Contents
Chapter Fifty-Seven
Overview
Jane borrows Daisy’s belongings from Helen Yaxley and uses her dog Reggie to scent-track at the former circus grounds. Reggie leads Jane to the performers’ trailer area, where Jane finds a village coffee cup, confirming Daisy had been there. The discovery strengthens the Jasper connection and narrows the search location.
Summary
Jane visits Helen Yaxley, who once hosted “Rose White,” now known to be Daisy Black. Jane explains her search and asks to borrow something worn by Daisy so her dog Reggie can track a scent. Helen retrieves Daisy’s suitcase and, bemused, lets Jane keep it when the police show no interest.
Jane selects a bra with deodorant residue to ensure Daisy’s scent is strong. She drives to the now-empty circus field, where the grass shows faint wear from the recent visit, and lets Reggie smell the bra before giving the command to track.
Reggie methodically quarters the field, then pulls Jane toward a tarmacked area she hadn’t noticed—where the circus caravans and trailers had stood, flanked by bins and portable toilets. He fixates behind the bins and grassy verge near benches, where Jane retrieves a village-branded coffee cup from his mouth.
Jane visualizes Daisy watching the trailers from the benches, possibly meeting or observing her clown uncle, Jasper. The cup serves as tangible proof that Daisy was at the circus site, reinforcing the Jasper lead and suggesting their planned contact may have occurred. But Daisy’s current whereabouts remain unknown.
Who Appears
- JaneInvestigator; obtains Daisy’s suitcase from Helen, uses Reggie to scent-track at the circus grounds, finds a coffee cup confirming Daisy’s presence.
- ReggieJane’s dog; effectively tracks Daisy’s scent from her bra to the circus trailer area and the benches by the bins.
- Helen YaxleyHost who kept Daisy’s suitcase; provides it to Jane and allows her to keep it.
- Daisy Black (aka Rose White)Missing young woman; her belongings provide a scent trail; evidence shows she was at the circus site.
- JasperDaisy’s clown uncle; presumed to have been at the circus; his link is reinforced by Jane’s find.