‘All Andrew did was break into my car and lift the drugs I took from Beth Mackenzie.’

‘Thought he might,’ Cafferty said with a warm smile.

‘Not your idea then?’ Rebus looked around. ‘Where is he anyway? Should I pat myself down for weapons?’

‘He gets nights off – I’m not a slave-driver.’

‘Before I came in, I checked the car park, saw his Audi sitting there. If I’d had any tools on me, I’d have meted out a bit of revenge.’

‘My car actually, he just uses it as and when.’

‘You’ve had him tailing me throughout.’

‘Again, his own initiative.’

‘Who the hell is he?’

‘He used to belong to Darryl Christie until Darry got himself put away. Andrew was always sharper than most. I took him on as a pet project. He has a flat a few blocks away, though right now …’ Cafferty checked the time on his wristwatch. ‘Yes, I suppose he could be out clubbing somewhere. He likes Elemental.’

‘Probably not just for the music.’ Rebus was pouring himself another drink.

‘True enough, it’s the staff he’s interested in – he’s a people person.’

‘Especially if those people can come in handy after you’ve taken down the Mackenzies. Is that the plan – to install your protégé in their place?’

‘You know as well as I do, John, there’s never a vacuum. Now, you were saying something about Jack Oram?’

‘He’s dead, but then you already know that, don’t you?’

‘I still have eyes and ears in this town.’

‘Funny, I remember you telling me the exact opposite. You can go to hell for telling lies, you know.’

‘The owners of his old pool hall were clocked hauling something into a van at dead of night. You could say I had my suspicions.’

‘And you hired me to find you a dead man because …?’

Cafferty’s eyes were glittering. ‘You tell me.’

‘Even if I didn’t find him,’ Rebus obliged, ‘I’d still be making a nuisance of myself, and probably disrupting the Mackenzies in the process. That’s why you spun me the line about him being seen at QC Lettings. Did you know the son worked there?’ He watched Cafferty nod. ‘Not the only line you spun either – the money going to his brother’s family?’

‘I needed something to get you interested,’ Cafferty commented.

‘How about the cash you sent to his wife?’

‘I thought it might flush him into the open.’