‘Where was this meeting anyway?’
‘On the edge of Poretoun Woods — Bloom’s idea, apparently.’
They sat quietly for almost a minute, digesting the story. Rebus was trying to make his IPA last, gripping the glass without drinking from it.
‘Anybody want anything?’
They looked up and saw that Grant Edwards had arrived, his bulk filling the doorway.
‘We’re fine, I think,’ Clarke told him. He disappeared to the bar, coming back with a well-watered whisky. He drew out the chair next to Clarke and sat, taking a sip without bothering to offer a toast.
‘Thanks for coming,’ Rebus said.
‘Was I ever going to do anything else?’
Rebus realised the man wasn’t smiling. He wore a heavy woollen coat and showed no sign that he’d be taking it off.
‘On a scale of one to ten,’ Edwards enquired, ‘how fucked am I?’
‘Eleven,’ Rebus said.
‘Depends on what you’ve got to say,’ Clarke qualified.
‘You know we had a word with Dallas Meikle?’
‘That’s pretty old news,’ Clarke told him.
‘And dealt with,’ Rebus added. ‘Dallas Meikle is our guy now.’
‘This won’t be any use to you then.’ Edwards had dug his phone out of his pocket. He gave it a few taps and held it up so they could hear the recording. It was rough, but audible. They recognised Steele’s voice.
‘Phone her often enough and I promise you it’ll get to her. But if it doesn’t, or you think she deserves worse, you’ve always got her address.’
‘Let’s see what happens,’ Dallas Meikle said.
‘Keep me posted — once she’s riled, I want to know.’
Edwards switched the recording off and slid the phone back into his pocket.
‘Steele always said you were smarter than anyone gave you credit for,’ Rebus commented.
‘Bit of insurance never goes amiss,’ Edwards agreed.
‘You’ve known for a while it might all go belly up?’ Clarke asked.
‘Insurance, like I say.’
‘What did you think,’ Rebus broke in, ‘when Bloom turned up handcuffed?’
‘At first, not much. Then when they turned out to be police issue...’
‘You recalled the pair you’d given to your dealer?’
‘He was Brian’s dealer too — we couldn’t risk buying from Cafferty’s lot. It would have given the big man something he could have used as insurance.’
‘You knew, though, right? When those kids overdosed, you knew who was responsible?’
‘Brian warned Gram to get out of town for a while.’
‘But not too far, eh? So you’d still be assured of a supply?’ Rebus paused. ‘When did it dawn on you the cuffs might have been yours?’
‘Didn’t really make any odds — Gram had dropped off our radar years back.’
‘And when he did a runner, just at the time Stuart Bloom vanished off the face of the earth, you didn’t connect the two?’
‘I can’t speak for Brian.’ Edwards swirled his drink, not raising his eyes from it. ‘So what does it all add up to, everything you’ve got so far?’
‘Enough,’ Clarke stated. ‘I doubt Hazard is going to stop talking.’ She glanced in Rebus’s direction. ‘He’s got too much to lose.’
‘What have you offered him?’
‘Never you mind,’ Rebus said stonily. ‘All that should be concerning you is how much of your own sorry career you can hang on to.’
‘I’ve worked hard for my pension. I’ve got it earmarked for a motorbike dealership.’
‘That’s nice,’ Rebus said, his tone suggesting the exact opposite.
Edwards looked at each of the three of them in turn. ‘What do I have to do to save it?’
It was Fox who answered. ‘Sit in a room with Professional Standards and PIRC and anyone else who needs to hear your story. Don’t hold anything back. Everything needs to come out.’
‘Including Cafferty?’
Rebus leaned forward into the ensuing silence. ‘Talk to me,’ he said.
‘Him and Brian go back a ways. Lot of gen has passed between them, and it’s always been a two-way street.’
Rebus gestured towards Edwards’s pocket. ‘Any of their wee chats feature on that phone of yours?’
‘They might,’ Edwards conceded. ‘All depends whether I’m going to get hit by kid gloves or a knuckleduster.’
‘That won’t be up to us,’ Clarke said.
‘None of this is up to us,’ Edwards spat back. ‘We’re just the ones they send down the sewers with a shovel and bucket and a torch that’s low on juice.’
‘That what you’ve told yourself all these years?’ Rebus said. ‘A fairy tale to help you drift off at night?’
‘I sleep fine, thanks for asking. How about you, Rebus? All the stuff you’ve covered up over the years — and don’t tell me you’ve never traded with your good friend Cafferty.’ Edwards turned to Clarke. ‘And you with your journalist pal — we knew damned well who’d been talking to her...’ He broke off as he saw a quick look pass between Clarke and Fox. ‘Oh,’ he said, drawing the vowel out. ‘Seems we maybe got that one wrong.’
‘Which didn’t stop you setting Dallas Meikle on DI Clarke,’ Rebus snarled.
‘Brian’s idea — I told him it wasn’t one of his best. He was too into it, though.’
‘How come?’
Edwards fixed Rebus with a look. ‘Because we could never get to you. You were Cafferty’s creature.’ He saw that Rebus was about to interrupt. ‘Insofar as Cafferty enjoyed playing with you too much. We’d have spoilt that if we’d taken you down.’ He turned his attention towards Clarke without saying anything.
‘Because you saw me as John’s creature? You couldn’t have him, so you’d have me instead?’
Edwards offered a shrug. ‘That was Brian’s way of thinking.’
‘Maybe he was jealous, no?’ Fox offered. ‘He wanted to be the one Cafferty took an interest in?’
Another shrug from within the overcoat.
‘This all needs to come out,’ Fox went on. ‘I’ll put you in touch with Professional Standards. Best if you go to them — keeping us out of it.’ He waited until Edwards had nodded.
‘Then we’re just about done here,’ Rebus stated. He gestured towards the whisky glass. ‘But not before I get you a refill.’
As he returned from the bar, he had to squeeze past Fox and Clarke, who were already on their way. ‘Catch you up in a second,’ he said.
Edwards sat ruefully at the vacated table, draining his drink. Rebus placed the fresh one in front of him. But as Edwards reached for it, Rebus grabbed him by the wrist. Edwards was strong, but Rebus was on his feet, which helped give him more purchase over the seated figure.
Plus, no point denying it, his dander was up.
By the time Edwards did rise from his chair, his wrist was already held to the table leg by the handcuffs.
‘Same ones you used on me,’ Rebus said, backing away until he was out of range. Edwards had upended the table, the glasses flying. He studied the table leg and saw that it was connected to the others by a crosspiece. He couldn’t release himself by simply sliding the cuff down the length of the leg.
‘Seem to have lost the key,’ Rebus said with a shrug of his own, turning to leave.
Clarke and Fox were waiting for him outside. They began to walk along Young Street, towards North Castle Street where they’d parked their cars.
‘Is Edwards going to get off with this?’ Clarke asked.
‘Ever hear the story of Burke and Hare?’ Rebus answered, breathing heavily.
‘Killers who sold their victims to medical people for use in dissections,’ Fox stated.