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“I see.” But he continued to regard Casper suspiciously until the police asked to see the body.

Douglas and I rode in the car with them. Casper said he’d follow on foot, which probably meant he’d fly there when no one was looking. I reminded myself that Casper was quite capable of disappearing and flying there unseen by anyone. Then I occupied my time by staring out the police car window, watching the passing scenery until we reached the track that led to the bleeding rose.

We all got out but the older cop told us to wait by the car with his partner. I guess he didn’t want us to contaminate the scene. This probably wasn’t the time to tell him I’d already touched the body.

The older cop set off down the track. I was prepared for a long wait but soon he marched back up the track toward us. He didn’t look happy.

“Is this some kind of joke?” he demanded

Douglas and I exchanged confused glances. It was Douglas who answered.

“There’s nothing funny about a dead man covered in bite marks.”

“No,” agreed the cop. “And there’s nothing funny about reporting a body that isn’t there.”

“There bloody well is a body,” said Douglas. “It’s beside the rose. Isn’t it, Allegra?”

“It was there,” I said cautiously, mindful of the fact than when dealing with the paranormal you should expect the unexpected. “Let’s take another look.”

“Do that,” said the older cop. Apparently he was no longer bothered about us contaminating the scene.

I hurried down the track. When I reached the rose, I stopped dead. A part of me had hoped that the cop had somehow missed the body, but now I could see for myself that McEwen’s body had disappeared. Worse yet, where his body had lain was a pile of dead fish. No wonder the cop was angry.

I heard movement behind me. Douglas appeared, followed by the two cops.

Douglas stared open-mouthed at the place where McEwen had lain. “What the—? Where is he? Where did the fish come from?”

“Obviously someone’s moved the body.” I glanced at the cops, willing them to begin an investigation into the disappearance of McEwen’s body.

But the older cop wasn’t buying it. He said sarcastically, “If there ever was a body.”

The younger cop consulted his notebook. “Three people saw the body. Mr. Douglas McGregor, Mr. Hamish Livingston and Ms Allegra—”

The older cop stopped short of rolling his eyes.

“It’s a hoax,” he said to his partner. “A pathetic attempt to create the myth of another Loch Ness monster. A tourist attraction.” He turned to Douglas and me. “You must think we were born yesterday. You’re lucky we don’t charge you with…”

I didn’t hear his final words because he had already turned away. We were probably lucky he hadn’t thrown the book at us.

The cops stormed off down the track but they didn’t get far before Casper appeared directly in front of them. The older cop had to stop abruptly to avoid bumping into him.

I caught sight of a single gold feather on Casper’s shoulder but luckily the cops didn’t seem to notice. Or, if they did, they didn’t realize its significance.

“I suppose you were in on this too, laddie,” muttered the older cop.

Casper started to answer but the cop had already stormed past him. Moments later I heard their car start and drive away. I guess they figured that after all the trouble we’d given them we deserved to walk back to the village.

“There really was a body,” I said to Casper. Then I pointed discreetly to the feather on his shoulder. He flicked it off.

Douglas was bent double studying the pile of fish near the rose. “Where the hell is McEwen? His body can’t have disappeared into thin air.”

“This is a paranormal investigation,” I reminded him. “Much stranger things could happen before it’s over.”

Slowly he straightened up. When he faced me, I saw acceptance in his eyes. From now on nothing would amaze him.

“What do we do now?” he asked.

“I think I’ll have another talk with Mrs. Ferguson.”

As I turned to retrace my steps down the track, Douglas said, “What does your partner think? So far he’s been acting like a silent partner, but he must have an opinion.” He might as well have