'Look, I'm sorry.' The man had turned from fire to sun, his grin trying for embarrassed apology. T didn't mean to...'
Linford was taking out his notebook, enjoying the sudden reversal. 'I've heard of road rage, but parking rage is a new one on me. They might have to rewrite the rule book for you, pal' He peered out at the Sierra, took down its registration. 'Don't worry about your name.' He tapped the notebook. 'I can get it from this.'
'My name's Nic Hughes.'
'Well, Mr Hughes, do you think you're calm enough now to talk about this?'
'No problem, it's just that I was in a hurry.' He nodded towards the building. 'You've got some business with...?'
'That's not something I can discuss, sir.'
'Course not, no, it's just that I was...'The sentence trailed off.
'You'd best get to your meeting.' The revolving door was moving, Barry Hutton coming out, buttoning his suit. Linford knew him from newspaper photos. 'I was just off anyway, as it happens.' Linford beamed at Hughes, then reached for the ignition. 'Spot's all yours.' Hughes stepped back. Hutton, unlocking his own car - a red Ferrari - saw him.
'Fuck's sake, Nic, you're supposed to be upstairs.'
'Right away, Barry.'
'Right away's not good enough, arsehole!'
And now Hutton was looking at Linford, frowning. He tutted. 'Letting someone use your space, Nic? You're not the man I thought you were.' Grinning, Hutton got into the Ferrari, but then got out again, came over to the BMW.
Linford thinking: I've blown it; he knows my face now, knows my car. Following him is going to be a nightmare... Tow don't not raise hackles... Get in people's faces.' Well, he'd got in the Cosworth driver's face, and here was his reward, Barry Hutton standing in front of the BMW, pointing towards him.
'You're a cop, aren't you? Don't ask me how it is you lot stick out, even in a motor like that. Look, I told the other two, and that's all I'm saying, right?'
Linford nodded slowly. The 'other two': Wylie and Hood. Linford had read their report.
'Good,' Hutton said, turning on his heels. Linford and Hughes watched as the Ferrari's engine fired, that low rumble like money in the bank. Hutton kicked up dust as he raced out of the car park.
Hughes was staring at Linford. Linford stared back. 'Do something for you?' he said.
'What's going on?' The man had trouble getting the words out.
Linford shook his head, smallest of victories, and put the Beamer into gear. Crawled out of the car park, wondering if it was worth trying to catch up with Hutton. Saw Hughes in his rearview. Something not right about the man. The warrant card hadn't just pacified him, it had freaked him out.
Something to hide? It was funny how even church ministers could break into a sweat when there was a copper in front of them. But this guy... No, he looked nothing like the description. All the same... all the same...
At the lights on Lothian Road, Barry Hutton was three cars in front. Linford decided he'd nothing to lose.
Big Ger Cafferty was on his own, parked outside Rebus's flat in a metallic-grey Jaguar XK8. Rebus, locking his own car, pretended he hadn't seen him. He walked towards the tenement door, hearing the electric hum of the Jag's window sliding down.
'Thought we might take another drive,' Cafferty called.
Rebus ignored him, unlocked the door, and went into the stairwell. As the door closed behind him, he stood there, debating with himself. Then he opened the door again. Cafferty was out of the car, leaning against it.
'Like the new motor?'
'You bought it?'
'You think I stole it?' Cafferty laughed.
Rebus shook his head. 'I just thought you might have been better off hiring, seeing how you're on the way out.'
'All the more reason for indulging myself while I'm here.'
Rebus looked around. 'Where's Rab?'
'Didn't think I'd need him.'
'I don't know whether to be flattered or insulted.'
Cafferty frowned. 'By what?'
'You coming here without a minder.'
'You said it yourself the other night: that was the time to take a pop at me. Now how about that drive?'
'How good a driver are you?'
Cafferty laughed again. 'It's true I'm a bit rusty, I just thought it might be more private.'
'For what?'
'Our little chat about Bryce Callan.'
They headed east, through the one-time slums of Craig-millar and Niddrie, now falling to the bulldozers.
'I've always thought', Cafferty said, 'that this should be the ideal spot. Views to Arthur's Seat, and Craigmillar Castle behind you. Yuppies would think they'd died and gone to heaven.'
'I don't think we say yuppies any more.'
Cafferty looked at him. 'I've been away a while.'
'True.'
'I see the old cop shop's gone.'
'Just moved around the corner.'
'And great God, all these new shopping centres.'
Rebus explained that it was called The Fort. Nothing to do with Craigmillar's old police station, whose nickname had been Fort Apache. They were past Niddrie now, following signs to Musselburgh.
'The place is changing so fast,' Cafferty mused.
'And I'm ageing fast just sitting here. Any chance of you getting to the point?'
Cafferty glanced in his direction. 'I've been making the point all along, it's just you've not been listening.'
'What is it you want to tell me about Callan?'
'Just that he called me.'
'He knows you're out, then?'
'Mr Callan, like many a wealthy expat, likes to keep abreast of Scottish current affairs.' Cafferty glanced at him again. 'Nervous, are you?'
'Why do you ask?'
'Your hand's on the door handle, like you're ready to bale out.'
Rebus moved his hand. 'You're setting me up for something.'
'Am I?'
'And I'd bet three months' salary there's nothing wrong with you.'
Cafferty kept his eyes on the road. 'So prove it.'
'Don't worry.'
'Me? What have I got to worry about? It's you that's the nervous one, remember.' They were silent for a moment. Cafferty slid his hands around the steering wheel. 'Nice car, though, isn't it?'
'And doubtless purchased with the honest sweat of your brow.'
'Others do my sweating for me. That's what makes a successful businessman.'
'Which brings us to Bryce Callan. You couldn't even get to speak to his nephew, and suddenly he calls you out of the blue?'
'He knows I know you.'
'And?'
