Davie was at the castle, in the command centre.
‘How are things?’
‘Pretty quiet,’ he replied. ‘There are some head-bangers having a go at the patrols in Leith and Portobello, and some Hearts fans have had to be taken in hand. They assumed Hibees had occupied Tynecastle and set off to burn Easter Road down. They’re cooling their heels in Raeburn.’ That was the barracks with the biggest holding area.
I told him what the education guardian had admitted.
‘Fucking shit,’ he said, eyes bulging.
‘What about Hume?’ I asked gently.
‘I’ve arrested the commander. Speaking to him in the 4×4, I didn’t get the impression that he knows much. Maybe Cowan manipulated him.’
‘That’s not going to save his career.’
‘No. I took in some other Hume personnel, most of them people I don’t like. I’ll be seeing if they’re dirty overnight.’
‘Have fun,’ I said. ‘Any sign of Guardian Doris?’
‘She’s in her quarters. Told the duty commander that she wasn’t to be disturbed until seven a.m.’
‘Fergus Calder probably tore her to pieces.’
Davie nodded. ‘Food?’
‘In moderation.’
As it turned out, I ate nearly as much as he did. Fighting for your life gives you a hell of an appetite. Afterwards, we split up. I got a lift back to my flat and listened to the blues. Sister Rosetta Tharpe’s ‘That’s All’ hit the spot. In fact, it got me thinking that we hadn’t got it all at all, as regards the hearts and heads cases.
I didn’t get much sleep that night, but at least I had a plan when the rain became visible in the grey light of dawn.
I was outside the senior guardian’s house in Moray Place half an hour later, having had a shower and changed into my only remaining clean trousers. My donkey jacket had taken a beating the previous evening, so I put on the flash black leather jacket I’d been given when I went to Glasgow in 2026. It still fitted, just.
The auxiliary on the door told me to wait while she called up, then told me to follow her upstairs. I tried to avoid looking at her shapely behind, but my genes countermanded that. I hate myself for a macho swine.
‘Citizen,’ Fergus Calder said as I was let into the dining room.
‘What, no Quint?’ I said with a sad smile.
‘Let’s keep it formal,’ he said, angling his head towards the people further down the table: the Lord of the Isles, Andrew Duart and Hel Hyslop from outside the city, and Jack MacLean and Billy Geddes from inside.
‘Am I interrupting?’ I asked.
‘Yes, but take a seat,’ said the finance guardian. ‘Have you eaten?’
The gorging with Davie still lay heavy on my gut, so I stuck to scrambled eggs and toast. There was fruit, but I was about to play the hard man and grapes didn’t really cut it.
I gave the company a general good morning.
‘You’re lucky to be alive,’ said Billy, a trace of concern in his voice.
I grinned. ‘It takes more than an uprising with weapons from Glasgow to do for me.’ I hadn’t intended to get after Duart and Hyslop so early in the day, but why waste the opportunity?
‘What are you talking about, Quint?’ Duart said. Across the table from him, Hel was doing her best not to lunge at me.
‘I’m sure the guardians have briefed you about the activities of Brian Cowan.’
Fergus Calder narrowed his eyes and then nodded.
‘To some extent,’ the Lord of the Isles said, skewering a devilled kidney.
Duart raised his shoulders. ‘We wouldn’t expect our hosts to tell us all their secrets.’ He turned to me. ‘What’s this about weapons from Glasgow?’
I laughed. ‘As if you don’t know.’ I looked at Hel. ‘You approved at least one shipment. All of them, I’d hazard.’
The senior and finance guardians looked as if weasels had got up their trouser-legs.
‘What’s the matter?’ I asked. ‘Worried your pro-Scotland supporters are subverting the city? I would be.’
‘You’re talking rubbish, Quint,’ Duart said. ‘Show me physical evidence that the arms came from my city. You haven’t got any, have you?’
‘There are different forms of evidence, First Minister,’ I said. ‘Including your police commissioner’s complexion.’ It was redder than a raspberry.
Billy rolled over to MacLean and whispered in his ear.
‘I quite agree,’ said the finance guardian. ‘Shouldn’t you be concentrating on who put the hearts on the centre circles, Dalrymple? I gather that Brian – I mean, Cowan – denied involvement.’
