Ian Rankin - A Question of Blood

“I don’t see that.”

“You forget, I’ve dealt with their kind before.”

“No old scores to settle?” Hogan was trying to keep his voice down.

“It’s not like that.”

“Then what is it?”

“An ex-soldier goes off on one, last people you’ll see afterwards are his old employers. They don’t want the publicity.” The two men were out in the corridor now. There was no sign of the army duo. “More than that, they don’t want any blame attaching. That’s why they steer clear.”

“So?”

“So, the Gruesome Twosome are sticking to this like shit to a shoe sole. There’s got to be more to it.”

“More to it than what?” Despite his best endeavors, Hogan’s voice had risen. People were looking towards them. “Herdman paid for that boat somehow…”

Rebus shrugged. “Just do me a favor, Bobby. Get hold of Herdman’s army record.” Hogan stared at him. “I’m willing to bet Whiteread’s got a copy with her. You could ask to see it. Tell her you’re just curious. She might be willing.”

“Jesus Christ, John…”

“You want to know why Herdman did what he did? That’s why you brought me here, unless I’m mistaken.” Rebus looked around, to make sure no one was within earshot. “First time I met them, they were crawling all over Herdman’s boat shed. Next thing, they’re snooping around his yacht. Now they’re heading back there. It’s like they’re looking for something.”

“What?”

Rebus shook his head. “I don’t know.”

“John… Complaints and Conduct are just about to start crawling all over you .”

“So?”

“So is there any way you could be… I don’t know…”

“You think I’m reading too much into it?”

“You’re under a lot of stress.”

“Bobby, either you think I’m up to the job or you don’t.” Rebus folded his arms. “Which is it?” Rebus’s mobile was trilling again.

“You going to answer that?” Rebus shook his head. Bobby Hogan sighed. “Okay, I’ll talk to Whiteread.”

“Don’t mention my name. And don’t seem too worried about getting hold of the files. You’re just curious, that’s all.”

“I’m just curious,” Hogan echoed.

Rebus gave him a wink and moved off. Siobhan was waiting at the entrance to the school.

“Are we going to talk to James Bell?” she asked.

Rebus nodded. “But first, let’s see how good a detective you really are, DS Clarke.”

“I think we both know the answer.”

“Okay, then, smarty-pants. You’re army personnel, fairly senior level, and you’re dispatched from Hereford to Edinburgh for a week or so. Where do you base yourself?”

Siobhan thought about it as she got into her car. She slid the key into the ignition and turned to Rebus. “Redford Barracks maybe? Or the Castle: there’s a garrison there, isn’t there?”

Rebus nodded: they were decent enough answers. He just didn’t think they were right. “Does Whiteread look as though she roughs it? Besides, she’d want to stick close to the action.”

“Fair enough: a local hotel, then.”

Rebus nodded. “That’s what I reckon. Either that or bed-and-breakfast.” He gnawed at his bottom lip.

“The Boatman’s has a couple of rooms, doesn’t it?”

Rebus nodded slowly. “Let’s start there, then.”

“Am I allowed to ask why?”

Rebus shook his head. “Less you know, the better-that’s a promise.”

“You don’t think you’re in enough trouble?”

“Room for a bit more, I think.” He tried a reassuring wink, but Siobhan looked far from convinced.

The Boatman’s wasn’t yet open for business, but when the barman recognized Siobhan, he let them in.

“It’s Rod, isn’t it?” Siobhan said. Rod McAllister nodded. “This is my colleague, DI Rebus.”

“Hello,” McAllister said.

“Rod knew Lee Herdman,” Siobhan reminded Rebus.

“Did he ever sell you any Eckies?” Rebus asked.

“Pardon?”

Rebus just shook his head. Now that they were inside the bar, he breathed deeply: last night’s beer and cigarettes, failing to be masked by furniture polish. McAllister had been busy with paperwork, piled on top of the bar. He was running a hand beneath his baggy T-shirt, scratching his chest. The T-shirt had faded badly, its seam broken at one shoulder.

“You a Hawkwind fan?” Siobhan asked. McAllister looked down at the front of the shirt. The faint print showed the cover of In Search of Space . “We won’t keep you,” Siobhan went on. “Just wondered if you had a couple of guests -”

Rebus butted in to provide the names, but McAllister shook his head. He was looking at Siobhan, didn’t seem interested in Rebus.

“Anywhere else in the town that might put up visitors?” Siobhan asked.

McAllister scratched at his stubble, reminding Rebus that the shaving he himself had carried out this morning had been tentative at best.

“There’s a few,” McAllister admitted. “You said someone might come to talk to me about Lee…?”

“Did I?”

“Well, it’s just that nobody has.”

“Any idea why he did it?” Rebus asked abruptly. McAllister shook his head. “Then let’s concentrate on those addresses, shall we?”

“Addresses?”

“B and Bs, other hotels…”

McAllister understood. Siobhan took out her notebook, and he started reciting the names. After half a dozen, he shook his head to let them know he was finished. “Might be more,” he admitted with a shrug.

“Enough to be going on with,” Rebus said. “We’ll let you get back to the important work, Mr. McAllister.”

“Right… thanks.” McAllister made a little bow, and held the door open for Siobhan. Outside, she consulted her notebook.

“This could take all day.”

“If we want it to,” Rebus said. “Looks like you’ve got an admirer.”

She looked up in the direction of the hotel window, saw McAllister’s face there. He shrank back, turned away. “You could do a lot worse-just imagine, never having to pay for another drink in your life…”

“Something you’ve striven towards.”

“That’s a low blow. I pay my share.”

“If you say so.” She waved the notebook at him. “There’s an easier route, you know.”

“Name it.”

“Ask Bobby Hogan. He’s bound to know where they’re staying.”

Rebus shook his head. “Best keep Bobby out of it.”

“Why am I getting such a bad feeling about this?”

“Let’s get back in the car and you can start making those calls.”

Sliding into her seat, she turned to him. “A sixty-grand yacht-where did the money come from?”

“Drugs, obviously.”

“You think so?”

“I think it’s what we’re supposed to be thinking. Nothing we’ve learned about Herdman makes him look like a drug baron.”

“Except his magnetic attraction for bored teenagers.”

“Didn’t they teach you anything at college?”

“Such as?”

“Not jumping to conclusions.”

“I forgot-that’s your department.”

“Another one below the belt. Careful, or the referee will step in.”

She stared at him. “You know something, don’t you?”

He held her stare and shook his head slowly. “Not until you make those calls…”

They got lucky: the third address was a hotel just outside town, overlooking the Road Bridge. Its car park was blustery and deserted. Two telescopes were waiting forlornly for tourists. Rebus tried one but couldn’t see anything.

“You have to put money in,” Siobhan explained, indicating the coin slot. Rebus didn’t bother, made for reception instead.

“You should wait out here,” he warned her.