The Beat Goes On: The Complete Rebus Stories

by Ian Rankin

  ‘Thanks for your help.’ Rebus started climbing the stairs. The shared space was well maintained, the steps clean, smelling of disinfectant mixed with something else, a perfume of sorts. There were ornate tiles on the walls. Flats 2 and 3 were on the first floor. There was a buzzer to the right of Flat 3, a typed label attached to it. Rebus bent down for a closer look. The words had faded but were readable: LT Lettings. While he was down there, he decided he might as well take a look through the letter box. All he could see was an unlit hallway. He straightened up and pressed the bell for Flat 2. Nobody was home. He took out one of his business cards and a ballpoint pen, scribbled the words Please call me on the back, and pushed the card through the door of Flat 2. He thought for a moment, but decided against doing the same for Flat 3.

  Back downstairs again, he knocked on the door of the young man with the dishtowel. Smiled as it was opened.

  ‘Sorry to bother you again, but do you think I could take a look at your phone book …?’

  Rebus went back to his car and made the call from there. An answering machine played its message, informing him that LT Lettings was closed until ten o’clock on Monday morning, but that any tenant with an emergency should call another number. He jotted it down and called. The person who answered sounded like he was stuck in traffic. Rebus explained who he was.

  ‘I need to ask about one of your properties.’

  ‘I’m not the person you need to speak to. I just mend things.’

  ‘What sorts of things?’

  ‘Some tenants aren’t too fussy, know what I mean? Place isn’t their own, they treat it like shit.’

  ‘Until you turn up and sort them out?’

  The man laughed. ‘I put things right, if that’s what you mean.’

  ‘And that’s all you do?’

  ‘Look, I’m not sure where you’re going with this … It’s my boss you need to speak to. Lennox Tripp.’

  ‘OK, give me his number.’

  ‘Office is shut till Monday.’

  ‘His home number, I meant.’

  ‘I’m not sure he’d thank me for that.’

  ‘This is a police matter. And it’s urgent.’

  Rebus waited for the man to speak, then jotted down the eventual reply. ‘And your name is …?’

  ‘Frank Empson.’

  Rebus jotted this down too. ‘Well, thanks for your help, Mr Empson. You heading for a night out?’

  ‘Absolutely, Inspector. Just as soon as I’ve fixed the heating in one flat and unblocked the toilet in another.’

  Rebus thought for a moment. ‘Ever had cause to visit Gilby Street?’

  ‘In the New Town?’

  ‘Number 26, Flat 3.’

  ‘I moved some furniture in, but that was months back.’

  ‘Never seen the person who lives there?’

  ‘Nope.’

  ‘Well, thanks again …’ Rebus cut the call, punched in the number for Lennox Tripp. The phone was answered on the fifth ring. Rebus asked if he was speaking to Lennox Tripp.

  ‘Yes.’ The voice hesitant.

  ‘My name’s John Rebus. I’m a detective inspector with Lothian and Borders Police.’

  ‘What seems to be the problem?’ The voice more confident now, an educated drawl.

  ‘One of your tenants, Mr Tripp, 26 Gilby Street.’

  ‘Yes?’

  ‘I need to know what you know …’

  Rebus was smoking his second cigarette when Tripp arrived, driving a silver Mercedes. He double-parked outside number 26, using a remote to set the locks and alarm.

  ‘Won’t be long, will we?’ he asked, turning to glance at his car as he shook Rebus’s hand. Rebus flicked the half-smoked cigarette on to the road.

  ‘Wouldn’t imagine so,’ he said.

  Lennox Tripp was about Rebus’s age – mid fifties – but had worn considerably better. His face was tanned, hair groomed, clothes casual but classy. He stepped up to the door and let them in with a key. As they climbed the stairs, he said his piece.

  ‘Only reason William Smith sticks in my head is that he pays cash for the let. A wad of twenties in an envelope, delivered to the office on time each month. This is his seventh month.’

  ‘You must have met him, though.’

  Tripp nodded. ‘Showed him the place myself.’

  ‘Can you describe him?’

  Tripp shrugged. ‘White, tallish … nothing much to distinguish him.’

  ‘Hair?’

