Ian Rankin - The Naming of the Dead

“It’s DS McManus you want.”

McManus was just coming through the door. He was younger even than Siobhan-maybe not yet thirty. Boyish features, tall and skinny. Looked to Rebus as though he might have grown up locally. Rebus offered a handshake and introduced himself again.

“I was beginning to think you were a myth,” McManus said with a smile. “I hear tell you were based here a while back.”

“True.”

“Worked with Bain and Maclay.”

“For my sins.”

“Well, they’re both long gone, so you needn’t worry.” They were walking down the long hallway behind the reception desk. “What can I do for you, Rebus?”

“Just something I thought you ought to know.”

“Oh aye?”

“I’d had a few run-ins recently with the deceased.”

McManus glanced at him. “That right?”

“I’ve been working the Cyril Colliar case.”

“Still just the two additional victims?”

Rebus nodded. “Tench had links to one of them-guy worked at an adult day-care center not far from here. Tench got him the position.”

“Fair enough.”

“You’ll be interviewing the widow…she’ll probably say CID paid a visit.”

“And that was you?”

“Myself and a colleague, yes.”

They’d taken a left turn into an adjoining corridor, Rebus following McManus into the CID office, where the team was gathering.

“Anything else you think I should know?”

Rebus tried to look as though he were racking his brain. Finally, he shook his head. “That’s about it,” he said.

“Was Tench a suspect?”

“Not really.” Rebus paused. “We were a bit concerned by his relationship with a young rebel called Keith Carberry.”

“I know Keith,” McManus said.

“He was in court, charged with fighting and disturbing the peace in Princes Street. When he came out, Councilmen Tench was waiting for him. They seemed pretty friendly. Then surveillance cameras showed Carberry whacking some innocent bystander. Looked like he might be in deeper trouble than first thought. I happened to be at the city chambers this lunchtime, talking with Councilman Tench. When I left, I saw Carberry watching from across the street-” Rebus ended the speech with a shrug, as if to indicate that he’d no idea what any of this might mean. McManus was studying him.

“Carberry saw the pair of you together?” Rebus nodded. “And that was lunchtime?”

“I got the feeling he was tailing the councilman.”

“You didn’t stop to ask?”

“I was in my car by then…only caught a glimpse of him in the rearview.”

McManus was gnawing on his bottom lip. “Need a quick result on this,” he said, almost to himself. “Tench was hellish popular, did this area a power of good. There are going to be some very angry people.”

“No doubt,” Rebus confirmed. “Did you know the councilman?”

“Friend of my uncle’s…they go back to school days.”

“You’re from round here,” Rebus stated.

“Grew up in the shadow of Craigmillar Castle.”

“So you’d known Councilman Tench for some time?”

“Years and years.”

Rebus tried to make his next question sound casual. “Ever hear rumors about him?”

“What sort of rumors?”

“I don’t know, the usual stuff, I suppose-extramarital flings, money going astray from the coffers…”

“Guy’s not even cold yet,” McManus complained.

“Just wondering,” Rebus apologized. “I’m not trying to imply anything.”

McManus was looking toward his team-seven of them, including two women. They were trying to look as though they weren’t eavesdropping. McManus stepped away from Rebus and stood in front of them.

“We go to his house, inform the family. Need someone to make the formal ID.” He half turned his head toward Rebus. “After that, we bring in Keith Carberry. Few questions we need to ask him.”

“Such as, Where’s the knife, Keith?” one of the team offered.

McManus allowed the joke. “I know we’ve had Bush and Blair and Bono up here this past week, but in Craigmillar, Gareth Tench counts as royalty. So we need to be proactive. More boxes we can check off tonight, happier I’ll be.”

There were a few groans, but they lacked force. Seemed to Rebus that McManus was well liked. His officers would go the extra hour for him.

“Any overtime?” one of them asked.

“G8 wasn’t enough for you, Ben?” McManus retorted. Rebus stayed put for a moment, ready to say something like “thanks” or “good luck,” but McManus’s attention was on this fresh new case. He’d already started doling out tasks.

“Ray, Barbara, see if there’s any security-camera footage from around the Jack Kane Center. Billy, Tom, you’re going to light some fires under our esteemed pathologists-ditto those lazy sods at Forensics. Jimmy, you and Kate go pick up Keith Carberry. Sweat him in the cells till I get back. Ben, you’re with me, little trip to the councilman’s house in Duddingston Park. Any questions?”

No questions.

Rebus headed back down the corridor, hoping Siobhan could be kept out of it. No way of telling. McManus owed Rebus no favors. Carberry might spill his guts, which would be awkward, but nothing they couldn’t handle. Rebus was already forming the story in his head.

DS Clarke had information that Keith played pool in Restalrig. When she got there, the owner, Morris Gerald Cafferty, also happened to be present…

He doubted McManus would swallow it. They could always deny any meeting had taken place, but there’d been witnesses. Besides, the denial would only work if Cafferty played along, and the only reason he’d do that would be to tighten the noose around Siobhan. She would owe Cafferty her whole future, and so would Rebus. Which was why, out in reception, he asked for another lift, this time to Merchiston. The uniforms in the patrol car were chatty but didn’t question where he was headed. Maybe they thought CID could afford to own homes in this quiet, tree-lined enclave. The detached Victorian houses sat behind high walls and fences. The street lighting seemed subdued, so as not to keep the inhabitants awake. The wide streets were almost empty-no parking problems here: each house boasted a driveway for half a dozen cars. Rebus got the patrol car to stop on Ettrick Road-didn’t want to be too obvious. They seemed content to hang out and watch him enter whichever house was his final destination. But he waved them away, busying himself with lighting a cigarette. One of the uniforms had gifted him half a dozen matches. Rebus struck one against a wall and watched the patrol car signal right at the end of the street. At the foot of Ettrick Road he took a right-still no sign of the patrol car and no place they could be hiding. No sign of life anywhere: no traffic or pedestrians, no sounds from behind the thick stone walls. Huge windows muffled by wooden shutters. Bowling green and tennis courts deserted. He took another right and walked halfway up this new street. Holly hedge in front of one house. Its porch was lit, flanked by stone pillars. Rebus pushed open the gate. Yanked on the bellpull. Wondered if maybe he should go around to the back. Last time he was here, there was a hot tub there. But then the heavy wooden door gave a shudder as it was opened from within. A young man was standing there. His body had been sculpted in the gym, and he wore a tight black T-shirt to underline the fact.

“Need to go easy on those steroids,” Rebus warned him. “Is your lord and master home?”

“Does it look like he’d want whatever you’re selling?”

“I’m selling salvation, son-everybody needs a taste of that, even you.” Over the man’s shoulder, Rebus could see a pair of female legs descending the staircase. Bare feet, the legs slim and tanned and ending at a white terry-cloth robe. She stopped halfway and leaned down so she could see who was at the door. Rebus gave her a little wave. She’d been brought up well-waved back, even though she’d no idea who he was. Then she turned and started padding back upstairs.