‘Not for a while,’ he was told. ‘Maybe in four or five hours.’

‘We’re not fussy who we fly with.’

Shrugs, shakes of the head.

‘It’s important.’

‘You could always hitch a ride to Sumburgh.’

‘That’s miles from Sullom Voe.’

‘Only trying to be helpful. You could rent a car.’

Rebus thought about it, then had a better idea. ‘How soon could we be out of here?’

‘To Sumburgh? Half an hour, forty minutes. There’s a helicopter stopping there on its way out to Ninian.’

‘Fine.’

‘Let me talk to them.’ She picked up her telephone.

‘We’ll be back in five minutes.’

Jack followed Rebus over to the public telephones, where Rebus made a call to St Leonard’s. He was put through to Gill Templer.

‘I’m halfway through listening to the tape,’ she said.

‘Better than Saturday Night Theatre, isn’t it?’

‘I’m going through to Glasgow later on. I want to talk to him myself.’

‘Good idea, I’ve left a copy of the tape with Partick CID. Have you seen Siobhan this morning?’

‘I don’t think so. Which shift is she working? If you like, I can try to find her.’

‘Don’t bother, Gill, long distance doesn’t come cheap.’

‘Oh hell, where are you now?’

‘Ill in bed, if Ancram comes asking.’

‘And looking for that favour?’

‘A phone number, actually. Lerwick police station. I’m assuming such a thing exists.’

‘It does,’ she said. ‘Under the auspices of Northern Division. There was a conference in Inverness last year, they were complaining about keeping tabs on Orkney and Shetland.’

‘Gill …’

‘I’ve been looking it up while I talk.’ She reeled the number off; it went into his notebook.

‘Thanks, Gill. Bye.’

‘John!’

But he’d cut her off. ‘How are you for change, Jack?’ Jack showed him some coins. Rebus took most of them, then called Lerwick and asked if they could lend a car for half a day. He explained it was a murder inquiry, Lothian and Borders. Nothing to get het up about, they’d only be interviewing a friend of the victim.

‘Well now, a car …’ the voice drawled, like Rebus had asked for a spaceship. ‘When would you be arriving?’

‘We’re on a chopper out of here in about half an hour.’

‘Two of you?’

‘Two of us,’ Rebus said, ‘which rules out a motorbike.’

His reward: a deep gurgling laugh. ‘Not necessarily.’

‘Can you do it?’

‘Well, I can do something. Only problem might be if the cars are out elsewhere. Some of our calls are to the back of beyond.’

‘If there’s no one to meet us at Sumburgh, I’ll phone again.’

‘You do that now. Cheerio.’

Back at the desk, they found they were on the flight in thirty-five minutes.

‘I’ve never been on a helicopter,’ Jack said.

‘An experience you’ll never forget.’

Jack frowned. ‘Can you try that again with a bit more enthusiasm?’

29

There were half a dozen planes on the ground at Sumburgh Airport, and the same number of helicopters, most of them connected as if by umbilical cord to neighbouring fuel tankers. Rebus walked into the Wilsness Terminal, unzipping his survival suit as he went, then saw that Jack was still outside, taking in the coastal scenery and bleak inland plain. There was a fierce wind rising, and Jack had his chin tucked into his suit. Post-flight, he looked pale and slightly queasy. Rebus for one had spent the entire time trying not to remember his outsized breakfast. Jack eventually saw him signalling, and came in from the cold.