Jenny had quizzed him about the orphanage, looking for more detail than the salacious comments attributed to Margo. He had had to explain that the matter was under investigation and he was unable to offer any further details. She had been content with that, understanding that he was working on the case and couldn’t give details whilst a case was live. She’d said as much. Patient confidentiality she called it, in her profession.

The radio came alive with the sergeant’s call sign, bringing him back to the present. Corstorphine pulled the microphone free from the cradle and answered. “Sierra one-four receiving, over.”

“We’ve had a call from the Inverness Court, sir. The sheriff’s not shown up and nobody can reach him. They’ve asked us to investigate. Over.”

He exchanged a look with Frankie and spun his finger around. She put on the siren and looked for a place to turn around.

“Whisky tango, we’re making our way to the laird’s house now. Who’s on duty this morning, over?”

“PC Lamb, over.”

Corstorphine rolled his eyes. “Send him out there now, Hamish. We’ll join him in about an hour. Over and out.”

A burst of static provided the only response. Frankie had spun the car in a U-turn and was speeding back up the road, flashing blue lights clearing the way. Corstorphine called Barlinnie, advising that they wouldn’t be interviewing Simon Battle that day. A sick feeling had settled in his stomach; there had been something amiss yesterday when they’d been at the laird’s house, he knew it. Why hadn’t he insisted they undertake a more thorough search of the grounds?

“Do you think he’s alright, sir?” Frankie asked, eyes focussed on the road ahead.

“I certainly hope so, Frankie. I certainly hope so.” Corstorphine had an image of the crazy board in his mind’s eye as they sped back along the road they’d just travelled. In his imagination a red line was being drawn through the laird’s name even as he thought about it.

Lamb was waiting for them on the gravelled drive, standing to attention in his uniform.

“Sir!” He attempted a salute as they climbed out of the car, only to be fended off by Corstorphine.

“Never mind that. Have you found anything?”

Lamb looked doubtful. “Only this, sir. I saw these tracks yesterday when I was looking for signs of that gamekeeper’s vehicle.” He led them out of the courtyard onto the metalled road.

“What are we looking at, Lamb?” Corstorphine asked, casting his eyes around in an attempt to see anything of note at all.