‘It was an accident,’ Rebus said. ‘I tripped.’

‘If that’s your story.’

‘What does the footage say?’

She thought about it. ‘We were shooting from behind Eamonn. Mostly, what we’ve got is his back.’

‘I’m off the hook then?’

‘I didn’t say that. Just stick to your story.’

Rebus nodded, getting her drift. ‘Thanks. But why did Breen go to Ancram? Why not my boss?’

‘Because Eamonn knew Ancram was to lead the inquiry.’

‘And how did he know that?’

‘The grapevine.’

A grapevine with few grapes attached. He saw Jim Stevens again, staring up at the window of his flat … Stirring it …

Rebus sighed. ‘One last thing. Do you know anything about a break-in at my flat?’

Her eyebrows rose. ‘Should I?’

‘Remember the Bible John stuff in the cupboard? Someone took a crowbar to my front door, and all they wanted was to rifle through it.’

She was shaking her head. ‘Not us.’

‘No?’

‘Housebreaking? We’re journalists, for Christ’s sake.’

Rebus had his hands up in a gesture of appeasement, but he wanted to push it a little further. ‘Any chance Breen would go out on a limb?’

Now she laughed. ‘Not even for a story the size of Watergate. Eamonn fronts the programme, he doesn’t do any digging.’

‘You and your researchers do?’

‘Yes, and neither of them seems the crowbar type. Does that leave me in the frame?’

As she crossed one leg over the other, Jack studied them. His eyes had been running all over her like a kid’s over a Scalextric set.

‘Consider the matter closed,’ Rebus said.

‘But it’s true? Your flat was broken into?’

‘Matter closed,’ he repeated.

She almost pouted. ‘How’s the inquiry going anyway?’ She held up a hand. ‘I’m not snooping, call it personal interest.’

‘Depends which inquiry you mean,’ Rebus said.

‘The Spaven case.’

‘Oh, that.’ Rebus sniffed, considering his response. ‘Well, CI Ancram is the trusting sort. He has real faith in his officers. If you plead innocent, he’ll take it at face value. It’s a comfort to have superiors like that. For instance, he trusts me so much he’s got a minder on me like a limpet on a rock.’ He nodded towards Jack. ‘Inspector Morton here is supposed to not let me out of his sight. He even sleeps at my flat.’ He held Kayleigh’s gaze. ‘How’s that sound?’

She could hardly form the words. ‘It’s scandalous.’

Rebus shrugged, but she was reaching into her bag, bringing out notebook and pen. Jack glowered at Rebus, who winked back. Kayleigh had to flick through a lot of pages to find a fresh sheet.

‘When did this start?’ she said.

‘Let’s see …’ Rebus pretended to be thinking. ‘Sunday afternoon, I think. After I’d been interrogated in Aberdeen and dragged back here.’

She looked up. ‘Interrogated?’

‘John …’ Jack Morton warned.

‘Didn’t you know?’ Rebus’s eyes widened. ‘I’m a suspect in the Johnny Bible case.’

On the drive back to the flat, Jack was furious.