Claverhouse and Clarke introduced themselves in turn. Groal made great show of handing out business cards.

`I take it,' he said, `you're loitering here in the hope of interviewing my client?’

`That's right,' Claverhouse said.

`Might I ask why, D S Claverhouse? Or should I address that question to your superior?’

`He's not my -' Claverhouse caught Rebus's look.

Groal raised an eyebrow. `Not your superior? And yet he manifestly is, being an Inspector to your Sergeant.’

He looked towards the ceiling, tapped a finger against his cup. `You're not strictly colleagues,' he said at last, bringing his gaze back down to focus on Claverhouse.

'DS Claverhouse and myself are attached to the Scottish Crime Squad,' Clarke said.

`And Inspector Rebus isn't,' Groal observed. `Fascinating.’

`I'm at St Leonard 's.’

`Then this is quite rightly part of your division. But as for the Crime Squad…’

`We just want to know what happened,' Rebus went on.

`A fall of some kind, wasn't it? How is he, by the way?’

`Nice of you to show concern,' Claverhouse muttered.

`He's unconscious,' Clarke said.

`And likely to be in an operating theatre fairly soon. Or will they want to X-ray him first? I'm not very up on the procedures.’

`You could always ask a nurse,' Claverhouse said.

`DS Claverhouse, I detect a certain hostility.’

`Just his normal tone,' Rebus said. `Look, you're here to make sure Danny Simpson keeps his trap shut. We're here to listen to whatever bunch of shite the two of you eventually concoct for our delectation. I think that's a pretty fair summary, don't you?’

Groal cocked his head slightly to one side. `I've heard about you, Inspector. Occasionally stories can become exaggerated but not, I'm pleased to say, in your case.’

`He's a living legend,' Clarke offered. Rebus snorted and headed back into A amp;E.