‘There’s no score. So far all the darts have missed the board. How many cases are there?’

‘Twenty-seven originally, but eight of those are deceased.’

‘Any progress?’

Abernethy shook his head. ‘We got one to court, trial collapsed first day. Can’t prosecute if they’re ga-ga.’

‘Well, for your information, here’s where the Lintz case stands. I can’t prove he was and is Josef Linzstek. I can’t disprove his story of his participation in the war, or how he came to Britain.’

Rebus shrugged.

‘Same tale I’ve been hearing up and down the country.’

‘What did you expect?’

Rebus was picking at a croissant.

‘Shame about this coffee,’ Abernethy said. ‘Any decent Gaffs in the neighbourhood?’

So they went to a cafe, where Abernethy ordered a double espresso, Rebus a decaf. There was a story on the front of the Record about a fatal stabbing outside a nightclub. The man reading the paper folded it up when he’d finished his breakfast and took it away with him.

‘Any chance you’ll be talking to Lintz today?‘Abernethy asked suddenly.

‘Why?’

‘Thought I might tag along. It’s not often you get to meet someone who might have killed seven hundred Frenchies.’

‘Morbid attraction?’

‘We’re all a bit that way inclined, aren’t we?’

‘I’ve nothing new to ask him,’ Rebus said, ‘and he’s already been muttering to his lawyer about harassment.’

‘He’s well-connected?’

Rebus stared across the table. ‘You’ve done your reading.’

‘Abernethy the Conscientious Cop.’

‘Well, you’re right. He has friends in high places, only a lot of them have been hiding behind the curtains since this all started.’

‘Sounds like you think he’s innocent.’

‘Until proven guilty.’

Abernethy smiled, lifted his cup. ‘There’s a Jewish historian been going around. Has he contacted you?’

‘What’s his name?’

Another smile. ‘How many Jewish historians have you been in touch with? His name’s David Levy.’

‘You say he’s been going around?’

‘A week here, a week there, asking how the cases are going.’

‘He’s in Edinburgh just now.’

Abernethy blew on his coffee. ‘So you’ve spoken with him?’

‘Yes, as it happens.’

‘And?’

‘And what?’

‘Did he try his “Rat Line” story?’

‘Again, why the interest?’

‘He’s tried it with everyone else.’

‘What if he has?’

‘Jesus, do you always answer a question with a question? Look, as collator, this guy Levy’s name has popped up on my computer screen more than once. That’s why I’m interested.’

‘Abernethy the Conscientious Cop.’

‘That’s right. So shall we go see Lintz?’

‘Well, seeing you’ve come all this way ...’

On the way back to the flat, Rebus stopped at a newsagent’s and bought the Record. The stabbing had taken place outside Megan’s Nightclub, a new establishment in Portobello. The fatality had been a ‘doorman’, William Tennant, aged 25. The story had made the front page because a Premier League footballer had been on the periphery of the incident. A friend who’d been with him had received minor cuts. The attacker had fled on a motorbike. The footballer had offered no comment to reporters. Rebus knew him. He lived in Linlithgow and a year or so back had been caught speeding in Edinburgh, with - in his own words - a ‘wee bitty Charlie’, meaning cocaine, on his person.