He was nearing Jessica’s room when the door opened. He recognized Alice Bell. She was with a young man. He had tousled hair and wore faded baggy denims, plus a black V-neck T-shirt. Clean-shaven, with pale green eyes.

“Bit of a limp you’ve got there,” Rebus said, indicating Forbes McCuskey’s left leg.

“Twisted my ankle.”

“Any whiplash to go with that?”

Bell was squeezing McCuskey’s forearm. “This is the policeman,” she told him.

“I’d kind of worked that out.”

Rebus slid his hands into his pockets. “Any chance we could have a word, Forbes?”

“What about?”

“Jessica’s accident.”

“What do you need to speak to me for?”

“We usually like to interview witnesses—helps us compile an accurate picture…”

“But I wasn’t there.”

“And your ankle’s just a coincidence?”

“Happened a few days back in the stairwell at Great King Street.”

“That’s true,” Alice Bell confirmed hurriedly.

Rebus nodded slowly, eyes flitting between the two. “Coincidence, then. But we’d still like to get a few details from you.”

“Tonight?”

“Tomorrow will do. You could come to Gayfield Square at ten.”

McCuskey thought for a moment. “Ten should be okay,” he decided.

Rebus handed him a card with his number on. “In case of complications. And if you need a lift back into town, I’ll be heading that way in five minutes.”

“We’ve got a taxi coming,” Bell said.

“Tomorrow, then.”

“Tomorrow,” Forbes McCuskey agreed.

Jessica’s father had appeared in the doorway. “Everything okay?” he asked.

“Fine, sir,” Rebus assured him, watching as McCuskey and Bell headed for the exit. Rebus turned towards Traynor. “Still managing to stay awake, then?”

“I’ve found a hotel room in town. They’re sending a car for me in half an hour or so.”

They had made their way into the room. “Hello again,” Rebus said by way of greeting to Jessica Traynor.

“Hello,” she answered.

“Nice of your friends to drop in.”

“Yes.”

“Especially when it’s such an effort for Forbes, him having hurt his leg and all.”

She didn’t bother replying.

“Is there something I should know?” Traynor asked.

Rebus shrugged. “Not really, sir. Just that there’s a train of thought says maybe a careful driver wasn’t behind the wheel.” He turned towards the patient. She still lay flat on her back, and her hair needed a wash. “I’m thinking maybe he wasn’t insured, or he had something in his system. All minor stuff as far as it goes, but fleeing the scene of an accident…and tampering with the scene…”

“Placing Jessica in the driver’s seat, you mean?” The muscles in Traynor’s face had tightened. He went to the side of the bed, looming over his daughter. “Is that what happened? Did that little shit leave you there, not even phoning an ambulance?”