  Tripp smiled. ‘Almost certainly.’ Then, as if to apologise for the glib comeback: ‘It was six months ago, Inspector.’

  ‘And that’s the only time you’ve seen him?’

  Tripp nodded. ‘I’d have called him a model tenant …’

  ‘A model tenant who pays cash? You don’t find that a mite suspicious?’

  Tripp shrugged again. ‘I try not to pry, Inspector.’ They were at the door to Flat 3. Tripp unlocked it and motioned for Rebus to precede him inside.

  ‘Was it rented furnished?’ Rebus asked, walking into the living room.

  ‘Yes.’ Tripp took a look around. ‘Doesn’t look like he’s added much.’

  ‘Not even a TV,’ Rebus commented, walking into the kitchen. He opened the fridge. There was a bottle of white wine inside, open and with the cork pushed back into its neck. Nothing else: no butter, milk … nothing. Two tumblers drying on the draining board the only signs that anyone had been here in recent memory.

  There was just the one bedroom. The bedclothes were mostly on the floor. Tripp bent to pick them up, draping them over the mattress. Rebus opened the wardrobe, exposing a dark blue suit hanging there. Nothing in any of the pockets. In one drawer: underpants, socks, a single black T-shirt. The other drawers were empty.

  ‘Looks like he’s moved on,’ Tripp commented.

  ‘Or has something against possessions,’ Rebus added. He looked around. ‘No phone?’

  Tripp shook his head. ‘There’s a wall socket. If a tenant wants to sign up with BT or whoever, they’re welcome to.’

  ‘Too much trouble for Mr Smith, apparently.’

  ‘Well, a lot of people use mobiles these days, don’t they?’

  ‘They do indeed, Mr Tripp.’ Rebus rubbed a thumb and forefinger over his temples. ‘I’m assuming Smith provided you with some references?’

  ‘I’d assume he did.’

  ‘You don’t remember?’

  ‘Not offhand.’

  ‘Would you have any records?’

  ‘Yes, but it’s by no means certain …’

  Rebus stared at the man. ‘You’d rent one of your flats to someone who couldn’t prove who they were?’

  Tripp raised an eyebrow by way of apology.

  ‘Cash upfront, I’m guessing,’ Rebus hissed.

  ‘Cash does have its merits.’

  ‘I hope your tax returns are in good order.’

  Tripp was brought up short. ‘Is that some kind of threat, Inspector?’

  Rebus feigned a look that was between surprise and disappointment. ‘Why would I do a thing like that, Mr Tripp?’

  ‘I wasn’t meaning to suggest …’

  ‘I would hope not. But I’ll tell you what.’ Rebus laid a hand on the man’s shoulder. ‘We’ll call it quits once we’ve been to your office and checked those files …’

  There was precious little in the file relating to Flat 3, 26 Gilby Street – just a signed copy of the lease agreement. No references of any kind. Smith had put his occupation down as ‘market analyst’ and his date of birth as 13 January 1970.

  ‘Did you ask him what a market analyst does?’

  Tripp nodded. ‘I think he said he worked for one of the insurance companies, something to do with making sure their portfolios didn’t lose money.’

  ‘You don’t recall which company?’

  Tripp said he didn’t.

  In the end, Rebus managed a grudging ‘thank you’, headed out to his car, and drove home. Ray Duff hadn’t called, which meant he hadn’t mad
e any progress, and Rebus doubted he would be working Sunday. He poured himself a whisky, stuck John Martyn on the hi-fi, and slumped into his chair. A couple of tracks passed without him really hearing them. He slid his hand into his pocket and came out with both phones, the silver and the black. For the first time, he checked the silver flip-top, finding messages from Frances Guthrie to her husband. There was an address book, probably listing clients and friends. He laid this phone aside and concentrated on the black one. There was nothing in its memory: no phone numbers stored, no messages. Just that one text: TELL ME WHO TO KILL. And the number of the caller.

  Rebus got up and poured himself another drink, then took a deep breath and pushed the buttons, calling the sender of the text message. The ringing tone sounded tremulous. He was still holding his breath, but after twenty rings he gave up. No one was about to answer. He decided to send a text instead, but couldn’t think what words to use.

  Hello, are you a hired killer?

  Who do you think I want you to kill?

