Mortal Causes

  ‘Here’s tae King Billy!’ A can was raised. ‘God bless the Queen and King William of Orange!’

  ‘Well said, son.’

  The bowler hats said little, standing with the tips of their umbrellas touching the ground, hands resting lightly on the curved wooden handles. It was easy to dismiss these unsmiling men too lightly. But God help you if you started an argument with one of them.

  ‘Why dae yis hate Catholics?’ a pedestrian yelled.

  ‘We don’t!’ somebody yelled back, but she was already bustling away with her shopping bags. There were smiles, but she’d made her point. Rebus watched her go.

  ‘Hey, Gavin, how long now?’

  ‘Five minutes, just relax.’

  Rebus looked towards the man who had just spoken, the man who was probably called Gavin MacMurray and therefore in charge. He seemed to have appeared from nowhere. Rebus had read the file on Gavin MacMurray: two arrests for breach of the peace and actual bodily harm, but a lot more information to his name than that. Rebus knew his age (38), that he was married and lived in Currie, and that he ran his own garage. He knew Inland Revenue had no complaints against him, that he drove a red Mercedes Benz (though he made his money from more prosaic Fords, Renaults and the like), and that his teenage son had been in trouble for fighting, with two arrests after pitched battles outside Rangers matches and one arrest after an incident on the train home from Glasgow.

  So Rebus assumed the teenager standing close beside Gavin MacMurray must be the son, Jamesie. Jamesie had pretensions of all obvious kinds. He wore sunglasses and a tough look, seeing himself as his father’s lieutenant. His legs were apart, shoulders back. Rebus had never seen anyone itching so badly for action of some kind. He had his father’s low square jaw, the same black hair cut short at the front. But while Gavin MacMurray was dressed in chainstore anonymity, Jamesie wanted people to look at him. Biker boots, tight black jeans, white t-shirt and black leather jacket. He wore a red bandana around his right wrist, a studded leather strap around the left. His hair, long and curling at the back, had been shaved above both ears.

  Turning from son to father was like turning from overt to covert strength. Rebus knew which he’d rather tackle. Gavin MacMurray was chewing gum with his front teeth, his head and eyes constantly in movement, checking things, keeping things in check. He kept his hands in his windcheater pockets, and wore silver-framed spectacles which magnified his eyes. There seemed little charisma about him, little of the rouser or orator. He looked chillingly ordinary.

  Because he was ordinary, they all were, all these semi-inebriated working men and retired men, quiet family types who might belong to the British Legion or their local Ex-Servicemen’s Club, who might inhabit the bowling green on summer evenings and go with their families on holiday to Spain or Florida or Largs. It was only when you saw them in groups like this that you caught a whiff of something else. Alone, they had nothing but a nagging complaint; together, they had a voice: the sound of the lambeg, dense as a heartbeat; the insistent flutes; the march. They always fascinated Rebus. He couldn’t help it. It was in his blood. He’d marched in his youth. He’d done a lot of things back then.

  There was a final gathering of lines, MacMurray readying his troops. A word with the policeman in charge, a conversation by two-way radio, then a nod from MacMurray. The opening fat-fry of snare drums, the lambeg pumping away, and then the flutes. They marched on the spot for a few moments, then moved off towards Princes Street, where traffic had been stopped for them, where the Castle glared down on them, where a lot of people but by no means everyone paused to watch.

  A few months back, a pro-republican march had been banned from this route. That was why the protesters were particularly loud in their jeers, thumbs held down. Some of them were chanting Na-Zis, Na-Zis, and then being told to shut up by uniformed police. There would be a few arrests, there always were. You hadn’t had a good day out at a march unless there’d been at least the threat of arrest.

  Rebus followed the march from the pavement, sticking to the Gardens side, which was quieter. A few more marchers had joined in, but it was still small beer, hardly worth the bother. He was beginning to wonder what he’d thought would happen. His eyes moved back through the procession from the tosser at the front, busy with his muckle stick, through the flutes and drums, past bowler hats and suits, to the younger marchers and stragglers. A few pre-teenage kids had joined in on the edges, loving every minute. Jamesie, right near the back, told them in no uncertain terms that they should leave, but they didn’t listen to him.

  ‘Tough’ always was a relative term.

  But now one of the stragglers clutched Jamesie’s arm and they shared a few words, both of them grinning. The straggler was wearing sunglasses with mirrored lenses, and a denim jacket with no shirt beneath.

  ‘Hello,’ said Rebus quietly. He watched Jamesie and Davey Soutar have their conversation, saw Jamesie pat Davey on the shoulder before Davey moved away again, falling back until he left the procession altogether, squeezing between two of the temporary barriers and vanishing into the crowd.

