Rebus has cast a long shadow in the thirty years since he sprang to life between the pages of that first adventure, Knots and Crosses. He seems, however, more fully alive to me with each passing year and in each new episode of his career. He is complex, stubborn, intelligent, driven, and hard-edged. And in Long Shadows he needs to be at his sharpest, because forces are massing against him and both past and present are about to deal him blows heavier than any he has previously experienced. In Edinburgh, that most spectral of cities, Rebus knows the dead don’t always rest quietly, while the living remain troubled and — just occasionally — deadly dangerous.
Welcome to the world of Rebus. Welcome to Long Shadows...
Ian Rankin
Characters
John Rebus Retired detective
Heather Ross Daughter of unsolved murder victim Maggie Towler
Andy Neighbour to John Rebus
Maggie Towler Heather Ross’s mother
Siobhan Clarke Detective Inspector
Angela Simpson Cold case murder victim
Barman A barman
Charlie Informant
Big Ger Cafferty Crime boss of Edinburgh, long-term nemesis to John Rebus
Mordaunt Suspected murderer of Angela Simpson
Detective A police detective
Technician A police technician
Act One
The stairwell at Arden Street
Heather, a very young woman, is slumped on the stair. She’s dressed for a night out, revealing but not startling clothes, typical Saturday night girl out clubbing with mates. She’s plugged into her music. Now she sings along, a few lines, pure and accapella. The track she hears is audible only to her. She stops singing, moving gently to the song. She’s mellow and relaxed with something but not obviously under the influence. REBUS is coming up the stairs. He sees HEATHER. He checks for a moment. Looking at her.
REBUS Comfy there are you?
HEATHER doesn’t seem to have heard him, lost in her music. He carries on past her. HEATHER sings again, just the one line, pure and beautiful. REBUS stops dead. He walks slowly back down to HEATHER.
REBUS You’re too young to know that one.
She can’t hear him, he mimes for her to pull out her earphones. She does.
REBUS You’re too young to know that one.
HEATHER (Frampton Comes Alive, ‘Show Me the Way’) 1976. It’s my family heirloom.
REBUS How’s that?
HEATHER My Mum loved it. It was her favourite song when she was a tiny tiny wee girl.
REBUS Is that right? I know you don’t I? I know your face.
HEATHER Don’t think so.
REBUS Waiting for someone?
HEATHER I was just having a wee think.
REBUS Who’re you after? Which flat?
HEATHER He’s no in. I’m freezing. Can I wait in yours?
REBUS No.
HEATHER How no?
REBUS Because you shouldny be sitting about on the stairs at 2 a.m. dressed like that and you definitely shouldny be asking to get into strange men’s flats.
HEATHER Who are you? My Grandad?
REBUS Apparently I could be.
HEATHER So... what? You’re a murdering rapist that’ll cut me up with a steak knife?
REBUS Well I could be that too. How do you know?
HEATHER Are you?
REBUS No... but...
HEATHER So what do you do then?
REBUS I was a policeman. Which makes me a bit of an expert on the kind of trouble wee lassies can get into on a Friday night.
HEATHER A policeman? Wow. Aye, now you say it I can see it. You, have got the shiniest shoes I’ve ever, ever seen.
REBUS Ah, that’s an army habit. I was in the paras once...
HEATHER Seriously? So did you like kill people with floss tape? Gouge out their eyes with your thumbs?
REBUS No. I’ll get you a cab home.
HEATHER I’m staying here.
REBUS Not an option.
HEATHER Aye come on, I’ve got police protection.
REBUS I’m retired. And I never did waste time protecting folk from their own stupidity.
HEATHER You think I don’t know the worst that could happen?
REBUS I think you imagine it’ll never happen to you.
HEATHER It happened to my Mum. Strangled and dumped on a building site beside the Jackdaw pub in Newhaven. So there you go. I do know.
REBUS When?
HEATHER 2001. I don’t remember her, I was a baby. Gran brought me up. Mum got killed ‘cause she went out on the raz. A good Mummy wouldny be out with a wee bairn at hame eh? She was always falling into trouble, first me, then death... She was just my age. Can you imagine it? I’m no getting lumbered with a bairn till I’ve made my money. Money first. Then we’ll see about getting domestic.
REBUS has placed the memory.
REBUS Maggie Towler.
HEATHER Aye! Jeez you really are polis eh? Aw Christ... was it... did you...?
REBUS No, I wasn’t lead on that case. Remember it though.
HEATHER That’s nice. That she’s remembered. When I play that song I tell myself I’m talking to her. It’s about the only thing I’ve got that’s hers.
REBUS I thought you looked familiar. That must be why. Maggie Towler’s daughter.
HEATHER You remember her face?
REBUS I remember all the faces. And most of the names. What’s your name?