Ian Rankin - Exit Music

'Or maybe you've readied DS Clarke to enter the fray on your

behalf.' Stone waited for a response, but Rebus didn't seem to have one. 'Now you're leaving the force, you reckon that leaves a gap that'll never be filled?'

'I'm not quite that conceited.'

'Maybe the same's true of Cafferty – when he pegs it, the vacancy won't stay open for long. Plenty small-timers out there, young and lean and hungry…'

'Not my problem,' Rebus said.

'Then the only thing spoiling your party is Cafferty himself.'

They had reached the main doors of the hospital. Rebus had his phone in his hand, readying to call for a cab.

Tou really going to wait with me?' he asked.

'Nothing better to do,' Stone answered. 'But that offer of a lift still stands. This time of night, taxis are bound to be thin on the ground.'

It took Rebus half a minute to decide. Having nodded his agreement, he reached into the bag, pulling out the bottle of Speyside…

Monday 27 November 2006

There was a row of taxi-cabs parked outside Haymarket railway station, but Rebus managed to squeeze his Saab into a space next to them. He sounded the horn and rolled down the window. There were two uniformed officers standing by the station's exit doors.

Monday morning, the day crisp and bright. The constables wore padded black jackets over their stab vests. They paid Rebus no heed whatsoever as he sounded the horn again. But then a parking warden homed in, having noted the double yellow line alongside the Saab. This drew the officers' attention. One of them said something to his companion and wandered over.

'I'll deal with this,' he told the warden, before crouching down so that his head was level with the window.

'I don't suppose I can call you DI Rebus any more?' Todd Goodyear said.

'Not any more,' Rebus agreed.

'Sonia and me both enjoyed the party, if not the hangovers.'

'Didn't actually notice you drinking, Todd. I mean, you had a drink in your hand, but it never quite made it as far as your lips.'

'You don't miss much,' Goodyear conceded with a smile.

'Actually, son, I miss all sorts of things.'

'CID for one?' Goodyear guessed.

'Not quite what I was thinking of.' Rebus peered over Goodyear's shoulder towards the young man's colleague. 'Any chance I could borrow you for half an hour?'

Goodyear looked puzzled. 'What for?'

'Something I want to talk to you about.'

'I'm on duty.'

'I know.' But Rebus didn't look as if he'd take no for an answer.

Goodyear straightened up, went and spoke to the other officer, then returned to the car, removing his cap before climbing into the passenger seat.

'Do you miss it?' Rebus asked.

Tou mean CID? It was… interesting.'

'I enjoyed my little chat with Sonia at the Ox.'

'She's great.'

'I can see that.' Rebus paused as he manoeuvred the car out of its space and into the traffic.

'Where are we headed?'

'Have you heard about Andropov?' Rebus asked, ignoring the question. 'He's being sent home as an “undesirable”. I got that from Siobhan yesterday – she was in work, giving Stuart Janney the chance to confess. The girl never switches off… tells me Stahov turns out to be one of the good guys. He'd been keeping a close eye on Andropov, didn't want him “infecting” Scotland like he'd done Russia. Stahov was liaising with Stone…' Rebus paused. 'But then you never knew DI Stone, did you?' He watched Goodyear shake his head. 'He was the one who was watching Cafferty.'

'Okay.' Goodyear still seemed puzzled.

'Andropov,' Rebus went on, 'will face corruption charges in Moscow. He was planning on claiming political asylum, if you can credit that. Using all his useful contacts as referees. Might be true, of course – maybe his life is in danger back in Russia.' Rebus sniffed loudly. 'Not our problem, though.'

'Where are we headed?' Goodyear asked again. Again, Rebus ignored him.

'Know what I did yesterday, while Siobhan was grafting? Went to Oxgangs and watched them demolish a couple of tower blocks.

I could remember making a few arrests there down the years, but not the exact details. Guess that really does mean my time's past, Todd. There's a story in the paper this morning that more English voters than Scots think we should go independent.' Rebus turned his head towards his passenger. 'Makes you think, eh?'

'Makes me think you've yet to sober up from Saturday.'

'Sorry, Todd, I'm rattling on, aren't I? Been doing a lot of mulling stuff over. Brought me back to a couple of things I should have spotted a lot sooner.'

'What sorts of things?'

'I'm right in thinking you're a Christian, Todd?'

Tfou know I am.'

'But then there are different types of Christian… and I'd say

you tend towards the Old Testament variety – eye for an eye and all that.'

'I've no idea what you mean.'

'Can't say I blame you, of course – give me the Old Testament any time… good and evil, clear as day and night.'

'I think you should drop me back at Haymarket.'

But Rebus had no intention of doing that. 'Saturday morning,' he said, 'in the corridor outside the interview rooms – do you remember?

You were back in uniform and ready to say your goodbyes.'

'I remember.'

You told me I needed to get the Saab's boot fixed.' Rebus looked at his passenger. 'Haven't got round to it yet, by the way.'

'Despite having time on your hands.'

Rebus started to laugh, but then ceased abruptly. 'Thing I was wondering is… how did you know?'

'Know what?'

'About that dodgy boot of mine – I've asked Siobhan and she doesn't recall saying anything to you about it. And I'm pretty sure it never cropped up when you and me had our various chats.'

'That night at the Todorov murder scene,' Goodyear explained.

Rebus nodded slowly. 'The very conclusion I came to. You were already there at Raeburn Wynd when Shiv and me arrived. Meant you saw us getting the crime kit out of the car, saw me failing to shut the boot properly.'

'So what?'

'Well, that's what I'm not sure of. But here's what I am sure of. Your grandad was put away with my help, and when he died it pulled your family apart. That sort of thing leaves a pain that can last for years, Todd. Your brother Sol went off the rails with the help of Big Ger Cafferty. You knew the rumours about me and Cafferty… Siobhan confirms that you were asking her about us.

She feels bad about that actually…'

'Why?'

'She thinks maybe it was all because she told you I hated Cafferty's guts. To your way of thinking, that put me in the frame as Cafferty's assailant.' He paused. 'Oh, and she also feels a bit guilty for bringing you into the team in the first place – feels she was suckered into it – because you managed to hide your ulterior motive.'

'Where are we going?' Goodyear had a hand on his radio. It was attached to his shoulder by a clip and kept crackling with static noise.

'See, I've talked it through with her,' Rebus was saying. 'She says it makes sense.'

'What does?'

'That night of the party, I got talking to Sonia…'

'So you've said.'

'The night Cafferty was attacked, you said you were heading off to meet her.' Rebus paused again. 'She didn't seem to remember that. Besides which, she said it was your idea to look beneath the footbridge.'

“What?'

'She found that overshoe because you told her where to look for it.'

'Now hang on…”

'But here's the thing: you weren't even there at the scene, Todd.

Way I see it, she maybe called to say she was headed to a job at the canal. That's when you told her to check the bridge – you knew there was a bridge and you knew what she'd find underneath it.'

'Stop the car.'