‘But he’s a good friend of yours?’ Fox gave a smile as cold as the sleet hitting both men’s faces. ‘I’ve been getting myself better informed, too.’

The door behind them opened, Clarke’s face falling as she saw Rebus.

‘It’s making more sense all the time,’ Fox commented.

‘Straight home, you said.’ Clarke’s eyes remained on Rebus.

‘Curiosity got the better of me.’

Clarke turned her attention to Fox. ‘What brings you out this time of night?’

‘Same as you, I dare say.’

‘Not even close,’ Clarke informed him. ‘Haggard has breached his bail conditions, and now it looks like he might have done a ­runner.’

‘Stands to reason,’ Rebus said. ‘He’s bound to know custody awaits.’

Fox manoeuvred himself between Rebus and Clarke. ‘Is there any reason why we’re debating this in front of a civilian?’ he demanded, turning as the door opened again, Esson and the two uniforms emerging. Esson was just ending a call.

‘Word’s gone out,’ she assured Clarke. Then, recognising the other two figures, ‘Hello, John. Malcolm, long time.’

‘So do you need us to stick around?’ one of the uniforms asked as his radio squawked.

A window above them rattled open. ‘Any chance of moving the party on?’ a voice demanded, sliding it shut again. Rebus recognised the voice from the intercom.

Clarke gestured towards the two uniforms. ‘I want you back here every hour on the hour until your shift ends. You ring Haggard’s bell, you knock on his door. Whoever takes over from you, same schedule stays until I say so, understood?’

There were nods of agreement as the two young officers headed off towards their patrol car and a bit of warmth.

‘Is that us done?’ Esson asked, keen to get back home.

‘I need a lift,’ Clarke informed her.

‘I’m happy to …’ The look Clarke gave him made Rebus leave the sentence unfinished. She turned to Fox.

‘What are you doing here, Malcolm?’

‘My guess,’ Rebus butted in, ‘would be that Malky comprises a one-man snatch squad.’

‘More to the point, Siobhan,’ Fox countered, ‘is what you’re doing here with a civilian who’s been named this very day during an interview with an officer accused of domestic assault.’

‘The only name I heard during that interview was a retired sergeant called Fleck.’

‘You know as well as I do who else he was talking about, names or no names.’

‘How did you get hold of the interview?’

‘I thought I told you, I’m working directly for the assistant chief constable. That tends to open a few doors.’

‘It would help if you didn’t look so smug about it,’ Rebus said. ‘But then I’m guessing you look smug whether you’re brushing your teeth or taking a dump.’