Rebus: Long Shadows, Page 4
Ian Rankin
Siobhan will nail my killer and you’ll find Maggie’s. That’d be nice.
MAGGIE
That’d be very nice.
ANGELA
Except he hasn’t told Siobhan everything.
MAGGIE
And no-one saw me fall John . . . Except the man that pushed me down. What are you trying to remember?
REBUS
A name . . .
MAGGIE
You better hope it’s the name of a man that’s still alive. You spend too much time talking to the dead these days, eh John?
REBUS
Got it!
Quick transition into—
A pub
Scuzzy, old–school drinking dive. A small man in a bunnet is nursing a pint and chaser. He startles as he sees REBUS moving towards him but REBUS blocks him before he can leave. REBUS is already carrying drinks.
REBUS
You running off with half your drink still on the bar Charlie? That’s no like you.
CHARLIE
What do you want Rebus?
REBUS
(offering glass) To buy you the other half of that.
CHARLIE
I’m no talking to you. You’re no even a policeman anymore. I don’t have to tell you anything.
REBUS
(the drink) So you don’t want this?
CHARLIE
What are you doing in here?
REBUS
Just looking for a bar that’s no been turned into a bistro. You canny get a drink in this town any more without some floppy haired article offering you a tapas menu.
CHARLIE
Aye you’re no wrong there.
CHARLIE accepts the drink.
REBUS
This place is holding out though.
CHARLIE
Just about.
REBUS
The Hebrides isny too bad.
CHARLIE
(snorts) You’re joking eh? Full of foreigners and fucking backpackers.
REBUS
Oh I’ll tell you where’s ruined. The Jackdaw, down in Newhaven.
CHARLIE
(not really interested) That right? No been down there in years.
REBUS
Did you no used to drink down there?
CHARLIE
Mebbe when I was working down there but . . .
REBUS
(cutting in) Working down there? Doing what?
CHARLIE
Rebus, what do you think I do?
REBUS
Five to ten for aggravated burglary usually.
CHARLIE
(dignity) I have a trade. I am a craftsman.
REBUS
Is that right?
CHARLIE
(handing him a card) I am a signed–up member of the Federation of Master Builders. Any home improvement, I’m your man.
REBUS
You do extensions and loft conversions and all that?
CHARLIE
My speciality.
REBUS
Right enough, great way to case the better quality home.
CHARLIE
Fuck yo, Rebus.
REBUS
That what you were doing in Newhaven?
CHARLIE
I don’t need to talk to you.
REBUS
So you keep saying.
CHARLIE
I was nothing but legit then. Didny need to worry about money, building never stopped then.
REBUS
You worked on the flats down there?
CHARLIE
You could name your price. They were throwing those flats up so fast . . .
REBUS
Happy days eh?
CHARLIE
They didn’t use marine grade on one single fixture or fitting. Not one. That sea wind has turned every block into a subsiding monster leaking rust from every hole.
REBUS
So you were working there when that lassie got strangled.
CHARLIE
Maggie Towler. Aye. I knew her.
REBUS
You knew her?
CHARLIE
Just to look at. She was a looker, wee Maggie. Know what got her killed?
REBUS
Tell me.
CHARLIE
Shagging above her pay grade.
REBUS
Go on.
CHARLIE
That’s it. Word was she was having a flingette with one of the developers.
REBUS
The property developers?
CHARLIE
That’s right.
REBUS
Name?
CHARLIE
I don’t know that! If I’d known that I’d’ve told you lot at the time. That was horrible what that monster did to wee Maggie.
REBUS
So how did you know about it?
CHARLIE
Must have heard someone talking about it on the site.
REBUS
Who?
CHARLIE
I don’t know! Half of them were Polish anyway.
REBUS
What was the name of the property company?
CHARLIE thinks for a moment.
CHARLIE
Weston? No, that’s no right. It began with an E . . .
REBUS takes out a note and hands it to him.
REBUS
When it comes to you, phone me.
CHARLIE
Why would I do that?
REBUS
There’s another of those coming to you if you give me the name.
CHARLIE
Google it.
REBUS snatches the note back.
REBUS
Fuck, you’re right. Thanks Charlie.
REBUS is on the move. CHARLIE shouts after him.
