“Spent seated, judging by the way the bones have fused.”

“Professor, are we talking about a skeleton here?”

“There’s skin, but it has all but mummified. Hard to say much more right now. Body probably wasn’t in the water for more than a couple of days—the dock isn’t exactly tidal, so it almost certainly was disposed of there rather than being washed up from elsewhere.” She grew thoughtful. “That’s about as much as I was able to tell DCI Page. Sure you still want that walk?”

“I’m sure,” Rebus said, holding open the door.

They climbed from the Cowgate to Chambers Street, Rebus working hard to keep up with her.

“So you’re the notorious John Rebus?” she asked.

“You must be thinking of someone else.”

“I don’t think so. You knew Professors Gates and Curt?”

“Worked with them for years.”

“I think it was Professor Curt who mentioned you. He used to teach me, back in the day. You featured in a few of his war stories.” They were passing the museum, and she asked him if he’d been in.

“Not since it reopened,” he admitted.

“You should.”

“Are you sure about this corpse, Professor Quant?”

“My name’s Deborah. And I’ll admit I have more questions than answers right now.”

“Nothing to identify the body?”

“He was naked when they pulled him out of the water. No obvious tattoos or scars. Fair haired, five feet ten. I’d say he weighed around a hundred and seventy pounds at one time—bit of a paunch. Someone from Forensics will be there when we do the next examination. There were fibers stuck to the body. I’m guessing he was wrapped in something.” She stopped walking for a moment. “I did read somewhere about a similar case—husband couldn’t bear to part with his wife, so he left her in the chair where she died, wouldn’t let anyone into the room for the best part of five years.”

“You think that’s what happened here?”

“All I know is there are no immediate signs of violence.”

“Who spotted the body?”

“A jogger. Usual story—mistook it for a bag of rubbish at first.” She had resumed walking, turning left out of Chambers Street and heading down Bristo Place. “We’re almost there,” she said, checking her watch again. “And for once I’m going to start on time.”

“You lecture in the medical faculty?”

She nodded. “Are you going all the way back to the mortuary now to collect your car?”

“Yes,” he admitted, earning a smile. “What time’s the second autopsy?”

“If I can find a willing helper, four forty-five. Will I see you there?”

“Hopefully.”