Fraser Mackenzie recognised him and broke off from remonstrating with the officer on guard duty, pointing a finger at Rebus instead.

‘How come you get to be that side of the tape? It’s my bloody property!’

‘The whole tenement?’ Rebus asked.

‘Two flats, but they’re among my best.’

‘Probably in demand, then?’ He pretended to muse.

‘Always.’

‘Francis Haggard seemed to have acquired his at short notice.’

‘It was available.’

‘Lot of space for a single tenant. You knew he was police?’

‘What does it matter?’

‘Not only police, but suspended from duty and charged with slapping his wife about.’

Mackenzie tried to compose himself. ‘I had no idea. And you still haven’t answered my question.’ He shifted focus to Haj Atwal. ‘Surely the owner of the property is allowed to gain entry? To size up any redecoration that’ll need doing.’

‘You got off lightly, Mr Mackenzie,’ Rebus answered. ‘Shouldn’t need much more than Tommy Oram and some elbow grease.’ He lifted the tape and stepped to Mackenzie’s side of it, resting his eyes on Atwal. ‘Your choice if you let him through or not, Haj. I wouldn’t.’

He strode off in the direction of Leith Links and his car. He hadn’t got far when he heard Mackenzie behind him.

‘What are you doing here? What has any of this got to do with Jack Oram?’

Rebus stopped and turned to face him. ‘You tell me.’

‘What is there to tell?’

‘Do you often do favours for police officers, Mr Mackenzie? Or maybe just for ones based at Tynecastle? Is that something else you acquired from Cafferty?’

‘I’ve no idea what you’re talking about.’

‘The flat you put Haggard in, it belonged to Cafferty before you, yes?’

‘It was part of the original portfolio,’ Mackenzie agreed.

Rebus had caught a glimpse of someone in the distance, over Mackenzie’s shoulder. The man turned a corner and was gone while he was still trying to focus. Same build and hair as Cafferty’s helper Andrew. Rebus brushed past Mackenzie and headed to the end of the street, but whoever it was had vanished. Now Mackenzie was coming towards him.

‘Maybe a phone call to my lawyer will get me past that cordon,’ he was saying. He had the device in his hand and was already dabbing at it with a finger.

‘Interesting choice of decor,’ Rebus said. ‘The living room wallpaper, I mean.’

‘Beth’s department,’ Mackenzie commented.

‘Judging by the state of your office,’ Rebus added, ‘that’s probably no bad thing.’

He was almost back at the Saab when he changed his mind and began walking towards Leith police station instead. He stood across the street from the building and took out his phone, wondering how much to tell Siobhan. His call wasn’t answered, but thirty seconds later, a text arrived.

Bit busy here. I suppose you’ve heard.