Ian Rankin - Exit Music

Tou can never tell with poets, though,' Rebus added. 'Could've been some time after the curry, of course.'

'Any time up until the minute he was attacked.' Clarke and Rebus shared another look.

Tibbet was shifting in his chair. 'Or it could have been… you know.' He cleared his throat, cheeks reddening.

'What?' Clarke asked.

“You know,' Tibbet repeated.

'I think Colin means masturbation,' Hawes interjected. Tibbet's look was a study in gratitude.

'John?' It was the barman. Rebus turned towards him. 'Thought you'd want to see this.' He held up a newspaper. It was the day's final printing of the Evening News. The headline was DEATH OF A POET and beneath it, in bold lettering, 'The maverick who dared to say nyet!' There was an archive photo of Alexander Todorov. He stood in Princes Street Gardens, the Castle louring behind him. A tartan scarf was wrapped around his neck; probably his first day in Scotland. A man with only two months to live.

'Cat's out of the bag,' Rebus said, taking the proffered newspaper.

Then, to anyone around the table who might know: 'Does that count as metaphor?'

There was a funny smell in the CID office at Gayfield Square police station. You often noticed it at the height of summer, but this year it seemed determined to linger. It would disappear for a matter of days or weeks, then one morning would announce its creeping reappearance. There had been regular complaints and the Scottish Police Federation had threatened a walkout. Floors had been lifted and drains tested, traps set for vermin, but no answers.

'Smells like death,' the seasoned officers would comment. Rebus knew what they meant: every now and again, a body would be discovered decomposing in the armchair of a sixties semi, or a floater would be pulled from Leith docks. There was a special room set aside for them at the mortuary, and the attendants had placed a radio on the floor, which could be switched on when desired: 'Helps take our minds off the pong.'

At Gayfield Square, the answer was to open all available windows, which sent the temperature plummeting. The office of Detective Chief Inspector James Macrae – separated by a glass door from the CID suite – was like a walk-in fridge. This morning, Macrae had shown foresight by hauling an electric heater into work from his Blackhall home. Rebus had seen somewhere that Blackhall boasted the wealthiest residents in the city. It had sounded an unlikely setting – bungalows and more bungalows. Homes in Barnton and the New Town fetched millions. Then again, maybe that explained why the people who lived there weren't as rich as those in Bungalowland.

Macrae had plugged the heater in and switched it on, but it stayed his side of the desk, and radiated warmth only so far.

Phyllida Hawes had already shuffled so close to it that she was almost seated on Macrae's lap, something the DCI noted with a scowl.

'Right,' he barked, clenching his hands together as if in angry prayer, 'progress report.' But before Rebus could begin, Macrae sensed a problem. 'Colin, shut the door, will you? Let's keep what heat there is to ourselves.'

'Not much room, sir,' Tibbet commented. He was standing in the doorway, and what he said was true: with Macrae, Rebus, Clarke and Hawes inside, space in the DCI's den was limited.

'Then go back to your desk,' Macrae replied. 'I'm sure Phyllida can report on your behalf.'

But Tibbet didn't want that happening: if Clarke was promoted DI, there'd be a vacancy at detective sergeant, making Hawes and him rivals as well as partners. He sucked in his stomach and managed to get the door closed.

'Progress report,' Macrae repeated. But then his phone rang and he lifted it with a growl. Rebus wondered about his boss's blood pressure. His own was nothing to boast about, but Macrae's face was typically puce, and though a couple of years younger than Rebus, his hair had almost gone. As Rebus's own doctor had conceded during his last check-up, 'You've had a lucky run, John, but luck always runs out.'

Macrae made only a few grunts before putting the phone back down. His eyes were on Rebus. 'Someone from the Russian consulate at the front desk.'

'Wondered when they'd turn up,' Rebus said. 'Siobhan and I should take this, sir. Meantime, Phyl and Colin can tell you all you need to know – we had a pow-wow last night.'

Macrae nodded his agreement and Rebus turned to Clarke.

'One of the interview rooms?' she suggested.

'Just what I was thinking.' They moved out of the DCI's office and through the CID suite. The wall-boards were still blank. Later today, photos from the crime scene would go up, along with lists of names, jobs to be done, and schedules of hours. At some murder scenes, you would set up a temporary HQ, work from there. But Rebus didn't see the point this time round. They would put up posters at the car park exit, appealing for information, and maybe get Hawes and Tibbet or a few of the uniforms to stick leaflets on windscreens. But this large, cold room would be their base. Clarke was looking back over her shoulder towards Macrae's office. Hawes and Tibbet seemed to be in competition to see who could offer the best titbits to the boss.

'Anyone,' Rebus commented, 'would think there's a DS slot going begging. Who's your money on?'

Thyl's got more years in,' Clarke answered. 'She's got to be favourite. If Colin gets it, I think she'll walk.'

Rebus nodded his agreement. 'Which interview room?' he asked.

'I like Three.'

'Why so?'

'Table's all greasy and scabby, graffiti scratched on the walls…

It's the sort of place you go when you've done something.'

Rebus smiled at her thinking. Even for the pure at heart, IR3 was a troubling experience.

'Spot on,' he said.

The consular official was called Nikolai Stahov. He introduced himself with a self-effacing smile. He was young-looking and shiny faced with a parting in his light-brown hair which made him seem even more boyish. But he was six feet tall and broad-shouldered, and wore a three-quarter-length black woollen coat, complete with belt and the collar turned up. From one pocket peeked a pair of black leather gloves – mittens, actually, Rebus realised, smooth and rounded where there should have been fingers. Did your mum dress you? he wanted to ask. But he shook Stahov's hand instead.

“We're sorry about Mr Todorov,' Clarke said, reaching out her own hand towards the Russian. She got a little bow along with the shake.

'My consulate,' Stahov said, 'wishes to be assured that everything possible is being done to capture and prosecute the perpetrator.'

Rebus nodded slowly. 'We thought we'd be more comfortable in one of our interview rooms…'

They led the young Russian down the corridor, stopping at the third door. It was unlocked. Rebus pulled it open and gestured for Clarke and Stahov to go in. Then he slid the panel across the door, changing its message from Vacant to In Use.

'Take a seat,' he said. Stahov was studying his surroundings as he lowered himself on to the chair. He was about to place his hands on the tabletop, but thought better of it and rested them on his lap instead. Clarke had taken the seat opposite, Rebus content to lean against the wall, arms folded. 'So what can you tell us about Alexander Todorov?' he asked.

'Inspector, I came here for reassurances and from a sense of protocol. You must know that as a diplomat, I am not obliged to answer any of your questions.'

'Because you've got immunity,' Rebus acknowledged. 'We just assumed you'd want to assist us in any way possible. It is one of

your countrymen who's been killed, and rather a notable one at that.' He tried to sound aggrieved.

'Of course, of course, that's unquestionable.' Stahov kept turning his head, trying to talk to both of them at the same time.