“If Saunders did have some hold over him…” She let this sink in. “And now Saunders knows Elinor Macari’s coming gunning for him…”

“He might want to talk to Stefan.”

“If nothing else, Gilmour probably knows a few sharp lawyers.”

Rebus nodded slowly.

“If Saunders does have something on Stefan Gilmour—something big—do you have any inkling what it might be?”

“No.”

“And if you dig down deep enough and hit the truth—do you take it to Malcolm Fox, or do you arrange another meeting of the Saints?”

“I’d have to give it some thought.”

“And you really think you can do all of this without Fox catching on?”

“I don’t really give a damn if he catches on.”

“No?”

Rebus shook his head. “But I know what Miles Davis would say if he did.”

Clarke narrowed her eyes. “What would he say?”

“He’d say: So what.”

Day Four

Day Four

7

7

We can’t question Saunders,” Malcolm Fox stated.

He was in the office at the Sheriff Court, removing the lid from the tea Rebus had brought him. Rebus had arrived first, weaving his way through the concourse, past the mix of law officials and their clients—the two groups not easily confused—before finding the door to Fox’s room firmly locked. By the time Fox arrived, Rebus had been out again to a café on George IV Bridge, returning with the gift of tea. He had asked if he could have a key, but Fox had shaken his head and Rebus had decided against pressing the point just yet. He had then thrown Saunders’s name into the mix.

“Why not?” he asked now, trying his own tea and finding it wanting.

“Because the Solicitor General ruled it out from the off. I’m looking at Summerhall and Summerhall only.”

“But surely Saunders is part of that.”

“Elinor Macari’s team will be questioning Mr. Saunders.”

“But you must know that’s going to make your job all the harder?” Rebus persisted.

“Nevertheless, it’s what the Solicitor General wants.”

“And you just left it at that?” Rebus sounded bemused.

“I’m not like you. Someone in authority tells me to do something, I don’t question it.” Fox slurped at the tea, savoring it.

“I still think it would help us ask the right questions of the Saints if we hear Saunders’s side of the story first.”

“I don’t disagree. And once Saunders has been interviewed by Macari’s team, we’ll take a look at the transcripts.”

“So we wait for that to happen before we bring them in?”

“I doubt it would be practical to ‘bring in’ George Blantyre.”

“So we interview him at home?”

Fox fixed him with a look. “You’re sure you can do this?”

Rebus nodded.

“And of course there’s your own interview to consider.”

“Of course.”