CHARLIE
You tight bastard! I’m glad Ger Cafferty’s going to fuck you over!
REBUS is right back on him. He grabs his hand, hard.
REBUS
What’s that?
CHARLIE
Nothing.
REBUS
Charlie, don’t make me hurt these skilled craftsman’s fingers.
CHARLIE
(agony) Fuck off you bastard! You’ll get us both barred!
REBUS
Then stop screaming. What was that about Big Ger?
CHARLIE
He said he was going to fuck you over.
REBUS
He’s been saying that for thirty years. Said it to who?
CHARLIE
I might have heard him.
REBUS
Where was this?
CHARLIE
I was just lifting a motor he wanted shifted . . .
REBUS
When?
CHARLIE
Couple of months back mebbe . . . end of last year? I don’t fucking know, you bastard! Let go!
REBUS
Know what you are? A wee dug trying to borrow a big dog’s bark. Cafferty wouldn’t lift his leg to piss on you.
REBUS lets CHARLIE go and walks out onto—
Stairwell, Arden Street
At the foot of the stairs REBUS takes out his phone and punches the number. It’s answered almost at once.
REBUS
Cafferty, need to have a word . . .
He stops abruptly as, voiced by MAGGIE, we hear what he hears.
PHONE
The number you’ve dialled has not been recognised. The number you’ve dialled has not been recognised.
REBUS stares at it, checking the number. Then he cuts the call and slowly climbs the stairs. ANDY is coming down. He checks when he sees REBUS.
REBUS
Where’s your friend?
ANDY
What do you want?
REBUS
I need to talk to her, it’s about her mother. I need her number. Come on. Your pal, Heather Ross.
ANDY
Who?
REBUS
Oh don’t play games with me son.
>
ANDY tries to pass him. REBUS blocks him.
ANDY
Fuck off! I’m warning you . . .
REBUS
What you going to do? Call the police? You’ll no do that will you Andy?
ANDY
I said fuck off!
ANDY shoves REBUS and REBUS suddenly has him pinned against the wall.
REBUS
You think I couldn’t push you through this wall, Andy? Now you listen. First thing, you’re moving out. Give notice, get going, I don’t care where you go to peddle your sad wee packets of skunk but you’ll take it off my stair and if I see you even put your nose round the door I’ll have you in a cell before you’ve a chance to sniff.
ANDY
I’m not dealing . . .
REBUS
(shaking him) Are you packing your bags?
ANDY
Yes.
REBUS
Good. And I’ll let you. Once you give me Heather’s number.
ANDY
I don’t . . .
His tone is suddenly more subdued.
ANDY
I don’t phone her. She phones me. Number withheld.
REBUS
Smart girl.
He’s on the move.
REBUS
Start packing.
ANDY goes back into his flat, REBUS moves into—
Rebus’s Arden Street flat
CAFFERTY is sitting in his chair, watching the door. A moment as REBUS takes this in.
REBUS
Ghosts.
CAFFERTY
Don’t believe in them.
REBUS
I’ve spent half the day chasing them.
CAFFERTY
So I heard.
REBUS
You’ve changed your number.
CAFFERTY
I have. Don’t you want to know how I got in?
REBUS
Doesny take a master criminal. And I’ve nothing to steal.
CAFFERTY holds up keys.
CAFFERTY
You’ll be needing these back.
REBUS
No. I’m thinking of changing the locks.
CAFFERTY
Reckon that’ll stop me?
REBUS
Just ring the bell Big Ger. Mi casa, su casa, all that.
CAFFERTY
I’ve no even had the offer of a cup of tea yet. What kind of a welcome is that?
REBUS
There’s no milk.
CAFFERTY holds up a half pint.
CAFFERTY
Looks like I’m a better detective than you Strawman.
REBUS
I’ll put the kettle on.
REBUS leaves the room. CAFFERTY is prowling, inspecting it.
CAFFERTY
No been here for a while. Nothing’s changed though eh? No even the dust.
REBUS
(off) Canny get the staff.
CAFFERTY
I could recommend a couple of great women. Nae stour too hard to lift.
REBUS
Scrubbing bloodstains out of Persian rugs?
CAFFERTY
Nothing like that. Everything clean and sparkling in my world John, that’s the way I like it.
