‘And?’

‘And, also in Burke’s I saw a couple of members of a Glaswegian crime family. You know Uncle Joe Toal?’

‘I’ve heard of him.’

‘I think he’s delivering dope to Aberdeen. From there, I’d guess some of it goes to the rigs – a captive market; a lot of boredom on a rig.’

‘You’d know, of course?’ she joked. Then she saw the look on his face, and her eyes narrowed. ‘You went on a rig?’

‘Most terrifying experience of my life, but cathartic with it.’

‘Cathartic?’

‘An old girlfriend used to use words like that; they rub off on you after a while. The club’s owner, Erik Stemmons, denied knowing Fergie McLure. I almost believe him.’

‘Which puts his partner in the frame?’

‘To my mind.’

‘And that’s as far as it’s got – your mind? I mean, there’s no evidence?’

‘Not a shred.’

His pizza arrived. Chorizo, mushroom and anchovy. Gill had to look away. The pizza was pre-cut into six fat slices. Rebus lifted one on to his plate.

‘I don’t know how you can face that.’

‘Me neither,’ said Rebus, sniffing the surface. ‘But it’ll make a hell of a doggie bag.’

There was a cigarette machine. If he looked over Gill’s right shoulder he could see it there on the wall. Five brands, any of which would suffice. There was a book of matches waiting in the ashtray. He’d ordered a glass of house white, Gill spring water. The wine – ‘delicately bouqueted’ as the menu put it – arrived, and he gave it the nose test before sipping. It was chilled and sour.

‘How’s the bouquet?’ Gill asked.

‘Any more delicate and it’d need Prozac.’ The drinks card was in front of him, standing erect in its little holder, listing aperitifs and cocktails and digestifs, plus wines, beers, lagers, spirits. It was the most reading Rebus had done in a couple of days. As soon as he’d finished, he read it again. He wanted to shake the author’s hand.

One segment of pizza was enough.

‘Not hungry?’ Gill asked.

‘I’m dieting.’

‘You?’

‘I want to be fit for my walks along the beach.’

She wasn’t following him, shook her head clear of seeming non-sequiturs.

‘The thing is, Gill,’ he said after another sip of wine, ‘I think you were on to something big. And I think it can be salvaged. I just want to be sure it’s your collar.’

She looked at him. ‘Why?’

‘Because of all the Christmas presents I’ve never given you. Because you deserve it. Because it’ll be your first.’

‘It doesn’t count if you’ve done all the work.’

‘It’ll count all right, all I’m doing is reconnaissance.’

‘You mean you’re not finished?’

Rebus shook his head, asked the waiter to put the rest of the pizza in a box. He lifted the last piece of garlic bread.

‘I’m not nearly finished,’ he told her. ‘But I might need your help.’

‘Oh-oh. Here it comes.’

Rebus spoke quickly. ‘Chick Ancram’s got me set up for a series of grillings. I’ve already had one, and between ourselves he didn’t cook me more than medium rare. But they take up time, and I might want to head north again.’