smiled wryly at such an idea.

Jamie’s vehicle was one of the last to leave the car park. Having arrived in thick mist, they departed in utter darkness. For Chrissy, a trip along a dark unlit road ‘in the middle of nowhere’ reminded her of various horror films she’d seen, which she then proceeded to tell them all about.

In response, Jamie provided them with Skye tales of strange goings-on, of fairies and witches and pacts with the devil.

A quick glance at Chrissy’s face suggested at least some of his tales wouldn’t be quickly forgotten.

‘Your place isn’t miles from anywhere, is it?’ Chrissy asked Rhona. ‘We’re not headed for –’ she lowered her voice – ‘the cabin in the woods?’

‘Remember the place we stayed on Sanday?’ Rhona reminded her.

‘Yes,’ Chrissy said suspiciously.

‘Well, it’s more remote than that,’ Rhona told her.

Chrissy groaned. ‘But you do have food?’

‘We’ll fill you up before we leave Portree.’

On arrival at Somerled Square, Rhona indicated she would hand in the evidence she’d collected and catch up with Sergeant MacDonald on developments.

‘Don’t wait for me before ordering,’ she added, noting Chrissy’s stricken expression as she imagined a delay before she could eat.

On entry to the station, Rhona was shown through to Lee’s office and immediately offered hot tea, which she gratefully accepted.

‘It was pretty cold up there on the clifftop,’ she admitted, nursing the mug.

‘You found something?’ Lee said hopefully.

‘Blaze did, but not near the edge. Much further back.’ Abandoning her mug, Rhona brought up the images she’d taken to show him.

‘It looks like a skirmish,’ Lee said.

‘My thoughts too.’

‘So maybe the victim didn’t walk to the edge?’

‘The dog didn’t seem to think so,’ Rhona admitted.

‘The material you sent via the rib is already on its way to Glasgow with the body,’ Lee told her. ‘Once we log the clifftop evidence, I’ll take you up to the conference room. The team’s all there for a debrief.’

As she unpacked her bag, Rhona showed him the clear evidence bag with the gemstone.

Lee peered at it for a moment. ‘Skye has a reputation for its jewellery, but this doesn’t look local, more oriental. But you never know, someone upstairs might recognize it.’