Rebus: Long Shadows Read online

  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?