But Ryan Slocum had disappeared.

They contacted Dyce Airport, but there was no record of his having taken a plane out of there, and no taxi or car rental company would admit seeing him. Had he already left the country? What had he done with the trunk? Was he lying low in some hotel nearby, waiting for the fuss to die?

Grogan said they’d make enquiries, put out an alert to ports and airports. He didn’t see what else they could do. They’d send someone out to talk with Mrs Slocum, maybe go through the house with a fine-toothed comb … Tomorrow maybe, or the day after. Grogan didn’t sound too enthusiastic. He’d found his serial killer for today, and had little inclination to go chasing ghosts.

Rebus found Jack in the canteen, drinking tea and eating chips and beans.

‘Where did you get to?’

Rebus sat down beside him. ‘Thought maybe I was cramping your style.’

Jack shook his head. ‘Tell you what though, I nearly asked her back to that hotel.’

‘Why didn’t you?’

Jack shrugged. ‘She told me she could never trust a man who didn’t drink. Do you feel like heading back?’

‘Why not?’

‘John, where did you get to?’

‘I’ll tell you on the way back. It might help keep you awake …’

36

Next morning, after a few hours’ sleep on the chair, Rebus telephoned Brian Holmes. He wanted to know how he was doing, and whether Ancram’s threats had evaporated in the light of Lawson Geddes’ letter. The call was answered quickly.

‘Hello?’ A woman’s voice: Nell’s. Softly, Rebus put the receiver down. So she was back. Did that mean she’d come to terms with Brian’s work? Or had he promised to give it up? Rebus was sure to find out later.

Jack wandered through. He reckoned his job of ‘minder’ was finished, but had stayed the night anyway – too tired to contemplate the miles home to Falkirk.

‘Thank God it’s the weekend,’ he said, rubbing both hands through his hair. ‘Any plans?’

‘I thought I might nip down to Fettes, see what the score is with Ancram.’

‘Good idea, I’ll come with you.’

‘You don’t need to.’

‘But I want to.’

They took Rebus’s car for a change. But when they got to Fettes, Ancram’s office was bare, no sign of it ever having been occupied. Rebus telephoned Govan, and was put through.

‘Is that it finished?’ he asked.

‘I’ll write up my report,’ Ancram said. ‘No doubt your boss will want to discuss it with you.’

‘What about Brian Holmes?’

‘It’ll all be in the report.’

Rebus waited. ‘All of it?’

‘Tell me something, Rebus, are you clever or just spawny?’

‘Is there a difference?’

‘You’ve really mucked things up. If we’d gone ahead against Uncle Joe, we could have had the mole.’

‘You’ll have Uncle Joe instead.’ Ancram grunted a response. ‘You know who the mole is?’

‘I have a hunch. Lennox, you met him that day in The Lobby.’ DS Andy Lennox: freckles and ginger curls. ‘Thing is, I’ve no hard evidence.’