‘I must be seeing things,’ he said. ‘Because I could have sworn you were only halfway through a week’s much-needed leave.’
‘I come bearing gifts.’ Clarke gestured towards the desk.
‘There’s no place for bribery in Police Scotland, Detective Inspector Clarke. Can I invite you to step into my office for a carpeting?’ He started towards the door at the far end of the room, opening it and gesturing for Clarke to precede him into the cramped, windowless space.
‘Look,’ she began as soon as the door was closed. But Sutherland held up a hand to silence her, seating himself at his desk so that he was facing her.
‘Shocking as this news will be, we’re managing fine without you, Siobhan. I’ve got all the resources I need and a blank cheque should I need more.’
‘The flat move’s almost done, though.’
‘Great news — you can put your feet up for a couple of days.’
‘What if I don’t want to put my feet up?’
Sutherland’s eyes narrowed but he said nothing. Clarke held her hands up in a show of surrender.
‘But be honest with me — how’s it really going?’
‘A clear motive wouldn’t go amiss. And what friends we’ve been able to talk to haven’t exactly been forthcoming.’
‘They’re scared of something?’
Sutherland shrugged and ran a hand down his burgundy tie. He was in his early fifties and not far shy of retirement, but proud that he had kept his figure along with his hair, the latter the subject of unfounded rumours of a weave. ‘We’re getting help from the Met — they’re looking at his London contacts. Seems he wasn’t a great one for going to classes. Nightclubs and racecourses were more his thing.’ He broke off. ‘None of which should be of any interest to you.’ He changed position slightly on his chair. ‘How’s John doing?’
‘He says he can manage. He’d much rather I was at work, being useful and productive.’
‘Is that so?’ Sutherland managed a thin smile. Clarke felt she was losing this particular battle.
‘Will I see you later?’ she enquired.
‘Relegated to the sofa?’
‘I probably couldn’t be that cruel.’
‘Maybe I’ll risk it then.’
‘I bought extra provisions on the off-chance.’
He nodded his thanks. ‘Give me another hour or two?’
‘Careful you don’t burn out, Graham.’
‘If I do, they’ll need a fresh, fully rested replacement. Know anyone who’d fit the bill?
‘I’ll give it some thought, DCI Sutherland...’
iii
Rebus had to give a slight tug on Brillo’s lead. Having been for their evening walk to the Meadows, the dog had made for the tenement’s main door.
‘We’re both going to have to get used to this,’ Rebus said, pushing open the gate. ‘But trust me, in time you can get used to just about anything.’ He had managed to avoid looking up at the curtainless window of his old living room. When he unlocked the door to his new flat, he caught a slight aroma beneath the smell of fresh paint: the merest trace of the previous occupant. It wasn’t really perfume; it was a blend of who they’d been and the life they had lived. He had a note of Mrs Mackay’s new address in Australia, in case the redirection service failed. He had left something similar in his old flat. He had an inkling it had been bought to be let out to students — no real surprise there. Marchmont had always been student turf, the university just the other side of the Meadows. Rebus had only very occasionally had to complain about a noisy party, and even then not for several years. Were students cut from different cloth these days? Less rowdy; more... well, studious?
Walking into the living room, manoeuvring between boxes, he realised his computer had yet to be unpacked. No rush: they weren’t doing the broadband for another couple of days. At Siobhan’s suggestion he had one night begun composing a list of people he needed to notify of his changed circumstances. It hadn’t even covered half a sheet — and come to think of it, when was the last time he’d seen it? He could hear Brillo in the kitchen, feasting on dry food and fresh water. Rebus hadn’t bothered with dinner; he never seemed particularly hungry these days. There were a few bottles of beer in the kitchen, and several bottles of spirits sitting on the shelf of the alcove adjacent to the window. A couple of nice malts, but he wasn’t really in the mood. Music, though: he should select something special. He remembered moving into the upstairs flat with Rhona half a lifetime ago. He’d had a portable record player then and had put on the second Rolling Stones album, grabbing Rhona and dancing her around the vast-seeming room.
Only later had the walls begun to close in.
When he peered at the spines of his LPs, he saw that they weren’t in anything like the same order as upstairs. Not that there had been any real sense of cataloguing — it was more that he’d known pretty much where he’d find whatever he wanted to hear. Instead of the Stones, he decided on Van Morrison.
‘Aye, you’ll do,’ he said to himself.
Having eased the needle onto the vinyl, he stepped back. The record skipped. He looked down at the floor. Loose floorboard. He placed his foot on it again and the same thing happened. He stabbed a finger at the offender.
‘You’re on my list now, pal,’ he warned it, keeping his footsteps soft as he retreated to his chair.
It wasn’t long before Brillo curled up on the floor next to his feet. Rebus had promised himself that he’d unpack a few more boxes before bedtime, but he realised there was no urgency. When his phone buzzed, he checked the screen before answering: Deborah Quant. He’d asked her a while back if they were courting. She’d replied that they were friends with benefits — which seemed to suit both of them just fine.
‘Hiya, Deb.’
‘Settling in?’
‘Thought you might have popped round to check.’
‘Busy day, mostly thanks to your lot.’
‘I’m long retired, Deb.’ Rebus paused. ‘I’m guessing this is the Saudi student?’
‘Police and Procurator Fiscal don’t seem to trust me to establish cause of death any more.’
‘You reckon pressure’s being applied?’
‘From all sides — government here and in London, plus our friends in the media. Added to which, Muslim burials usually take place within two to three days — embassy are pushing for that to happen.’
‘Handy for whoever killed him, if you can’t keep the body for future examination...’
‘Which I’ve explained until I’m blue in the face.’
‘So it’s the full tourniquet, eh?’ He paused again. ‘I take it you didn’t find anything out of the ordinary?’
‘Thin-bladed knife, maybe four to six inches long.’
‘Did they know what they were doing?’
‘They went for his neck rather than chest, abdomen or stomach. I’m not a hundred per cent sure what that tells us, but then that’s not my job. Angle of incision suggests someone of similar height and probably right-handed. Can I assume you’ve been discussing it with Siobhan?’
‘She’s champing at the bit.’
‘But she’s a loyal friend, too.’
‘I’ve told her I’ll be fine from here in.’
‘So where are you right now?’
‘Chair in the living room, Brillo at my feet.’
‘And you’ve got the hi-fi set up, so all’s well with the world.’
‘Will I see you tomorrow?’
‘I’ll try.’
‘You work too hard.’ He listened to her laughter.
‘It was the right move to make — you do know that, don’t you?’
‘For the sake of my lungs, maybe.’