  Jamesie seemed to relax a bit after this. His walk became looser, less of an act, and he swung his arms in time to the music. He seemed to be realising that it was a bright summer’s day, and at last peeled off his leather jacket, slinging it over one shoulder, showing off his arm muscles and several tattoos. Rebus walked a bit faster, keeping close to the edge of the pavement. One of the tattoos was professional, and showed the ornately overlaid letters RFC: Rangers Football Club. But there was also the maroon emblem of Heart of Midlothian FC, so obviously Jamesie liked to play safe. Then there was a kilted, busby-wearing piper, and further down his arm towards the leather wrist-band a much more amateur job, the usual shaky greeny-blue ink.

  The letters SaS.

  Rebus blinked. It was almost too far away for him to be sure. Almost. But he was sure. And suddenly he didn’t want to talk to Gavin MacMurray any more. He wanted a word with his son.

  He stopped on the pavement, letting the march pull away from him. He knew where they were heading. A left turn into Lothian Road, passing the windows of the Caledonian Hotel. Something for the rich tourists to get a picture of. Then another left into King’s Stables Road, stopping short of the Grassmarket. Afterwards, they’d probably head down into the Grassmarket itself for the post-march analysis and a few more beers. The Grassmarket being trendy these days, there’d be a lot of Fringe drinkers there too. A fine cocktail of cultures for a Saturday afternoon.

  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. ‘Best keep it that way.’

  ‘Then how come you know me?’

  Rebus turned towards him. ‘I just do.’ Jamesie looked around him, licking his lips. Rebus handed him one of the pints. ‘Here, get this down you.’

  ‘Ta.’ He lowered his voice. ‘You’re in The Shield?’

  ‘What makes you think that?’ Now Jamesie smiled. ‘How’s Davey, by the way?’

  ‘Davey?’

  ‘Davey Soutar,’ said Rebus. ‘You two know each other, don’t you?’

  ‘I know Davey.’ He blinked. ‘Christ, you are in The Shield. Hang on, did I see you at the parade?’

  ‘I bloody hope so.’

  Now Jamesie nodded slowly. ‘I thought I saw you.’

  ‘You’re a sharp lad, Jamesie. There’s a bit of your dad in you.’

  Jamesie started at this. ‘He’ll be here in five minutes. You don’t want him to see us …’

  ‘You’re right. He doesn’t know about The Shield then?’

  ‘Of course not.’ Jamesie looked slighted.

  ‘Only sometimes the lads tell their dads.’

  ‘Not me.’

  Rebus nodded. ‘You’re a good one, Jamesie. We’ve got our eyes on you.’

  ‘Really?’

  ‘Absolutely.’ Rebus supped from his pint. ‘Shame about Billy.’

  Jamesie became a statue, the glass inches from his lips. He recovered with effort. ‘Pardon?’

  ‘Good lad, say nothing.’ Rebus took another sup. ‘Good parade, wasn’t it?’

  ‘Oh aye, the best.’

  ‘Ever been to Belfast?’

  Jamesie looked like he was having trouble keeping up with the conversation. Rebus hoped he was. ‘Naw,’ he said at last.

  ‘I was there a few days ago, Jamesie. It’s a proud city, a lot of good people there, our people.’ Rebus was wondering, how long can I keep this up? A couple of teenagers, probably a year or two beneath the legal drinking age, had already come to the stairs looking for Jamesie to join them.

  ‘True,’ Jamesie said.

  ‘We can’t let them down.’

  ‘Absolutely not.’

  ‘Remember Billy Cunningham.’

  Jamesie put down his glass. ‘Is this …’ his voice had become a little less confident, ‘is this a … some sort of warning?’

  Rebus patted the young man’s arm. ‘No, no, you’re all right, Jamesie. It’s just that the polis are sniffing around.’ It was amazing where a bit of confident bull’s keech could get you.

  ‘I’m no squealer,’ said Jamesie.

  The way he said it, Rebus knew. ‘Not like Billy?’

  ‘Definitely not.’

  Rebus was nodding to himself when the doors burst open and Gavin MacMurray swaggered in, a couple of his generals squeezing through the doorway in his wake. Rebus became just another punter at the bar, as MacMurray slung a heavy arm around his son’s neck.

  ‘Awright, Jamesie boy?’

  ‘Fine, Dad. My shout.’

  ‘Three export then. Bring them up back, aye?’

  ‘No bother, Dad.’

  Jamesie watched the three men walk to the stairs. He turned towards his confidant, but John Rebus had already left the bar.

