‘Quite a lot, yes.’ As the trolley slid home into the back of the ambulance, Rebus looked down at his sodden clothes. ‘Any sign of Siobhan?’

‘That’s why I’m calling.’

‘What’s happened?’

‘Nothing’s happened. It’s just that I can’t reach her. They think she’s in the Botanics. There are half a dozen men out there looking for her.’

‘So?’

‘So there’s news about Quizmaster.’

‘And you’re bursting to tell someone?’

‘I suppose so, yes.’

‘I’m not sure you’ve got the right person, Bain, I’m a bit tied up right now.’

‘Oh.’

Rebus was inside the ambulance now, seated across from the trolley. Jean had her eyes closed, but when he reached for her hand, his pressure was returned.

‘Sorry?’ he said, having missed what Bain had just said.

‘Who should I tell then?’ Bain repeated.

‘I don’t know.’ Rebus sighed. ‘Okay, tell me what it is.’

‘It’s Special Branch,’ Bain said, the words streaming out. ‘One of the e-mail addresses Quizmaster was using, it traces back to Philippa Balfour’s account.’

Rebus didn’t understand: was Bain trying to say that Flip Balfour had been Quizmaster … ?

‘I think it makes sense,’ Bain was saying now. ‘Taken with Claire Benzie’s account.’

‘I’m not getting you.’ Jean’s eyelids were fluttering. A sudden jolt of pain, Rebus guessed. He lessened the pressure on her hand.

‘If Benzie did lend her laptop to Philippa Balfour, we’ve got two computers in the same place, both used by Quizmaster.’

‘Yes?’

‘And if we rule out Ms Balfour as a suspect …’

‘We’re left with someone who had access to both?’

Silence for a moment, and then Bain: ‘I think the boyfriend’s back in the frame, don’t you?’

‘I don’t know.’ Rebus was having trouble concentrating. He ran the back of his hand across his forehead, feeling perspiration there.

‘We could always ask him …’

‘Siobhan’s gone to meet Quizmaster,’ Rebus said. Then he paused. ‘She’s at the Botanics, you say?’

‘Yes.’

‘How do we know?’

‘Her car’s parked right outside.’

Rebus thought for a second: Siobhan would know they were looking for her. Leaving the car in full view was too big a giveaway …

‘What if she’s not there?’ he said. ‘What if she’s meeting him somewhere else?’

‘How can we find out?’

‘Maybe Costello’s flat …’ He looked down at Jean. ‘Look, Bain, I really can’t do this … not right now.’

Jean’s eye opened. She mouthed something.

‘Hang on, Bain,’ Rebus said. Then he lowered his head to Jean’s.

‘Fine …’ he heard her slur.

She was telling him she’d be okay; that he had to help Siobhan now. Rebus turned his head, his eyes meeting those of Ellen Wylie, who was standing on the roadway, waiting for the doors to close. She nodded slowly, letting him know she’d stay with Jean.