‘Thought you might. Well, he’s no longer Complaints, but he still has the mentality, and that means he loves nothing better than using the likes of you and me as his personal crapper. Police Scotland want minimal collateral damage from this. Best way to achieve that is to zero in on a few old warriors. That way they can say lessons have been learned, we don’t work like that these days. We’ll be statues they can pull down to appease the mob.’

‘Point taken.’ Fleck was running his fingers up and down his clean-shaven face, staring through the windscreen as if studying a multi-routed signpost. ‘I can try phoning him again – though he’s taken to not answering. You’re sure he’s not at the flat?’

‘He’s renting a place on Constitution Street. There are eyes on it.’

‘Constitution Street? Why there?’

‘Family home’s off limits.’

Fleck thought for a moment. ‘His best mate at Tynie is Rob Driscoll. Could be sleeping on his sofa. I can ask.’

‘Now?’

‘Don’t think I’ve got his number on me, but I can find it easily enough. Leave it with me.’ He took out his phone. ‘Give me yours so I can let you know the upshot.’

‘It’s the same one I’ve always had.’

Fleck watched as Rebus held up his own phone. ‘Same handset, too.’ He gave a snort, but his smile quickly faded. ‘The Crew think of themselves as just that, John – a crew. United we stand, et ­cetera. The thought that Francis might start grassing them up … Could get very ugly, that’s all I’m saying.’

‘I’m relying on you to stop that happening.’

‘You say that, but I can’t help wondering …’

‘What?’

‘You, me and everybody else – best result all round is if Francis Haggard just stops talking. Giving him a fright might do that. You know I’m right, I can see it behind your eyes. I don’t suppose we’re the only ones thinking that way either. I’ve seen people try to cross the Crew before. It never turns out well for them.’ Fleck paused. ‘But then I don’t need to tell you that, John, do I?’

Rather than answer, Rebus got out of the Mercedes, leaving the passenger door open and walking along the row of covetable vehicles towards the relative safety of his old Saab.

8

Having led the two detectives up the staircase, Stephanie Pelham raised an open bottle of wine and gave it a waggle.

‘Bit early for me,’ Siobhan Clarke said with a meaningful glance towards Christine Esson.