‘He did. And I am concentrating on it. That’s why I’m here.’
Fergus Calder’s eyebrows shot up. ‘What do you mean?’ he said, his voice breaking.
I looked around the table. ‘There were hearts left in Glasgow and in your region, Angus.’ No way was I going to address him by his self-awarded title.
They all returned my gaze, their lips sealed.
‘Have you no idea who was responsible?’ I continued.
They all shook their heads, Hyslop sheepishly.
‘No idea at all?’
‘No,’ said Andrew Duart. ‘What are you getting at?’
I played my ace. ‘Maybe someone from Edinburgh was behind it.’
There were several sharp intakes of breath. Even Billy was taken aback and he’s the biggest cynic I’ve ever come across.
‘Have you got any proof of that?’ demanded the senior guardian.
‘Have you?’ I shot back.
He twitched his head. ‘What do you mean?’
‘It’s the case that several guardians have been out of the city, isn’t it?’
Calder glanced at MacLean and then nodded. ‘What of it? We’re trying to secure Edinburgh’s fut—’
‘Yes, yes, but is there a list?’
‘A list of what?’
‘Of all guardians – and other individuals – who have crossed the city’s borders.’
There was a pause. ‘Well, not exactly,’ said the senior guardian.
I raised an eyebrow.
‘Permission is granted on an individual basis.’
‘And those are kept in a file.’
Fergus Calder nodded.
‘I need to see it.’
The senior and finance guardians conferred with Billy.
‘Very well,’ said Jack MacLean. ‘Come with me.’
I followed him to the door and then upstairs to Calder’s study. MacLean took out a thin silver laptop and tapped away on the keys.
‘Here,’ he said, holding out the device.
I took out my notebook and wrote down the names. There weren’t many, rather the same individuals – the senior and finance guardians plus Billy Geddes – appeared as many as twelve times, mostly visiting Glasgow. Sophia’s visit to Inverness was also there.
‘What’s going on in Inverness?’ I asked.
‘Full civil disorder,’ MacLean said.
‘What we escaped last night.’
He nodded. ‘Brian Cowan. I can’t believe it.’
‘At least he never left the city.’
‘That’s a good thing, true enough.’
I continued to write down names.
‘All right?’ said jingling Jack in his Glasgow suit.
‘Very far from it,’ I said. ‘But enough to work on.’ I turned and headed for the door.
‘Are you not coming back to breakfast?’ he called.
I managed to stop myself telling him where to stick the sausages.
I called Davie and asked him to pick me up in Charlotte Square – I didn’t fancy being called back by the jittery guardians. The rain was off, giving the betting tents and marijuana cafes in the centre of the square an almost carnival appearance. Unless you considered how demeaning they were for the citizens who had to work there.
A 4×4 pulled up beside me. ‘Morning, citizen.’
‘Commander. I just had breakfast with the senior guardian and his party.’
‘Lucky bastard. Were the sausages as good as is rumoured?’
‘I had other things on my mind.’
‘Such as?’
‘The possibility that we’re about to be detained.’ I looked around. ‘Turn round and head for my old man’s.’
‘It’s hardly the time to go visiting.’
‘We’re not. We’re rescuing him.’
Davie racked the wheel and headed towards Queen Street. ‘That nurse of his is quite presentable.’
‘Fool.’ I took out my notebook. ‘Here’s a list of guardians and senior auxiliaries who’ve been granted permission to leave the city.’ I pointed to a name that appeared several times.
‘What the fuck?’ he gasped.
‘Exactly. Now drive like the wind.’
He got us to Trinity in ten minutes. I ran into the old merchant’s house.
‘Oh, citizen,’ said Alison, the nursing auxiliary, ‘your father’s being given his wash.’
I went to his room and found a pair of young nurses wielding facecloths and soap.
‘Failure!’ he said, his eyes lighting up.
‘Morning, old man. It’s your lucky day. We’re off on an excursion. Dry him as quickly as you can, please.’
‘Do as he says,’ said their supervisor, from behind me. ‘Can I help?’
‘If they come, tell them you couldn’t stop me taking him.’
‘They? What do you mean?’
I shook my head and handed my father his trousers. ‘Probably auxiliaries, maybe armed citizens, or even outsiders.’
‘Should I bolt the door?’
