His pride wouldn’t let him kowtow to people like Hunter and Mathieson — they were men, not gods. And he hated people putting one over on him, which was exactly what would be happening if he gave in. But … but … He kept seeing those hundreds of faceless workers, driving to work in their new cars, or signing on in a sweltering dole office. One man’s life against thousands … It wasn’t fair, it shouldn’t be down to him to decide.
Well, what was stopping him taking it elsewhere? He drove into town along Corstorphine Road, past the office suite used by Mensung, and decided to drop into Torphichen Place. Davidson probably wouldn’t be there at this hour, but he could find out what was happening with Gillespie’s files.
The duty desk officer let him through the door. Rebus walked along the silent hall and up the stairs. The only person in the CID room was Rab Burns.
‘Hiya, John, what brings you here? The urbane conversation? The ersatz coffee?’
‘Bags of rubbish, to be precise.’
‘Eh?’
So Rebus explained, and Burns shook his head. ‘I don’t know anything about them.’
‘Maybe they were locked away at close of play.’
‘They’d be in the cupboard. Hold on, I’ll fetch the key.’ But there was nothing in the cupboard. ‘You don’t suppose they could have been thrown out by mistake?’
A shiver went across Rebus’s shoulders. ‘Mind if I use your phone?’ He punched in Davidson’s number and waited until the detective answered. ‘It’s me, where are the files?’
‘John, I was going to call you.’
‘Where are the files?’
‘Orders, John.’
‘What?’
‘They were requisitioned. I was going to tell you in the morning.’
‘Who was it?’
Davidson was a long time answering. ‘The DCC’s office.’
Rebus slammed down the receiver. Allan bloody Gunner! ‘Any idea of the DCC’s home number, Rab?’
‘Oh aye, we’re close friends like.’
Rebus’s look shut him up. They found the number on the Emergency roster. Rebus rang and waited and waited. A woman picked up the receiver. There was laughter in the background. A party, maybe a dinner party.
‘Mr Gunner, please.’
‘Who shall I say?’
‘Walt Disney.’
‘Pardon?’
Rebus was shaking with anger. ‘Just get him.’
A full minute later, Gunner lifted the receiver. ‘Who is this?’
‘It’s Rebus. What the fuck are you playing at?’
‘How dare you speak to me like that!’ The words were hissed, Gunner not wanting his guests in the other room to hear.
‘All right then. With respect, sir, what the fuck are you playing at?’
‘What do you mean?’
‘The Gillespie files, where are they?’
‘In the incinerator.’
And Gunner cut the connection. Rebus tried again, but the line was busy — the receiver had been left off the hook. Rebus grabbed the Emergency roster from Burns and looked down it for Gunner’s address.
‘You can borrow my computer if you like,’ Burns said.
‘What for?’
‘To write your letter of resignation.’
‘Rab,’ Rebus said to him, ‘you stole that line from me.’
Rebus gave the bell a good long ring. Gunner didn’t look surprised as he unlocked the door.
‘Come into the study,’ he said angrily.
As Rebus followed him, he heard the sounds of the dinner party. Instead of following Gunner into the study, he walked to a closed door and opened it.
‘Evening,’ he said. ‘Sorry to drag the host away, we’ll only be a minute.’
Then he smiled at the guests, closed the door again, and went into the study. Around the table had been seated the Lord Provost and his wife, the chief constable and his wife, and Gunner’s wife. There were two other place settings, one for Gunner himself.
‘Sir lain couldn’t make it then?’ Rebus guessed.
Gunner closed the study door. ‘He’ll be joining us for coffee.’
‘Cosy.’
‘Look, Rebus — ’
‘I had a little think on the way here, and something occurred to me. Here it is. McAnally wasn’t in Charters’ cell to get to the bottom of anything; he was there so you could be sure Charters
‘That’s up to you.’
Rebus shook his head. ‘No, I’m worthless. It’s up to people like
The doorbell rang again, and Gunner walked out, returning with Sir Iain Hunter.
‘Well, Inspector,’ Hunter said, removing his topcoat, ‘you do seem to pop up everywhere.’ He slipped a hand into his pocket and pulled out a cassette. ‘It’s all there,’ he said, handing it to Gunner.
Rebus felt the floor move beneath him. ‘You were bugged?’ he said.
Hunter smiled. ‘Thank God he didn’t make us
Rebus nodded. ‘I begin to get it.’
‘Sir Iain,’ Gunner said, ‘has been gathering evidence of an embarrassing scandal.’
‘A scandal,’ Rebus added, ‘that will conveniently lack one important name. I should’ve known the Scottish Office was involved from the start. I can’t see a prison governor, especially one like Big Jim Flett, covering up McAnally’s record on the say-so of the police alone. But the DCC backed up by the Permanent Secretary … well, that would be a different story. After all, the Scottish Office pulls the purse-strings.’ His eyes fixed on Hunter. ‘And a lot of other strings besides.’
‘Inspector Rebus,’ Hunter said coolly, ‘it is a fact of life that you simply
‘Even if he’s in it up to his eyeballs?’
‘Even then.’
‘This stinks,’ Rebus said. ‘What’s the tape? An insurance policy?’
‘I’m preparing a file,’ Gunner said. ‘Unofficially, and to be kept under lock and key.’
‘And if anything should happen to leak out in future …?’
‘The file will show,’ said Hunter, ‘that Charters and others acted unlawfully.’
‘To the extent of murder?’ Hunter nodded. ‘What about Mathieson? Will he be implicated?’ Rebus smiled. ‘Sorry, daft question. Of course he will. You’d sell everything to the court to save your own neck, you — ’
‘Hypocrite?’ Hunter suggested. ‘Hypocrisy is acceptable if it is for the public good.’
‘You know,’ Gunner added, ‘I could have you booted off the force.’
‘I’d fight you all the way.’
Gunner smiled. ‘I know you would.’
Hunter touched Gunner’s arm. ‘We’ve kept your guests waiting long enough, Allan.’
Gunner’s eyes were still on Rebus. ‘Under normal circumstances, you’d be welcome to join us.’
‘I wouldn’t join you if you were coming apart at the seams.’
