Clarke checked her watch. ‘Go on then.’

Rebus waited till Hogan was gone, then thanked Siobhan again. ‘I wasn’t sure you’d be able to spare the time.’

‘We’re giving Jack Morton a wide berth,’ she explained. ‘Nothing to do but bite our fingernails and wait. What about you, what are you up to?’

‘Keeping my nose clean.’

She smiled. ‘I’ll bet.’

Hogan came back with three coffees. ‘Powdered milk, sorry.’

Clarke wrinkled her nose. ‘Actually, I’ve got to be getting back.’

She stood up and put on her coat.

‘That’s one I owe you,’ Hogan said, shaking her hand.

‘I won’t let you forget.’

She turned to Rebus. ‘See you later.’

‘Cheers, Siobhan.’

Hogan put her cup beside his own. ‘So we got Abernethy off my back, but did we get anything else?’

‘Wait and see, Bobby. I didn’t exactly have much time to devise a strategy.’

The phone rang, just as Hogan took a mouthful of scalding coffee. Rebus picked up.

‘Hello?’

‘Is that you, John?’

Country and western twanging in the background: Claverhouse.

‘You’ve just missed her,’ Rebus told him.

‘It’s not Clarke I wanted, it’s you.’

‘Oh?’

‘Something I thought you might be interested in. It’s just filtered down from NCIS.’

Rebus heard Claverhouse pick up a sheet of paper. ‘Sakiji Shoda ... I think I’ve pronounced that right. Flew into Heathrow from Kansai Airport yesterday. SouthEast Regional Crime Squad were apprised.’

‘Terrific.’

‘He didn’t hang around, caught a connection to Inverness. Stayed the night in a local hotel, and now I hear he’s in Edinburgh.’

Rebus looked out of the window. ‘Not exactly golfing weather.’

‘I don’t think he’s up here for the golf. According to the original report, Mr Shoda is a high-ranking member of the ... can’t make it out on the fax. Socky-something.’

‘Sokaiya?’

Rebus sat up.

‘That looks about right.’

‘Where is he now?’

‘I tried a couple of hotels. He’s staying at the Caly. What’s the Sokaiya?’

‘It’s the upper echelons of the Yakuza.’

‘How does it read to you?’

‘I was going to suggest he’s Matsumoto’s replacement, but it sounds to me like he’s a few grades higher.’

‘Matsumoto’s boss?’

‘Which meant he’s probably here to find out what happened to his boy.’

Rebus tapped a pen against his teeth. Hogan was listening, but not getting any of it. ‘Why Inverness? Why not direct to Edinburgh?’

‘I’ve been wondering that.’

Claverhouse sneezed. ‘How pissed off will he be?’

‘Somewhere between “mildly” and “very”. More importantly, how are Telford and Mr Pink Eyes going to react?’

‘You think Telford will drop Maclean’s?’

‘On the contrary, I think he’ll want to show Mr Shoda that he can do some things right.’

Rebus thought back to something Claverhouse had said. ‘South-East Crime Squad?’

‘Yes.’

‘Rather than Scotland Yard?’

‘Maybe the two are the same?’

‘Maybe. Do you have a contact number?’

Claverhouse gave it to him.

‘You’ll speak to Jack Morton tonight?’

Rebus asked.

‘Yes.’

‘Better tell him about this.’

‘Talk to you again.’