  Please hand yourself in to your nearest police station …

  He smiled to himself, decided it could wait. Only half past nine, the night stretching ahead of him. He surfed all five TV channels, went into the kitchen to make some coffee, and found that he’d run out of milk. Decided on a walk to the corner shop. There was a video store almost next door to it. Maybe he’d rent a film, something to take his mind off the message. Decided, he grabbed his keys, slipped his jacket back on.

  The grocer was about to close, but he knew Rebus’s face and asked him to be quick. Rebus settled for a packet of sausages, a box of eggs and a carton of milk. Then added a four-pack of lager. Settled up with the grocer and carried his purchases to the video store. He was inside before he remembered that he’d forgotten to bring his membership card; thought the assistant would probably let him rent something anyway. After all, if William Smith could rent a flat in the New Town, surely Rebus could rent a three-quid video.

  He was even prepared to pay cash.

  But as he stared at the rack of new releases, he found himself blinking and shaking his head. Then he reached out a hand and lifted down the empty video box. He approached the desk with it.

  ‘When did this come out?’ he asked.

  ‘Last week.’ The assistant was in his teens, but a good judge of Hollywood’s gold dust and dross. His eyes had gone heavy-lidded, letting Rebus know this film was the latter. ‘Rich guy’s having an affair, hires an assassin. Only the assassin falls for the wife and tops the mistress instead. Rich guy takes the fall, breaks out of jail with revenge in mind.’

  ‘So I don’t need to watch it now?’

  The assistant shrugged. ‘That’s all in the first fifteen minutes. I’m not telling you anything they don’t give away on the back of the box.’

  Rebus turned the box over and saw that this was largely true. ‘I should never have doubted you,’ he said.

  ‘It got terrible reviews, which is why they end up quoting from an obscure radio station on the front.’

  Rebus nodded, turning the box over in his hands. Then he held it out towards the assistant. ‘I’ll take it.’

  ‘Don’t say I didn’t warn you.’ The assistant turned and found a copy of the film in a plain box. ‘Got your card?’

  ‘Left it in the flat.’

  ‘Surname’s Rebus, right? Address in Arden Street.’ Rebus nodded. ‘Then I suppose it’s OK, this one time.’

  ‘Thanks.’

  The assistant shrugged. ‘It’s not like I’m doing you a favour, letting you walk out with that film.’

  ‘Even so … you have to admit, it’s got a pretty good title.’

  ‘Maybe.’ The assistant studied the box for Tell Me Who to Kill, but seemed far from convinced.

  Rebus had finished all four cans of lager by the time the closing credits rolled. He reckoned he must have dozed off for a few minutes in the middle, but didn’t think this had affected his viewing pleasure. There were a couple of big names in the main roles, but they too tended towards drowsiness. It was as if cast, crew and writers had all needed a decent night’s sleep.

  Rebus rewound the tape, ejected it, and held it in his hand. So it was a film title. That was all the text message had meant. Maybe someone had been choosing a film for Saturday night. Maybe Carl Guthrie had found the phone lying on the pavement. William Smith had dropped it, and Guthrie had found it. Then someone, maybe Smith’s girlfriend, had texted the title of the film they’d be watching later on, and Guthrie had opened the message, hoping to find some clue to the identity of the phone’s owner.

  And he’d walked out under a bus.

  TELL ME WHO TO KILL.

  Which meant Rebus had wasted half a day. Half a day that could have been better spent … well, spent differently, anyway. And the film had been preposterous: the assistant’s summary had only just scratched the surface. Starting off with a surfeit of twists, there’d been nowhere for the film to go but layer on more twists, deceits, mixed identities, and conspiracies. Rebus could not have been more insulted if the guy had woken up at the end and it had all been a dream.

  He went into the kitchen to make some coffee. The place still held the aroma of the fry-up he’d amassed before sitting down to watch the video. Over the sound of the boiling kettle, he heard his phone ringing. Went back through to the living room and picked it up.

  ‘Got a name for you, sorry it took so long.’

  ‘Ray? Is that you?’ Rebus checked his watch: not far short of midnight. ‘Tell me you’re not still at work.’

  ‘Called a halt hours ago, but I just got a text message from my friend who was doing some cross-checking for me.’

