‘John …’

‘All I need you to do … might need you to do, is telephone Ancram some day and tell him I’m working for you on something urgent, so we’ll have to reschedule the interview. Just charm the socks off him and give me some time. That’s all I need. I’ll try to keep you out of it if I can.’

‘So, to recap, all you need is for me to lie to a fellow officer who is carrying out an internal investigation? And meantime, lacking any physical or verbal evidence, you’ll be solving the drug-running case?’

‘Nicely summarised. I can see why you’re the CI instead of me.’ He shot to his feet, ran to the payphone. He’d heard it ringing before anyone in the restaurant. It was Jack, checking on him. He reminded Rebus about the doggie bag.

‘Being brought to the table as I speak.’

When he got to the table, Gill was checking the bill.

‘This is on me,’ Rebus said.

‘At least let me leave the tip. I ate most of the bread. And besides, my water cost more than your wine.’

‘You got the better deal. What’s it to be, Gill?’

She nodded. ‘I’ll tell him anything you like.’

25

Jack still had the power to surprise his old friend: wolfed the pizza. His only comment: ‘You didn’t eat much.’

‘Bit bland for me, Jack.’

Rebus was itching now: for a cigarette and Aberdeen both. There was something up there he wanted; he just didn’t know quite what it was.

The truth maybe.

He should have been itching for a drink too, but the wine had put him off. It slopped in his stomach, liquid heartburn. He sat at a desk and read through Shankley’s statement. The big man was in a cell downstairs. Jack had worked fast; Rebus couldn’t see anything missing.

‘So,’ he said, ‘I’m back from parole. How did I do?’

‘Let’s not make it a regular date, my heart couldn’t take it.’

Rebus smiled, picked up a phone. He wanted to check his machine at home, see if Ancram had plans for him. He did: nine tomorrow morning. There was another message. It was from Kayleigh Burgess. She needed to talk with him.

‘I’m seeing someone in Morningside at three, so how about four at that big hotel in Bruntsfield? We can have afternoon tea.’ She said it was important. Rebus decided to go out there and wait. He’d have preferred to leave Jack behind …

‘Know what, Jack? You’re severely cramping my style.’

‘How do you mean?’

‘With women. There’s one I want to see, but I bet you’re going to tag along, aren’t you?’

Jack shrugged. ‘I’ll wait outside the door if you like.’

‘It’ll be a comfort to know you’re there.’

‘It could be worse,’ stuffing his face with the last of the pizza, ‘just think, how do Siamese twins arrange their love lives?’

‘Some questions are best left unanswered,’ Rebus said.

He thought: Good question though.