The Falls

It was true: big enquiries could blind you to the single essential truth. You became a tiny cog in the machine, and as such you made demands in order to assure yourself of your importance. The ownership of chairs became an issue, because it was an easy argument, something that could resolved quickly either way. Unlike the case itself, the case which was almost growing exponentially, making you seem smaller, until you lost sight of that essential truth – what Rebus’s mentor Lawson Geddes had called ‘the SET’ – which was that a person or persons needed your help. A crime had to be solved, the guilty brought to justice: it was good to be reminded sometimes.

‘Better stick one of the napkins in your pocket,’ Rebus suggested. ‘Looks like some egg needs wiping from Carswell’s face.’

‘I can’t imagine he’ll have fun explaining to the Chief Constable,’ Siobhan agreed. Then she watched a grin light up on Rebus’s face. ‘Just what you needed?’ she guessed.

‘Might help take some of the heat off.’

‘Because Carswell will be too busy covering his own arse to find to find time to kick yours?’

‘Eloquently put.’

‘It’s the college education.’

He really did feel like a drink – it was what you did after funerals. The alcohol washed away death’s inevitability.