Mortal Causes: An Inspector Rebus Mystery by Rankin Ian

Author:Rankin, Ian [Rankin, Ian]
Language: eng
Format: mobi
Publisher: Simon & Schuster
Published: 2011-03-21T16:00:00+00:00

He followed the trail to one of the rougher pubs on the Cowgate, just the other side of Candlemaker Row from the Grassmarket. At one time, they’d hung miscreants from the gallows in the Grassmarket. It was a cheerier prospect these days, though you wouldn’t necessarily know it from a visit to the Merchant’s Bar where, at ten p.m. each night, the pint glasses were switched for flimsy plastic imposters, relieving the bar of ready weapons. It was that kind of place.

Inside, the bar was airless, a drinkers’ fug of smoke and television heat. You didn’t come here for a good time, you came out of necessity. The regulars were like dragons, each mouthful cooling the fire inside them. As he entered the bar, he saw no one he recognised, not even the barman. The barman was a new face, just out of his teens. He poured pints with an affected disdain, and took the money like it was a bribe. From the sounds of atonal song, Rebus knew the marchers were upstairs, probably emptying the place.

Rebus took his pint - still in a glass glass - and headed up to the dance hall. Sure enough, the marchers were about all there was. They’d shed jackets, ties, and inhibitions, and were milling around, singing to off-key flutes and downing pints and shorts. Getting the drink in had become a logistical nightmare, and more marchers were coming in all the time.

Rebus took a deep breath, carved a smile into his face, and waded in.

‘Magic, lads.’

‘Aye, ta, pal.’

‘Nae bother, eh?’

‘Aye, nae bother right enough.’

‘All right there, lads?’

‘Fine, aye. Magic’

Gavin MacMurray hadn’t arrived yet. Maybe he was off elsewhere with his generals. But his son was on the stage pretending he held a microphone stand and a crowd’s attention. Another lad clambered onto the stage and played an invisible guitar, still managing to hold his pint glass. Lager splashed over his jeans, but he didn’t notice. That was professionalism for you.

Rebus watched with the smile still on his face. Eventually they gave up, as he’d known they would, there being no audience, and leapt down from the stage. Jamesie landed just in front of Rebus. Rebus held his arms wide.

‘Whoah there! That was brilliant.’

Jamesie grinned. ‘Aye, ta.’ Rebus slapped him on the shoulder.

‘Get you another?’

‘I think I’m all right, ta.’

‘Fair enough.’ Rebus looked around, then leant close to Jamesie’s ear. ‘I see you’re one of us.’ He winked.

‘Eh?’

The tattoo had been covered by the leather jacket, but Rebus nodded towards it. ‘The Shield,’ he said slyly. Then he nodded again, catching Jamesie’s eye, and moved away. He went back downstairs and ordered two pints. The bar was busy and noisy, both TV and jukebox blaring, a couple of arguments rising above even these. Half a minute later, Jamesie was standing beside him. The boy wasn’t very bright, and Rebus weighed up how much he could get away with.

‘How do you know?’ Jamesie asked.

‘There’s not much I don’t know, son.’

‘But I don’t know you.’

Rebus smiled into his drink.

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