“That probably hurts,” Templer commented.

“It’s bearable.”

“And it happened on Sunday night?”

He nodded.

“Look, John…” She leaned forwards, elbows on the desktop. “You know what people are going to say. Siobhan claimed Fairstone was stalking her. He denied it, then countered that you’d threatened him.”

“A charge he decided to drop.”

“But now I hear from Siobhan that Fairstone attacked her. Did you know about that?”

He shook his head. “The fire’s just a stupid coincidence.”

She lowered her eyes. “It doesn’t look good, though, does it?”

Rebus made a show of examining himself. “Since when have I been interested in looking good?”

Despite herself, she almost smiled. “I just want to know that we’re clean on this.”

“Trust me, Gill.”

“Then you won’t mind making it all official? Get it down in writing?” Her phone had started ringing again.

“I’d answer it this time,” a voice said. Siobhan was standing in the hallway, arms folded. Templer looked at her, then picked up the receiver.

“DCS Templer speaking.”

Siobhan caught Rebus’s eye and gave a wink. Gill Templer was listening to whatever the caller was telling her.

“I see… yes… I suppose that would be… Care to tell me why him exactly?”

Rebus suddenly knew. It was Bobby Hogan. Maybe not on the phone-Hogan could have gone over Templer’s head, got the deputy chief constable to make the call on his behalf. Needing that favor from Rebus. Hogan had a certain measure of power right now, power gifted him along with his latest case. Rebus wondered what sort of favor he wanted.

Templer put down the phone. “You’re to report to South Queensferry. Seems DI Hogan needs his hand-holding.” She was staring at her desktop.

“Thank you, ma’am,” Rebus said.

“Fairstone won’t be going anywhere, John, remember that. Soon as Hogan’s finished with you, you’re mine again.”