  17

  Every chain, no matter how strong, has one link weaker than the rest. Rebus had hopes of Jamesie MacMurray, as he walked out of the Merchant’s. He was halfway to his car when he saw Caro Rattray walking towards him.

  ‘You were going to call me,’ she said.

  ‘Work’s been a bit hectic.’

  She looked back at the pub. ‘Call that work, do you?’

  He smiled. ‘Do you live here?’

  ‘On the Canongate. I’ve just been walking my dog.’

  ‘Your dog?’ There was no sign of a leash, never mind the animal. She shrugged.

  ‘I don’t actually like dogs, I just like the idea of walking them. So I have an imaginary dog.’

  ‘What’s he called?’

  ‘Sandy.’

  Rebus looked down at her feet. ‘Good boy, Sandy.’

  ‘Actually, Sandy’s a girl.’

  ‘Hard to tell at this distance.’

  ‘And I don’t talk to her.’ She smiled. ‘I’m not mad, you know.’

  ‘Right, you just go walking with a pretend dog. So what are you and Sandy doing now?’

  ‘Going home and having a drink. Fancy joining us?’

  Rebus thought about it. ‘Sure,’ he said. ‘Drive or walk?’

  ‘Let’s walk,’ said Caroline Rattray. ‘I don’t want Sandy shedding on your seats.’

  *

  She lived in a nicely furnished flat, tidy but not obsessive. There was a grandfather clock in the hall, a family heirloom. Her surname was engraved on the brass face.

  A dividing wall had been taken away so that the living room had windows to front and back. A book lay open on the sofa, next to a half-finished box of shortbread. Solitary pleasures, thought Rebus.

  ‘You’re not married?’ he said.

  ‘God, no.’

  ‘Boyfriend?’

  She smiled again. ‘Funny word that, isn’t it? Especially when you get to my age. I mean, a boyfriend should be in his teens or twenties.’

  ‘Gentleman friend then,’ he persisted.

  ‘Doesn’t have the same connotations though, does it?’ Rebus sighed. ‘I know, I know,’ she said, ‘never argue with an advocate.’

  Rebus looked out of the back window onto a drying-green. Overhead, the few clouds were basking in the space they had. ‘Sandy’s digging up your flower bed.’

  ‘What do you want to drink?’

  ‘Tea, please.’

  ‘Sure? I’ve only got decaf.’

  ‘That’s perfect.’ He meant it. While she made noises in the kitchen, he walked through the living room. Dining-table and chairs and wall units at the back, sofa, chairs, bookcases towards the front. It was a nice room. From the small front window, he looked down onto slow-walking tourists and a shop selling tartan teddy-bears.

  ‘This is a nice part of town,’ he said, not really meaning it.

  ‘Are you kidding? Ever tried parking round here in the summer?’

  ‘I never try parking anywhere in the summer.’

  He moved away from the window. A flute and some sheet music sat on a spindly music-stand in one corner. On a unit were small fr
amed photos of the usual gap-toothed kids and kind-looking old people.

  ‘Family,’ she said, coming back into the room. She lit a cigarette, took two deep puffs on it, then stubbed it into an ashtray, exhaling and wafting the smoke away with her hand. ‘I hate smoking indoors,’ she explained.

  ‘Then why do it?’

  ‘I smoke when I’m nervous.’ She smiled slyly and returned to the kitchen, Rebus following. The aroma of the cigarette mingled with the richer aroma of the perfume she wore. Had she just applied some? It hadn’t been this strong before.

  The kitchen was small, functional. The whole flat had the look of recent but not radical redecoration.

  ‘Milk?’

  ‘Please. No sugar.’ Their conversation, he realised, was assuming a studied banality.

  The kettle clicked off. ‘Can you take the mugs?’

  She had already poured a splash of milk into either plain yellow mug. There wasn’t much room at all in the kitchen, something Rebus realised as he went to pick up the mugs. He was right beside her as she stirred the teabags in the pot. Her head was bent down, affording a view of the long black hairs curling from her nape, and the nape of her neck itself. She half turned her face towards him, smiling, her eyes finally finding his. Then she moved her body around too. Rebus kissed her forehead first, then her cheek. She had closed her eyes. He burrowed his face in her neck, inhaling deeply: shampoo and perfume and skin. He kissed her again, then came up for air. Caroline opened her eyes slowly.

  ‘Well now,’ she said.

  He felt suddenly as though he’d been flung down a tunnel, watching the circle of light at the entrance shrink to a full stop. He tried desperately to think of something to say. There was perfume in his lungs.

  ‘Well now,’ she repeated. What did that mean? Was she pleased, shocked, bemused? She turned back to the teapot and put its lid on.