Rebus: Long Shadows Read online

  CAFFERTY

  I never saw who attacked me. Did I? He was a cowardly piece of shite that whacked me when my back was turned. But I don’t like the idea the wrong cowardly shite took the rap for that John. That offends my sense of justice.

  REBUS

  Your sense of what?

  CAFFERTY is on the move.

  CAFFERTY

  Listen. This is a bigger conversation. I’m running late. Places to go, people to see, you know how it is. Keeping busy. Why don’t you come over to my place tonight? Come and see the view. Let me repay your extravagant hospitality. Spot of dinner at mine.

  REBUS

  Dinner parties? What’s next? Saga cruises and National Trust membership?

  CAFFERTY

  There’s a working lift, no worries about getting your old legs up to the seventh floor. Home delivery from a Michelin starred chef . . .

  REBUS

  Stop fucking playing with me and tell me what’s going on!

  CAFFERTY

  I hope you’ve got someone keeping an eye on your blood pressure John, you’ve gone a terrible colour there. Come round tonight. I’ll explain the deal then.

  REBUS

  What deal? I’m not making deals with you.

  CAFFERTY

  You don’t have to. Seven for seven thirty. Alright? You know where I am, no need to bring a bottle. I’m well sorted.

  REBUS

  Aye and you’ll be well sorted out when I fill the defence team in on the quality of their witness. I don’t think a man who’s never knowingly embraced the truth in any court of law is going to make much of a star witness. Do you?

  CAFFERTY

  See, the way I heard it . . . there’s some suspicion the police have a habit of getting a bit creative with evidence, in their natural eagerness to see Mordaunt go down. The defence is going to ask for a reexamination of the DNA evidence from the attack on me. But you knew that, didn’t you? It’s an amazing thing, isn’t it an amazing thing? They’ve still got the stick of wood the guy whacked me with. Stupid bastard kicked it under a car two streets away. Careless, might have been pissed. Do you think he was maybe pissed John? They’ve got tiny tiny traces from that stick, wee scales of skin, that’s all they need now – wee scales of skin from whoever held that bit of wood twenty-five years ago, and then they’ll know who he is. And if it wasn’t Mordaunt that’ll raise a few questions about the quality of all the forensic evidence eh? Most dust is actually human skin scales. Did you know that? You should buy a hoover John, you’re choking on DNA in here.

  CAFFERTY is almost gone.

  REBUS

  A court’s already decided who hit you Ger, it was Mordaunt.

  CAFFERTY

  That’s no who I saw.

  REBUS

  You didny see anyone.

  CAFFERTY

  How do you know?

  REBUS

  You said you couldn’t see your attacker.

  CAFFERTY

  I couldny remember at first. I was laid up in the Royal Infirmary with a crack in my heid.

  REBUS

  But now it’s all coming back to you. It’s a miracle.

  CAFFERTY

  Think what you like but basically I’m an honest man John. I don’t have to lie my way out of trouble. Always thought that was a sign of weakness.

  REBUS

  So be honest. You never saw his face. Did you?

  CAFFERTY

  No.

  REBUS

  Then stop playing your games and let us get a clear shot at Mordaunt . . .

  CAFFERTY

  I didny need to see his face. I saw his shoes. Last thing I saw before it all went dark. Beautiful polished shoes. Shoes buffed to a shine only a man with the army in his DNA could ever bring off. I saw my dying face in those shoes John. Or I thought I did. I’m prepared to swear I would have recognised them anywhere.

  He’s looking at REBUS’S shoes.

  CAFFERTY

  Let’s have a look at your shoes John? No quite as shiny these days. Ah well. Standards are slipping. Nothing’s quite what it was in 1992 but the memories live on. As we started so we’ll finish. But I think it’s my turn to give the killer blow. Eh John? I’ll see you tonight and I’ll tell you the deal. Smart casual, what you’re wearing’s fine. Don’t even need to buff up your shoes.

  CAFFERTY leaves. REBUS is frozen. ANGELA walks out of the dark and looks at him, reproachful.

  ANGELA

  You weren’t paying attention John, were you? You’ll have no time for me and Maggie now, will you? It’s all about your secrets now eh? Poor wee dead Maggie. No justice for her today. No justice for her or me any day.

  There’s a scream off.

  HEATHER

  (off stage) Shit! No! Nooooo!

  REBUS moves quickly into—

  Stairwell, Arden Street

  ANDY is crawling down the stairs, bleeding. He collapses. REBUS hurries to him. Checking him. He’s phoning. HEATHER appears further up the stairs, she’s in bits.

  HEATHER

  Look at him! Look!

  REBUS

  (on phone) Police and ambulance . . . possible assault . . . 17 Arden Street . . .

