She stared at the uniform who’d asked, but there was no malice apparent. ‘Yes,’ she confirmed. ‘He did all right.’

‘Better than some,’ another voice said. She turned her head, but there were three officers there, all Gayfield-based. None was looking at her. She reached out a hand for her coffee, but didn’t pick it up, fearing her trembling would be noticed. Instead, she turned her attention to Siobhan’s notes on the German student. She could make a start, busy herself with phone calls.

Just as soon as she got the words better than some out of her head.

*

Siobhan was sending another message to Quizmaster. She’d taken twenty minutes getting it right.

Hellbank solved. Flip’s body found there. Do you want to talk?

It didn’t take long for him to respond.

How did you solve it?

Anagram of Arthur’s Seat. Hellbank the hillside’s name.

Was it you who found the body?

No. Was it you who killed her?

No.

But connected to the game. You don’t think anyone was helping her?

I don’t know. Do you wish to continue?

Continue?

Stricture awaits.

She stared at the screen. Did Flip’s death mean so little to him?

Flip’s dead. Someone killed her at Hellbank. I need you to come forward.

His reply took time coming through.

Can’t help.

I think you can, Quizmaster.

Undergo Stricture. Perhaps we can meet there.

She thought for a moment. What is the game’s goal? When does it end?

There was no answer. She was aware of a figure standing behind her: Rebus.

‘What’s Lover Boy saying?’

‘“Lover Boy”?’

‘You seem to be spending a lot of time together.’

‘That’s the job.’

‘I suppose it is. So what’s he saying?’

‘He wants me to go on playing the game.’

‘Tell him to sod off. You don’t need him now.’

‘Don’t I?’

The phone rang; Siobhan picked up.

‘Yes … that’s fine … of course.’ She looked up at Rebus, but he was sticking around. When she ended the call, he raised an eyebrow expectantly.

‘The Chief Super,’ she explained. ‘Now that Grant’s got liaison, I’m to stick with the computer angle.’

‘Meaning?’

‘Meaning find out if there’s any way of tracing Quizmaster. What do you reckon: Crime Squad?’

‘I doubt those buggers could spell “modem”, never mind use one.’

‘But they’ll have contacts in Special Branch.’

Rebus accepted as much with a shrug.

‘The other thing I need to do is canvass Flip’s friends and family again.’

‘Why?’

‘Because I couldn’t have got to Hellbank on my own.’

Rebus nodded. ‘You don’t think she did either?’

‘She needed to know London tube lines, geography and the Scots language, Rosslyn Chapel and crossword puzzles.’

‘A tall order?’

‘That’s my guess.’

Rebus was thoughtful. ‘Whoever Quizmaster is, he needed to know all those things too.’

‘Agreed.’