“Not me, Deano,” Rebus replied. “You.”

The man was a couple of inches taller than Rebus and carried a similar amount of heft, the difference being one of muscle tone. One look at Deano’s neck told Rebus he was a gym regular. Nicks to both eyebrows meant he had probably boxed at one time, or still did. The small, wary eyes met Rebus’s.

“How’s that then?” he asked.

“I was going to talk to Darryl in person, but I suppose a phone call will have to do. We go way back, me and your boss. Thought it only fair to warn him…”

A couple of regulars were arriving, men only a few years younger than Rebus.

“All right, Deano?” one of them said.

Deano nodded, taking a step to the side so they could get past. As the door opened, Rebus caught a blast of Duran Duran. Someone was singing along, though the band wouldn’t have thanked them for it. The door closed again and Deano resumed his staring match with Rebus.

“Warn him of what?” he asked.

“Someone’s using the Gimlet for drug deals. Like I say, I know Darryl and he’s not that stupid. I’m not saying he wouldn’t get involved, but I doubt he’d let it happen anywhere that could connect so sharply to him.” Rebus paused. “See what I’m saying?”

The bouncer was trying not to show it in his face, but he couldn’t help balling his fists and shifting his feet. Little tics that told Rebus the man was unnerved.

“Darryl’s going to want to know,” Rebus pressed on. “It’s happening right here without his say-so. That means you’re not doing your job. In fact, story is, the one doing the dealing might be an employee. Darryl’s going to want to know one of his own is in danger of bringing the Drug Squad down on him. Who knows what they’ll turn up once they start looking?”

“I haven’t a clue what you’re talking about.”

“Then there’s no problem.” Rebus took the liberty of stretching out a hand and patting the bouncer’s shoulder. “I’ll just call Darryl and give him the story.”

“Could be a punter,” Deano blurted out.

“What’s that?”

“Selling the dope—could be one of the punters.”

Rebus shook his head and tried for a soulful look. “What I’ve heard is it’s someone closer to home. Someone very like yourself…” He had lifted his phone to his face, making show of scrolling down the names in his contact list. “Here we are,” he said, pressing the phone to his ear.

“Hang on a minute,” Deano said.

“What?”

“Just put the phone down.”

Rebus did so, and waited while the cogs turned inside the bouncer’s head.

“If you’re so sure it’s me, why piss around? Why let me know you know?”