‘She’s going to be fine, John.’

She took his hands in hers, leaned towards him. A peck on the cheek, a kiss between friends. Rebus saw Rhona watching them.

‘John,’ she said, ‘see Patience out, will you?’

‘No, that’s all -’

‘Of course, yes,’ Rebus said.

They left the room together. Walked the first few steps in silence. Patience spoke first.

‘She’s great, isn’t she?’

‘Rhona?’

‘Yes.’

Rebus was thoughtful. ‘She’s terrific. Have you met her paramour?’

‘He’s gone back to London. I’ve ... I asked Rhona if she wanted to come stay with me. Hotels can be ...’

Rebus smiled tiredly. ‘Good idea. Then all you’d have to do is invite my brother over and you’d have the whole set.’

Her face cracked into an embarrassed grin. ‘I suppose it must look a bit like I’m collecting you all.’

‘The perfect hand of Unhappy Families.’

She turned to him. They were at the main doors of the hospital. She touched his shoulder. ‘John, I’m really sorry about Sammy. Anything I can do, you’ve only got to ask.’

‘Thanks, Patience.’

‘But asking for things has never been your strong point, has it? You just sit in silence and hope they come to you.’

She sighed. ‘I can’t believe I’m saying this, but I miss you. I think that’s why I took in Sammy. If I couldn’t be close to you, at least I could be close to someone who was. Does that make any sense? Is this where you say something about not deserving me?’

‘You’ve seen the script.’

He pulled back a little from her, just so he could look at her face. ‘I miss you, too.’

All the nights slumped at the bar, or in his chair at home, the long midnight drives so he could keep his restlessness alive. He’d have the TV and the hi-fi on at the same time, and the flat would still feel empty. Books he tried reading, finding he was ten pages in and couldn’t remember anything. Gazing from his window at the darkened flats across the street, imagining lives at rest.

All because he didn’t have her.

They embraced in silence for a while. ‘You’re going to be late,’ he said.

‘God, John, what are we going to do?’

‘See one another?’

‘That sounds like a start.’

‘Tonight? Mario’s at eight?’

She nodded and they kissed again. He squeezed her hand. Her head was turned to look at him as she pushed open the doors.

Emerson, Lake and Palmer: ‘Still ... You Turn Me On.’

Rebus felt a little giddy as he walked back to Sammy’s room. Only it wasn’t any more, wasn’t ‘Sammy’s room’. Now there was another patient there. They’d said there was always that possibility shortage of space, cutbacks. The woman was still asleep or unconscious, breathing noisily. Rebus ignored her and sat where Patience had been sitting.

‘I’ve got a message for you,’ Rhona said. ‘From Dr Morrison.’

‘Who’s he when he’s at home?’

‘I’ve no idea. All he said was, could he have his t-shirt back?’