“That’s thorough.”

“The cars are used for storing stuff—stuff that needs to be kept away from prying eyes.”

“And a public car park is the place for that?”

“On a level no one ever has to use, with CCTV and a guard.”

“Okay, so you think there are other bodies in these cars?”

“I’ve no idea.” Rebus thought for a moment. “This has to be Owen Traynor. He meets with Rory Bell, they discuss what happened. Traynor knows we might come looking and persuades Bell the cars need to be moved.”

“Traynor?”

“Jessica’s father. He’s got a sharper brain than Bell. Even after Forbes and Jessica saw what was in that boot, it still took Bell a while to decide he needed to ditch car and body both. Traynor comes to town to broker peace and asks Bell if there’s anything else the police might find if they come looking…”

“You came looking yesterday.”

“And word got back—so the cars had to be got rid of.”

“Moved where, though?”

“How should I know? But sweeping up—that’s the sort of detail someone like Traynor would think of.” Rebus scratched a hand across his head. “Maybe in a lockup somewhere. He wouldn’t take them to the car park at the airport—too obvious.”

“What makes of car are we talking about?”

“One was a Citroën; the one under wraps I’m not sure about—red bodywork is all I saw.”

“You didn’t get the license plates?”

“I was interrupted by a punch to the gut.”

“What?”

“Different security baboon from today.”

“That’s why you thought you might need heft?”

“Yes.”

“I’m almost flattered. Why didn’t you report it?”

“Some things you keep to yourself.”

“Like being bested in a fight?”

“Did I say I was bested? You should see the other guy. Maybe that’s why he’s off work this morning.”

“I’ll take your word for that.”

As they headed for the exit, Fox asked if it was worth questioning the new guard. Rebus shook his head. As he slotted his credit card into the pay machine, he shared his thinking about the night of the crash.

“When Jessica and Forbes took a crowbar to that Ford Escort, CCTV was watching. Guard would have come running, but by then they’d seen enough to be freaked out…”

“Yes?”

“Still, there’s one exit and it only takes cards. Forbes was driving, so he’d be paying, too.”

“Meaning they’d have his details…leading them straight to Patrick McCuskey?”

“No sign of young Forbes, so they gave his room a going-over to let him know the score.”

“And the attack on his father?”

Rebus grew thoughtful, then offered a shrug.

They pulled into a service station for petrol. In the shop, Rebus bought a fresh packet of cigarettes, Fox a bottle of water.