  ‘He works odder hours than even we do.’

  ‘He’s an insomniac, works a lot from home.’

  ‘So I shouldn’t ask where he got this information?’

  ‘You can ask, but I couldn’t possibly tell you.’

  ‘And what is it I’m getting?’

  ‘The text message came from a phone registered to Alexis Ojiwa. I’ve got an address in Haddington.’

  ‘Might as well give it to me.’ Rebus picked up a pen, but something in his voice had alerted Ray Duff.

  ‘Do I get the feeling you no longer need any of this?’

  ‘Maybe not, Ray.’ Rebus explained about the film.

  ‘Well, I can’t say I’ve ever heard of it.’

  ‘It was news to me too,’ Rebus didn’t mind admitting.

  ‘But for the record, I do know Alexis Ojiwa.’

  ‘You do?’

  ‘I take it you don’t follow football.’

  ‘I watch the results.’

  ‘Then you’ll know that Hearts put four past Aberdeen this afternoon.’

  ‘Four–one, final score.’

  ‘And two of them were scored by Alexis Ojiwa …’

  Rebus’s mobile woke him an hour earlier than he’d have liked. He blinked at the sunshine streaming through his uncurtained windows and grabbed at the phone, dropping it once before getting it to his ear.

  ‘Yes?’ he rasped.

  ‘I’m sorry, is this too early? I thought maybe it was urgent.’

  ‘Who is this?’

  ‘Am I speaking to DI Rebus?’

  ‘Yes.’

  ‘My name’s Richard Hawkins. You put your card through my door.’

  ‘Did I?’

  Rebus heard a soft chuckle. ‘Maybe I should call back later …’

  ‘No, wait a sec. You live at Gilby Street?’

  ‘Flat 2, yes.’

  ‘Right, right.’ Rebus sat up, ran his free hand through his hair. ‘Thanks for getting back to me.’

  ‘Not at all.’

  ‘It was about your neighbour, actually.’

  ‘Will Smith?’

  ‘What?’

  Another chuckle. ‘When he introduced himself, we had a laugh about that coincidence. Really it was down to me. He called himself “William”, and it just clicked: Will Smith, same as the act
or.’

  ‘Right.’ Rebus was trying to gather himself. ‘So you’ve met Mr Smith, talked to him?’

  ‘Just a couple of times. Passing on the stairs … He’s never around much.’

  ‘Not much sign of his flat being lived in, either.’

  ‘I wouldn’t know, never been inside. Must have something going for him, though.’

  ‘Why do you say that?’

  ‘Absolute cracker of a girlfriend.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Just saw her the once, but you always know when she’s around.’

  ‘Why’s that?’

  ‘Her perfume. It fills the stairwell. Smelled it last night, actually …’

  Yes, Rebus had smelt it too. He moistened his lips, feeling sourness at the corners of his mouth. ‘Mr Hawkins, can you describe William Smith to me?’

  Hawkins could, and did.

  Rebus turned up unannounced at Alexis Ojiwa’s, reckoning the player would be resting after the rigours of the previous day. The house was an unassuming detached bungalow with a red Mazda sports car parked in the driveway. It was on a modern estate, a couple of neighbours washing their cars, watching Rebus with the intensity of men for whom his arrival was an event of sorts, something they could dissect with their wives over the carving of the afternoon sirloin. Rebus rang the doorbell and waited. A woman answered. She seemed surprised to see him.

  He showed his ID as he introduced himself. ‘Mind if I come in for a minute?’

  ‘What’s happened?’

  ‘Nothing. I just have a question for Mr Ojiwa.’

  She left the door standing open and walked back through the hall and into an L-shaped living area, calling out: ‘Cops are here to put the cuffs on you, baby.’ Rebus closed the door and followed her. She stepped out through French windows into the back garden, where a tiny, bare-chested man stood, nursing a drink that looked like puréed fruit. Alexis Ojiwa was wiry, with thick-veined arms and a tight chest. Rebus tried not to think about what the neighbours thought. Scotland was still some way short of being a beacon of multiculturalism, and Ojiwa, like his partner, was black. Not just coffee-coloured, but as black as ebony. Still, probably the only question that would count in most local minds was whether he was Protestant black or Catholic black.