‘As you can imagine. But the fact remains, Haggard is going to argue that PTSD is behind his violent outbursts. The stuff he’s mentioned so far, however – lying under oath, even fitting up innocent people – none of that cries PTSD to me. There’s got to be more, which is why I went looking online. Remember the Kyle Weller case? Arrested one night on the street, taken to the cells at Tynecastle, complained of feeling unwell …’

‘Dead next morning when they unlocked his door.’ Rebus nodded slowly.

‘CCTV somehow wasn’t working that night. A witness to the arrest changed their story. That’s one of several cases that I should have remembered. They all involved Tynecastle. My guess is, they all feature Francis Haggard, too.’

‘And he’s going to spill the beans just to lessen a domestic assault charge?’

‘Maybe he wants to atone. That’s what Christine Esson thinks.’

‘You’re not persuaded?’

‘Christine likes to see the best in people. I learned the opposite.’ Rebus met her eyes. ‘For better or worse.’

He stretched out his arms either side of him, palms turned upwards. ‘What am I supposed to say, Siobhan?’

‘I need to know if he has a chance of making any of it stick. I spoke with his wife today and came away more determined than ever.’

‘Fair play to you, but I swear I’ve got nothing to hide.’

‘In my experience, that would be a first. You’re not even telling me why you’re so interested in Jack Oram.’ She was interrupted by her phone alerting her to a text. Her eyes widened, then narrowed as she read it, her lips parting to show her bottom row of teeth.

‘Sounds like trouble,’ Rebus commented.

‘It’s Cheryl Haggard’s sister. Francis barged his way in earlier, trying to get to Cheryl. Left with one of the sister’s phones because she’d been filming him.’

‘Phones plural?’

‘One for work, one for personal use, I’m guessing.’ A second text had arrived. ‘There are security cameras in the house, though. He’s on tape.’ Clarke let out a loud exhalation.

‘I’d say he breached his bail conditions,’ Rebus suggested.

‘Absolutely he did.’ Clarke was making a call, her phone pressed to her ear. There was a slight shake to her right hand, adrenalin coursing through her.