  HEATHER comes slowly down the stairs, staring at ANDY in horror.

  REBUS

  (on phone) I don’t know. He’s bleeding out, multiple stab wounds . . . Just get here!

  REBUS is trying to stop the bleeding. It’s too late. HEATHER is backing off down the stairs, horrified.

  HEATHER

  He’s dead isn’t he? He’s dead . . .

  HEATHER is running.

  REBUS

  Heather wait . . . Heather . . . Heather!

  She’s gone. REBUS crouches over ANDY’S body.

  Act Two

  Rebus’s Arden Street flat/dream

  REBUS puts a record on, ‘Take the Weather’ by Crowded House. He stands looking out the window, listening to it. ANGELA steps out of the shadows, dancing, laughing.

  ANGELA

  You can’t dance to this!

  She’s not talking to REBUS but he answers her.

  REBUS

  No.

  ANGELA is looking at someone else. MORDAUNT steps out of the dark, smiling at ANGELA. Like the young woman he’s not really there.

  MORDAUNT

  You can. Not many girls with the confidence to dance on their own like that. You know you look good eh?

  ANGELA stops dancing.

  MORDAUNT

  Don’t stop. Aw I’ve put you off. Sorry. Didny mean to stare. It’s just you’re a really good dancer. Are you a professional?

  ANGELA

  (laughing) What? No!

  MORDAUNT

  Not many girls with the confidence to dance on their own like that. You know you look good eh?

  ANGELA

  It’s just boring sitting drinking. I’d rather dance.

  MORDAUNT

  I can’t. Bad leg. My sister does though. She’s training to be a dancer. You could get on a course like hers. She started out here and now she’s dancing in London.

  ANGELA

  For real?

  MORDAUNT

  Aye, come and meet her, she’s just outside having a fag.

  ANGELA hesitates.

  ANGELA

  I can’t leave my friends . . .

  MORDAUNT

  Aye come on. She clocked you earlier. She thinks you’re a great dancer too. Just come outside for a quick word.

  MORDAUNT is leading ANGELA into the shadows. REBUS moves to stop them. But MORDAUNT is suddenly gone and ANGELA turns on him, attacking.

  ANGELA

  What are you going to do John? Stop him? Save me?

  REBUS

  I can’t.

  ANGELA

  No. You can’t. He already did his worst. It was horrible John. So horrible. I was so frightened, he hurt me so much, and I just prayed and prayed and begged to live . . . But I didn’t. He killed me. It wasn’t quick and I knew I was dying.


  REBUS

  He won’t get away with it. I won’t let it happen.

  ANGELA

  If he does, it’s on you John. Your fault!

  Rebus’s Arden Street flat/dawn

  REBUS wakes abruptly in an armchair. ANGELA is gone. A young woman DETECTIVE is sitting opposite him, taking his statement.

  DETECTIVE

  Are we keeping you up, Mr Rebus?

  REBUS

  Sorry, just . . . long night.

  DETECTIVE

  Sun’s coming up now.

  REBUS

  (looking) So it is.

  DETECTIVE

  So . . . you believe the deceased, Andrew Lamont to have been dealing drugs . . .

  REBUS

  Just low key I think, wee packets of skunk to get him better drinking money, maybe pills for the weekend ravers but . . .

  DETECTIVE

  (cutting in) And you didn’t report this?

  REBUS

  No. I dealt with it.

  DETECTIVE

  Dealt with it?

  REBUS

  I’d moved him on. (as she stares at him accusingly) Look, I don’t know what success rate the drugs squad are getting from busting wee dope heids these days, but when you want to catch the big fish, in my day, you . . .

  DETECTIVE

  (cutting him off) Aye I’m guessing there’s a lot different from your day.

  REBUS

  Look, you don’t want to believe all the stories you hear about me, I . . .

  DETECTIVE

  (cutting him off again) What stories? I’ve not heard any stories. I didn’t know you’d ever been a policeman till you told me Mr Rebus.

  REBUS

  When did you join the force?

  DETECTIVE

  Five years ago.

  REBUS

  You don’t look old enough.

  DETECTIVE

  And you don’t know anything else about the other witness, Heather Ross?

  REBUS

  She’s Maggie Towler’s daughter.

  DETECTIVE

  Who?

  REBUS

  A murder. Before your time. Everyone’s forgotten except me. And wee Heather.

  The DETECTIVE is on the move.

  DETECTIVE

  Well if you see ‘wee Heather’ again, tell her we’re needing a word. Were you planning on going anywhere this morning sir?

  REBUS

  Don’t know yet.

  DETECTIVE

  Well can I ask you to wait in for a few hours. My boss might want another word.

  REBUS

  Who’s your boss?

  DETECTIVE

  D.I. Mackie.

