‘Won’t do any harm to dust for prints. Everybody leaves something behind — a hair, a bit of saliva, maybe a footprint...’
‘You don’t sound hopeful.’
‘Lack of enthusiasm due to too little sleep,’ Clarke commented, taking out her phone, scrolling to ‘CSM’ in her address book and making the call. While she waited for it to be picked up, she made sure she had both officers’ full attention. ‘We have photos and physical description on file — I want them circulated PDQ. Shand is a creature of habit. If he’s out there, he’s going to become visible.’
‘And if he’s running, we just have to find him before anyone else.’
‘That, too,’ Clarke said, as Haj Atwal answered her call and asked why whatever she wanted couldn’t wait another hour.
Fox was seated at his desk, reading the copy of Maxine Dromgoole’s book that had arrived from the library service. He had already noted that it had been last borrowed just under a year back. Judging from the date stamps in the front, it had been popular when first published. Its title was The Ends of Justice: Scotland’s Greatest Unsolved Crimes. Bible John was in there, of course, as were the World’s End murders and Renee MacRae, but by far the longest chapter was dedicated to Maria Turquand. Nothing more recent, though; nothing to suggest that Robert Chatham had been feeding other titbits to his lover.
Hearing his name called, Fox looked up from his work. Alvin James was the only other person in the room. He was gesturing towards him, so Fox crossed to his desk. James was watching something on his laptop.
‘CCTV from outside a place called the Tomahawk Club, two Saturdays back. These must be the blokes Dromgoole was talking about.’
‘No sound?’
‘Just pictures, more’s the pity, and grainier than I’d like.’
Fox watched as three figures confronted Chatham. There was a good deal of finger-pointing and what looked like shouting. The leader of the group rose up on his toes to make himself appear taller. Chatham stood his ground, though, and seemed implacable. He was not about to be goaded into a fight, even after another doorman arrived as back-up. Then a fourth figure appeared and seemed to calm things down further, slinging an arm around the most hot-tempered of the group.
‘Looks like smoke rather than fire,’ Fox commented.
‘I still want to talk to them.’ James shut down the file and opened another. ‘And I’ve invited this ne’er-do-well in for a chat, too.’
Another grainy night-time video. Fox knew who he was watching, though he doubted anyone who didn’t know him would have been able to identify John Rebus.
‘They’re just talking,’ he said.
‘That they are. But as soon as Rebus leaves, Chatham gets out his phone and makes a call.’
‘Yes, it’s on his billing statement. He was speaking to his boss.’
‘But watch this.’ Chatham forwarded the recording. ‘See? Chatham asks his colleague to take over. Then he walks out of shot.’
‘Headed where?’
James gave a little smile. He clicked on a third file. ‘CCTV from outside a pub further down the street. See that phone box? Does that look like Robert Chatham opening its door?’
‘I suppose it does,’ Fox conceded.
‘Man carries a mobile with him, why use a public telephone?’
‘He didn’t want the call to be traceable?’ Fox offered. James nodded his agreement.
‘I’d love to know who he was calling.’
‘I doubt an interview with Rebus will give you any answers.’
‘You rang, m’lord?’
The two men looked up as Rebus walked in.
‘How did you get past the front desk?’ James demanded to know.
‘The front desk of a police station in my home city? As an ex-cop, I really haven’t a clue.’
‘I’m going to be having words with them,’ James stated.
‘So how goes it at the beating heart of the investigation?’ Rebus asked as he made a circuit of the room, pausing at Fox’s desk to pick up the copy of the Dromgoole book. ‘Any good?’ he asked Fox, waving it at him.
‘When I left my message,’ James interrupted, ‘I specified that you should phone and make an appointment for the interview.’
‘Well, I was in the area,’ Rebus responded. ‘But it looks like most of your crew sleep late, so unless one of you two wants the job, maybe I’ll come back another time...’
‘Now you’re here, maybe you should take a look at this,’ James said. Rebus walked around the desk, watching the film over James’s shoulder and nodding afterwards.
‘I’ve been wondering about that call.’
‘Chatham’s boss is called Kenny Arnott,’ Fox explained. ‘He runs a company supplying doormen to pubs and clubs.’
James was staring at Rebus. ‘What about the phone box?’
Rebus shrugged. ‘I wouldn’t mind knowing who he was calling.’
‘I’ll be requesting that information, don’t you worry.’ James closed the file and leaned back in his chair. ‘And while I’m doing that, Malcolm will be taking your statement.’
There was a momentary silence as Fox and Rebus made eye contact.
‘Fine,’ Malcolm Fox said.
He led the way to the interview room. There was a tape machine fixed to its table, plus a camera pointing down from one corner of the ceiling. Fox took a seat and motioned for Rebus to sit opposite.
‘No notes?’ Rebus asked.
‘Not needed.’
‘Recording?’
Fox shook his head. ‘Let’s make this quick. You’re here because you twice spoke to Chatham in the days before he died. Once in the café, and prior to that outside a bar he was working.’
‘I can’t deny it. I also had nothing to do with his death.’
‘We both know this is a waste of time, but one thing stands out — he was spooked by something you said.’
Rebus processed the information. ‘Agreed,’ he said.
‘So who did he call, and why?’
‘He used a public phone to keep things nice and private.’
‘That’s how it looks.’
‘I wish I could help, Malcolm,’ Rebus said with a shrug.
‘The only thing the pair of you talked about was the Turquand case?’
‘Correct.’
‘It was a brief chat that first night?’
‘You saw it yourself on the tape — I wanted it to be longer but he said he was knackered. You’ve got the CCTV — does anyone rock up after I left, someone he might have arranged to meet?’
‘Detective Superintendent James has been the one watching the footage.’
‘Maybe I should take a look, too.’
‘Feel free to ask him.’
‘I’m asking you.’
Fox shook his head slowly. He was still shaking it as the door opened. James himself was standing there.
‘Slight problem,’ he said. ‘I’ve been called to Gartcosh — got to brief the chiefs.’
‘I think I can hold the fort till the others get back,’ Fox said.
‘Thing is, Maxine Dromgoole’s just turned up at the front desk. You okay to do her interview, too?’
‘Of course,’ Fox stated.
James was looking at Rebus. ‘Sorry we’re kicking you out.’
‘I’m devastated.’
James decided to ignore this, leaving the door ajar as he made his exit.
‘He doesn’t like to keep his masters waiting, does he?’ Rebus commented.
‘It’s true what he says, though — we only have the one interview room, so...’
‘Let me sit in.’
Fox stared at him. ‘Why?’
‘Because there’s something I know that you don’t.’
‘It wouldn’t exactly be following procedure.’
‘Nobody’ll know if you don’t tape it.’
Fox leaned back a little and folded his arms, waiting for more, so Rebus obliged.