Page considered this, leaning back and folding his arms. He was about to ask something, but Clarke got there first.

“What can you tell us about Thomas Robertson?”

“Look, I’m giving it to you straight—not holding back.”

“And we appreciate that, Mr. Hammell,” Page assured him.

“Okay then.” Hammell paused. “He’s the one you think snatched Annette.”

“Is that why you were in Aberdeen?”

“Robertson has previous.”

“Not in the abduction line he doesn’t.”

“No, but he probably knows a few villains up where he comes from.”

“You were finding out if one of them might have taken her? Why would they do that?”

“To get at me.”

“And did you make any progress?”

“Nobody’s talking. But Robertson’s name’s out there now—they know I want a word with him…”

The room fell silent again until Siobhan Clarke asked a question.

“Who told you Thomas Robertson was of interest to us?”

“What?” Hammell’s eyes narrowed.

“It’s not common knowledge.”

“Isn’t it?”

“No,” Clarke stated.

“Well, his name’s out there.”

“Yes, but who told you?”

His eyes met hers. “I don’t remember,” he said, his voice level and emotionless.

And for some reason, Siobhan Clarke knew.

Who else was it going to be, after all?

“What are you doing here?”

Rebus looked up from his toasted sandwich. “It’s a café,” he replied. “I’m having something to eat.”

“The usual?” the guy behind the counter called to Clarke.

“Just a flat white,” she told him, sitting down opposite Rebus.

“Didn’t realize you had a monopoly on this place,” Rebus commented, glancing through the window towards Leith Walk.

“I don’t.”

“But you’re annoyed I’m here.”

“I’m annoyed at you full stop.”

Rebus put down the sandwich and wiped his fingers on the tissue-thin napkin. “What’ve I done now?”

“You went and talked to Frank Hammell, didn’t you?”

“Is that what he says?”

“He didn’t have to say it.”

“Does Page know?”

He watched her shake her head. The coffee arrived. It was instant, some granules floating on the surface.

“Are you going to tell him?”

She glanced up at him. “This is the sort of thing that would have Fox and his team dancing in the street.”

“When Thomas Robertson went AWOL, my first thought was that Hammell had nabbed him.”

“Something you decided to keep to yourself.”

“I went to see Hammell. He denied it.”

“So you gave him Robertson’s name?”

“Half the internet knew we’d lifted someone for questioning. It would have taken him ten minutes to find out what I told him.”

She placed her elbows against the edge of the table and leaned in towards him. “You’re not CID, John. This isn’t your job anymore.”