REBUS is back on.
REBUS
So I’m off your Christmas card list am I? What did I do? Something really annoying I hope . . .
CAFFERTY
It was time.
REBUS
Time for what?
CAFFERTY
We’ll get to that. Why did you want to get hold of me?
REBUS
Wanted to ask you something.
CAFFERTY
About the Mordaunt trial?
REBUS
Among other things.
CAFFERTY
You lot have taken your time eh? Twenty-five years to finally get that poisonous arse wipe in the dock again.
REBUS
You’re looking forward to a result then?
CAFFERTY
(ignoring the question) Twenty-five years. 1992 eh? John Major, royal divorces, Ravenscraig closes for good, IRA bombs . . . You could still see over your own belly. You could probably still run upstairs back then, eh John? Let’s get in the mood. You got any music from 1992?
REBUS
Nothing to your taste.
CAFFERTY
I’m going to tell you something now that’ll surprise you.
REBUS
Should I record it?
CAFFERTY
I’ve always been a bit of a Sheena Easton fan. You got any Sheena Easton?
REBUS
Strangely enough I haven’t.
CAFFERTY
Now there’s a woman with the X Factor. I met her once. On a chat show.
REBUS
She was promoting her new album. You were promoting your memoir of murder and mayhem . . .
CAFFERTY
You read it yet?
REBUS
Do you need to ask?
CAFFERTY
Keeps me in fine wine and classy company John. Did I tell you I’ve got a wine cellar now? A wine room to be accurate. Temperature controlled environment.
REBUS
Stops the bodies decomposing does it?
CAFFERTY
Wine is an investment, John. Something you should have considered before they kicked you into touch. Still, some of this old vinyl’s worth a bit these days they tell me.
REBUS
You canny put a price on memories.
CAFFERTY
True. And we’ve got our share eh John? 1992. Not a year I remember so well as it turned out. I was in intensive care for a bit of it.
REBUS
But Mordaunt paid for that.
CAFFERTY
And now it’s time for him to pay for the rest of it. We should have a proper drink to that eh?
REBUS
I’m pacing myself these days.
CAFFERTY
You’re no fun these days John, that’s the truth. Will you go to the trial?
REBUS
I don’t know.
CAFFERTY
I’ll be there. There’s a fascination eh? Staring at a man you know is a piece of pure evil. Don’t look at me like that, I never killed any civilians. And I wouldn’t even breathe the same air as a sick wee bastard like Mordaunt. Useless plumber as well. I ended up with raw sewage leaking into the jacuzzi. Subsidence my arse. Wee scumbag barely knew how to lag a pipe.
REBUS
You’re going to the trial?
CAFFERTY
Beats daytime television. Have you seen ‘Homes under the Hammer’?
REBUS
I know where I’d like to put the hammer.
CAFFERTY
What are you doing with yourself all day, when you’re not looking for me?
REBUS
I keep busy.
CAFFERTY
Talking to ghosts. So what did you want to ask me?
REBUS
Have Mordaunt’s defence team contacted you?
CAFFERTY
Now. Why would you be asking that? Mordaunt dunts me on the heid in 1992 and you think his defence might want to talk to me? Prosecution maybe . . . but the defence? What would put an idea like that in your head?
REBUS
Have they?
CAFFERTY
Maybe they have. How did you guess that?
REBUS
Maybe I’m still a detective after all.
CAFFERTY
In which case you shouldn’t be talking to me, should you?
REBUS
What are you playing at Cafferty? Why would you help Mordaunt? What’s in it for you?
CAFFERTY
I can think of almost nothing on this earth I’d enjoy more than seeing that piece of filth nailed down so he canny get up for the rest of his shrivelled wee life.
REBUS
So what are you doing?
CAFFERTY
Almost nothing I’d enjoy more.
REBUS realises.
REBUS
It’s you isn’t it? Shit it’s you. You’re the mystery witness for the defence!
CAFFERTY
How could I help Mordaunt, the man who attacked me?
REBUS
By saying it wasny him that attacked you at all! This is your idea of a game is it? You know this is the conviction half of Police Scotland have wanted for twenty-five years and you’re going to piss on our bonfire, just for the hell of it?
