Don Cowie netted twice against his former club as Caley Thistle’s poor start to the season continued with a heavy 5-1 defeat by Hearts.
The Jambos captain opened the scoring after seven minutes with an excellent finish before Conor Sammon doubled the advantage 10 minutes later.
Cowie curled home his second of the game two minutes after the break before Sam Nicholson scored two in as many minutes.
Ross Draper pulled one back in the closing stages for Caley Thistle but they remain remain at the foot of the table without a point.
Caley Thistle made two alterations from the side beaten 3-2 by Ross County with the injured Kevin McNaughton and on-loan midfielder Billy King, unable to turn out against his parent club, with Josh Meekings and Jake Mulraney brought in as their replacements. It was the first time Meekings had started for Inverness this season following a knee injury.
Hearts, meanwhile, made one change from the team that drew 0-0 at Aberdeen last weekend with Perry Kitchen in for Prince Buaben, while new signing Bjorn Johnsen was named on the bench.
It was a disastrous start for Caley Jags with the hosts taking the lead with only seven minutes on the clock.
Conor Sammon laid the ball into the path of former Caley Thistle player Don Cowie who expertly curled home with his left foot.
The visitors were appealing for a penalty five minutes later when Mulraney fell to the ground under pressure from Igor Rossi but referee Steven McLean booked the Irishman for simulation.
It got worse for Caley Thistle soon after when the unmarked Sammon rose to nod home a Cowie cross with only 17 minutes played.
Scott Boden could and probably should have pulled one back straight away when he raced onto a Liam Polworth pass but the former Newport County man fluffed his lines and shot straight at Jack Hamilton.
The Englishman passed up another great chance five minutes before the break after good play from Liam Polworth.
Inverness were made to pay within two minutes of the restart when Sammon laid the ball into the path of Cowie who side-footed home from the edge of the area.
Alex Fisher almost made an immediate impact after replacing Boden but Hearts stopper Jack Hamilton was equal to his spectacular overhead kick.
Caley Jags were forced to make another change when Mulraney was stretchered off and replaced by Aaron Doran.
Hearts increased their lead after 78 minutes when new signing Johnsen found Nicholson with an exquisite back-heel and the midfielder produced an equally sublime finish.
And, only 60 seconds later, Nicholson fired in off the post to pile more misery on the tiring visitors.
Draper netted a late consolation for Caley Thistle but the game was well over as a contest by then.