Let It Bleed by Ian Rankin Read Free Book Online Page A

Rebus asked, entering Farmer Watson’s office.
    Flower was wearing a light blue suit with blue shirt and a black and white tie with a zig-zag motif. He’d set things off with polished brown loafers and what looked like white tennis socks. Rebus sat down next to him and realised his own shoes could do with a polish. There was a speck of grease from the bacon roll on his shirt.
    ‘I’ve called this meeting,’ the Farmer was saying, ‘to put your minds at rest.’
    ‘Inspector Flower’s mind’s always at rest, sir,’ Rebus said.
    Flower attempted an unselfconscious laugh, and Rebus realised how desperate the man was.
    ‘See, John,’ said the Farmer, ‘you always have to make a joke of things.’
    ‘Leave them laughing, sir.’ But the Farmer wasn’t laughing, and Rebus knew what that silence meant – as long as Rebus maintained ‘an attitude’, he’d find promotion impossible.
    Which left Alister Flower.
    ‘Aly,’ the Farmer began. Flower sat to attention; Rebus had never seen the trick before. ‘Aly, can I get you a refill?’
    Flower looked at his cup, then gulped the contents down. ‘Please, sir.’
    The Farmer got up from his desk, took Flower’s cup, and walked to the coffee machine. He had his back to both men when he spoke.
    ‘The temporary replacement for Frank Lauderdale will start immediately.’
    It hit Rebus then. It was like he’d assumed a new, much greater mass.
    ‘Her name,’ the Farmer went on, ‘is Gill Templer.’
    Flower made straight for the toilets, where he could conduct a swearing match with the mirror. Rebus walked thoughtfully back to the CID room. Gill was already there, reading a pathology report.
    ‘Congratulations,’ he said.
    ‘Thank you.’ She kept on reading. He didn’t budge till she stopped and looked up at him. ‘John?’ she said quietly.
    ‘Yes, boss?’
    ‘My office.’
    Lauderdale’s name was still on the door; they wouldn’tbother with a new plaque, not yet. But Rebus noticed she’d already changed a few things.
    ‘Don’t bother sitting,’ she said. Rebus brought out a packet of cigarettes. ‘Come on, you know the rules: no smoking.’
    He put the cigarette in his mouth. ‘I’ll just suck on it then,’ he said.
    She closed the door, then went to Lauderdale’s desk, resting against it, folding her arms.
    ‘John, there’s a lot of history here.’ Rebus looked around the office. ‘You know what I mean. I hear you and Dr Aitken have split up.’
    Rebus took the cigarette out of his mouth. ‘So?’
    ‘So you’re on the rebound, and I don’t want you thinking
I
could be your springboard. Don’t go thinking you can jump me a few times before you dive back in the pool.’
    Rebus smiled. ‘Did I catch you rehearsing in the canteen?’
    ‘All I mean is, let’s leave the past well alone, let’s keep things professional.’
    ‘Fine.’ He put the cigarette back in his mouth.
    She went behind the desk and sat down. ‘So, what can you tell me about these two imbeciles who shut the Forth Bridge?’
    ‘Hoaxers, maybe with debts or a habit to finance. Desperadoes. No sign that they ever knew the girl. Howdenhall checked the car; there are none of her prints inside.’
    ‘So why were you so interested in the toxicology results?’
    ‘Was I?’
    ‘Someone came looking for you in the canteen to tell you they’d arrived.’
    Rebus smiled again. ‘I just wonder if maybe they were working for someone else.’
    ‘Do you have a name?’
    ‘Paul Duggan. He loaned the desperadoes his car. Plus they were sub-letting his council house.’
    ‘That’s illegal.’
    ‘Yes, it is. We might want to ask him a few follow-up questions.’
    She thought this over, then nodded. ‘What else are you working on?’
    He shrugged. ‘Not a lot, it’s always quiet this time of year.’
    ‘Let’s hope it stays that way. I know your reputation, John. It was bad enough when I knew you, but the story goes that it’s even worse these days. I don’t want