  REBUS

  Don’t know him.

  DETECTIVE

  Her. No she didn’t know you either.

  The DETECTIVE leaves. ANGELA is back in the room watching REBUS.

  ANGELA

  You think Cafferty had that boy gutted on your doorstep. A calling card. A wee reminder of all he is. Why didn’t you tell the nice police lady that John?

  She follows REBUS as he moves restlessly.

  ANGELA

  I know why. You’re a man with dangerous secrets. Have to save yourself eh John? But what about me? And Maggie? And Heather? Canny save all of us, Rebus.

  REBUS

  The fuck I can’t.

  He snatches up car keys, quick transition into—

  Forensic lab, Fettes Police H.Q.

  REBUS is facing a wall of bagged evidence. A lab TECHNICIAN is bustling past, busy with his work.

  TECHNICIAN

  You can’t be in here.

  REBUS

  I get that a lot.

  The TECHNICIAN moves off as MAGGIE and ANGELA are on. They are reciting the contents of the evidence bags.

  MAGGIE

  Bloostained shirt. 1978.

  ANGELA

  Gerald Moore. Stabbed. Unsolved murder.

  MAGGIE

  2009. An adjustable spanner, brain matter and partial finger prints.

  ANGELA

  Susan Hickman. Coshed and left for dead. Assailant unknown.

  MAGGIE

  A pair of tights . . .

  ANGELA

  My tights . . .

  MAGGIE

  Trace DNA inside the knots, a tiny record of the fingers that pulled the knots tight . . . tight . . .

  ANGELA

  A indian silk scarf . . .

  MAGGIE

  My scarf . . .

  ANGELA

  Trace DNA on the folds, a tiny record of the fingers that pulled it tight . . . tight . . .

  MAGGIE

  A piece of building timber . . .

  ANGELA

  Morris Gerald Cafferty’s blood . . .

  MAGGIE

  And a tiny record of the hands that lifted that cosh and swung it . . . hard . . .

  ANGELA

  What would you do, even if they let you see it John?

  MAGGIE

  Steal it?

  ANGELA

  If he can just break the seal on the bag it’ll be useless in court.

  MAGGIE

  Is that the plan?

  ANGELA

  Christ that’s a useless plan. He’ll get caught.

  REBUS moves restlessly.

  REBUS

  (to himself) Fuck’s sake hold it together.

  MAGGIE and ANGELA are gone. The TECHNICIAN is back.

  TECHNICIAN

  I said you can’t be in here.

  REBUS

  Is Josie about?

  TECHNICIAN

  Who?

  REBUS

  Josie Cassidy? Technician here?

  TECHNICIAN

  Took maternity leave two years ago and never came back.

  REBUS

  How could she give all this up?

  TECHNICIAN

  Like I said, you need a visitor’s pass to be in here.

  REBUS

  Sorry son, we’ve not met before have we? D.I. Rebus.

  TECHNICIAN

  I’d need to see some ID.

  REBUS

  Retired.

  TECHNICIAN

  Then you have to leave.

  REBUS

  Aye, course, just one quick question . . .

  TECHNICIAN

  No, you really have to leave . . .

  REBUS

  How is Josie?

  TECHNICIAN

  (thrown) Eh . . .

  REBUS

  What did she have? Boy, girl?

  TECHNICIAN

  I think it was twins actually.

  REBUS

  Jeezo . . . she couldny have been more than four foot high.

  TECHNICIAN

  I know . . .

  REBUS

  God, must have been like a weeble wobble woman the last month. Did she work to the end? ’Cause she never liked the busy days anyway did she?

  TECHNICIAN

  No . . .

  REBUS

  Days like today with half the town’s lawyers and polis in keeping an eye on where the evidence is going. Have they been in to pick up the Mordaunt evidence yet?

  TECHNICIAN

  Eh . . . (he’s flustered checking paperwork) That went down last week I think . . .

  REBUS

  No. Different case. Not the rape/murder. The defence wants to look at the evidence from the assault Mordaunt was convicted of in 1992. Has that gone down yet?

  SIOBHAN enters. Not pleased to see REBUS.

  SIOBHAN

  What’re you doing here? You can’t be in here.

  TECHNICIAN

  I told him.

  REBUS

  Just catching up on news of Josie and the kids.

  SIOBHAN

  Who?

  REBUS

  (to TECHNICIAN) See? No-one has time for the personal stuff any more.

  SIOBHAN

  What are you doing here John?

  REBUS

  What’re you doing here?r />
  SIOBHAN

  I work here.

  REBUS

  In forensic storage?

  A beat.

  SIOBHAN

  Tom, can you tell me if anyone’s picked up the evidence to be tested for court 9? An assault on Morris Gerald Cafferty in 1992.