There’d been even more discussion about what St Leonard’s was doing in a New Town case. The nearest cop shop to the flat was Gayfield Square, but additional officers had been drafted in from Leith, St Leonard’s and Torphichen.

‘Someone’s been pulling strings,’ was the universal view. ‘Drop everything, some posh bit’s done a runner.’

Privately, Rebus didn’t disagree.

‘Do you want anything?’ he said now. ‘Tea? Coffee?’

Costello shook his head.

‘Mind if I … ?’

Costello looked at him, seeming not to understand. Then realisation dawned. ‘Go ahead,’ he said. ‘The kitchen’s …’ He started to gesture.

‘I know where it is, thanks,’ Rebus said. He closed the door after him and stood for a moment in the hallway, glad to be out of the stifling drawing room. His temples throbbed and the nerves behind his eyes felt stretched. There were sounds coming from the study. Rebus stuck his head round the door.

‘I’m putting the kettle on.’

‘Good idea.’ Detective Constable Siobhan Clarke didn’t take her eyes from the computer screen.

‘Anything?’

‘Tea, please.’

‘I meant—’

‘Nothing yet. Letters to friends, some of her essays. I’ve got about a thousand e-mails to go through. Her password would help.’

‘Mr Costello says she never told him.’

Clarke cleared her throat.

‘What does that mean?’ Rebus asked.

‘It means my throat’s tickly,’ Clarke said. ‘Just milk in mine, thanks.’

Rebus left her and went into the kitchen, filled the kettle and searched for mugs and tea-bags.

‘When can I go home?’

Rebus turned to where Costello was standing in the hall.

‘Might be better if you didn’t,’ Rebus told him. ‘Reporters and cameras … they’ll keep on at you, phoning day and night.’

‘I’ll take the phone off the hook.’

‘Be like being a prisoner.’ Rebus watched the young man shrug. He said something Rebus didn’t catch.

‘Sorry?’

‘I can’t stay here,’ Costello repeated.

‘Why not?’

‘I don’t know … it’s just …’ He shrugged again, ran his hands through his hair, pulling it back from his forehead. ‘Flip should be here. It’s almost too much. I keep remembering that the last time we were here together, we were having a row.’

‘What was it about?’

Costello laughed hollowly. ‘I can’t even remember.’

‘This was the day she disappeared?’

‘The afternoon, yes. I stormed out.’

‘You argue a lot then?’ Rebus tried to make the question sound casual.