'You don't see a connection?' He sounded disappointed.
'Sorry to play Scully to your Mulder, but couldn't it be that you're seeing connections here because nothing's happening in your own case?'
'Which translated means: get your nose out of my business, Rebus?'
'No, it's just that I...' She rubbed at her forehead. 'I only know one thing.'
'What's that?'
'I haven't eaten since breakfast.' She, looked at him. 'The dinner offer still stand?'
They ate at Pataka's on Causewayside. She asked how his daughter was doing. Sammy was down south, some specialist physiotherapy place. Rebus told her there wasn't much news.
'She'll get over it though?'
Meaning the hit and run which had left Sammy in a wheelchair. Rebus nodded; didn't say anything for fear of tempting fate.
'And how's Patience?'
Rebus helped himself to more tarka dal, though he'd eaten way too much as it was. Siobhan repeated the question.
'Nosy little beggar, aren't you?'
She smiled: Dezzi had said the selfsame thing. 'Sorry, I thought maybe at your age it was just that your hearing was going.'
'Oh, I heard you all right.' He lifted a forkful of ginger murgh, but put it down again untouched.
'Me, too,' Siobhan said. 'I always eat too much in Indian restaurants.'
I always eat too much all the time.'
'So the pair of you have split up then?' Siobhan hid behind her glass of wine.
'We parted amicably.'
'I'm sorry.'
'How did you want us to part?'
No. I just... the two of you seemed...' She looked down at her plate. 'Sorry, I'm talking rubbish here. I only met her four or five times, and here I am pontificating.'
'You don't look much like a pontiff.'
'Bless you for that.' She glanced at her watch. 'Not bad: eighteen minutes without shop talk.'
'Is that a new record?' He finished his beer. 'I notice we haven't been talking much about your private life. Seen anything of Brian Holmes?'
She shook her head, made show of looking around the restaurant. Three other couples in the place, and one family of four. Ethnic music kept low enough that it didn't intrude but ensured a conversation stayed private.
'I saw him a couple of times after he left the force. Then we lost touch.' She shrugged.
'Last I heard,' Rebus said, 'he was in Australia; thinking of staying there.' He pushed some of the food around his plate. 'You don't think it's worth asking around about Supertramp and Queensberry House?'
Siobhan mimicked the noise of a buzzer as she checked her watch again. 'Twenty minutes dead. You've let the side down, John.'
'Come on.'
She sat back. 'You're probably right. Thing is, the boss has only given me a couple more days.'
'Well, what other leads have you got?'
'None,' she admitted. 'Just a slew of cranks and gold-diggers to put out of the frame.'
Their waiter materialised and asked if they wanted any more drinks. Rebus looked at Siobhan. 'I'm driving,' he told her. 'You go ahead.'
'In that case I'll have another glass of white.'
'And another pint for me,' Rebus said, handing the waiter his empty glass. Then, to Siobhan: 'It's only my second. My vision doesn't start blurring till four or five.'
'But you were drinking earlier: I could smell it.'
'So much for the extra-strong mints,' Rebus muttered. 'How long till it starts affecting your job.' His eyes smouldered. 'Et tu, Siobhan?'
'Just wondering,' she said, not about to apologise for the question.
He shrugged. 'I could stop drinking tomorrow.'
'But you won't.'
'No, I won't. And I won't stop smoking either, or swearing, or cheating at crosswords.'
'You cheat at crosswords?'
'Doesn't everybody?' He watched as one of the couples got up to leave. They left the restaurant hand in hand. 'Funny,' he said.
'What?'
'Lorna Grieve's husband, he has an interest in Rosslyn, too.'
Siobhan snorted. 'Speaking of changing the subject...'
'They bought a house in the village,' Rebus went on, that's how serious he is.'
'So?'
'He might know your Mr Sithing. He could even be a member of the Knights.'
'So?'
'So you're beginning to sound like a record with the needle stuck.' He stared at her until, suitably chastened, she mouthed the word 'sorry' before taking another glug of wine. 'An interest in Rosslyn connects your Supertramp to my murder case. And Mr Supertramp also might have had an interest in Queensberry House.'
'You're turning three cases into one?'
I'm just saying there are--'
'Connections, I know. The old six degrees of separation.'
'The old what?'
She looked at him. 'Okay, maybe it was after your time. |It's to do with how anyone on the planet is connected to anyone else by only six links.' She paused. 'I think that's right anyway.'
As her second glass of wine arrived, she drained the first.
'It's at least got to be worth talking to Sithing.'
She wrinkled her nose. 'I didn't like him.' I'll sit in with you, if you like.'
'You are trying to hijack my case.' She smiled to let him know she was joking. But inside, she wasn't so sure.
After their meal, Rebus asked if she fancied a nightcap in Swany's, but she shook her head.
'I wouldn't want to lead you into temptation,' she said. 'I'll give you a lift home then.' Rebus, heading for the Saab, gave a valedictory wave towards the pub's bright lights. Sleet was blowing horizontally down Causeway-side. They got into the car and he started the engine, making sure the heating was on full.
'Did you notice the weather today?' Siobhan asked. 'What about it?'
'Well, it was cold, raining, windy and sunny - all at the same time. It was like four seasons in one.'
'You can't say you don't get your money's worth in Edinburgh. Here, hang on a sec' He reached over to open the glove compartment, saw Siobhan stiffen her body, thinking he was going to touch her. He smiled, found the tape he was looking for.
'Little treat for you,' he said, pushing the tape home. She'd flinched; she'd thought he was making a move on her. Jesus. She wasn't much older than Sammy.
'What is it?' she asked. He had the idea she was blushing; hard to tell in the semi-dark interior. He handed her the case. 'Crime of the Century,' she recited. 'Supertramp's finest moment,' he explained. 'You like all this old music, don't you?'
'And that Blue Nile tape you made for me. I might be a dinosaur in many respects, but I'm open- minded about rock.'
They headed for the New Town. Divided city, Rebus was thinking. Divided between the Old Town to the south and the New Town to the north. And divided again between the east end (Hibs FC) and west (Hearts). A which seemed defined by its past as much as by its present, and only now, with the parliament coming, looking