‘It’s pretty solid, isn’t it? Yes, do that. And get everyone away from the windows.’
‘Will do.’
That was the good side of auxiliary training and service – people did what they were told without panicking.
Five minutes later we were in the 4×4, my father in his coat and Enlightenment tartan beret.
‘Morning, guardian,’ said Davie, as he pulled away.
‘It’s a long time since anyone’s called me that,’ said the old man. ‘Not sure if I like it. What’s going on, Quintilian? Have you made some new enemies?’
‘Quite possibly.’
‘What the hell does that mean? Express yourself clearly.’
I raised my eyes. ‘Yes, if you must know. Davie, these vehicles don’t have digital positioning units, do they?’
‘Not that I know of.’
‘And you probably would know. All right, head for that safe house in Stockbridge.’
We got to the inner suburb by the Water of Leith, about a quarter of a mile north of the central zone, in just over six minutes. The house – or rather first-floor flat – was in a narrow street in a maze of similar ones. It wasn’t registered to any directorate, but I’d kept the key after the owner did a bunk to Fife. He’d helped us in a major case and I’d managed to doctor his record to show that his family was still in the place, although they’d left with him. If you control the data you can do anything in Edinburgh.
‘OK,’ I said when we stopped on Raeburn Place. ‘Take the 4×4 into the Colonies.’ That area nearby has plenty of narrow streets too. ‘Give us half an hour and then join us. Try not to get picked up.’
‘I’ll set my Hyper-Stun to er … stun.’
‘Come on, old man,’ I said, helping him out. ‘It’s just a couple of minutes’ walk. Or ten minutes’ stagger in your case.’
‘Very funny, failure. You know, this is rather exciting.’
‘Rather,’ I muttered, locating the keys in my wallet.
I opened the street door and pushed my father up the stairs. The second key turned and I pushed the door open.
I knew instantly from the smell of sweat that someone was in residence.
‘Who are you, son?’ an elderly woman asked, coming in from a room to the rear.
‘I could ask you that question,’ I said, getting the old man into a tattered armchair.
‘Ahm Val Campbell,’ she said, smiling sweetly.
‘And Ahm her husband John,’ said a broad-chested man, who must have been in his seventies.
I identified myself and Hector, my heart sinking.
‘The investigator who works for the Cooncil?’ the woman said. ‘We’ve read lots aboot you over the years.’
‘Em, thanks. How did you find this place?’ I asked.
‘Oor son, Michael – Hume 481 – told us aboot it. He kens a lot ae useful things, being in the Guard.’
Shit. I couldn’t bring myself to tell them that their son’s heart had been removed. So this is where they’d been. No wonder they’d disappeared off the radar. Both their faces were drawn.
‘Can ye get us something tae eat, son?’ Val said. ‘Only, Michael tellt us tae wait here and no go oot, and he hasnae come back.’
I thought about that, then called Davie and told him to pick up some bread, milk and cheese. Then I had an idea.
‘Go to Raeburn. You’ll soon know if there’s an alarm out for us. Bring a couple of reliable Guard personnel back with you after you ransack the canteen.’ The barracks was only a few minutes’ drive away.
‘D’ye ken aboot oor son, Citizen Dalrymple?’ John said. ‘Is he to dae wi’ one o’ yer big cases?’
‘No,’ I lied. ‘But I’ll check when I go to the castle.’
‘That’s great,’ Val said, smiling broadly.
I felt like a bastard, but I couldn’t have people weeping and wailing till things were sorted out.
We chatted, my father even chipping in with dry comments. He’d never had a problem talking to ordinary citizens, whereas my mother used to look down on them.
‘What do you think about the football being brought back, John?’ I asked.
‘Och, it’s brilliant, it is. Ahm a Hibee and Ah went tae Easter Road a good few times last season.’
‘I’m a Hibee too,’ I said, hoping he didn’t ask me about their performance. I hadn’t a clue where they’d ended up in the EPL.
‘Great!’ John said, sticking out his hand.
I shook it, then went for broke. ‘You ever gambled on matches?’
He looked down. ‘That’s illegal.’
I laughed. ‘Aye, technically, but who do you think organizes it? The Recreation Directorate, of course.’
John’s head stayed low. ‘Ah wouldnae ken aboot that. Ah just enjoy the fitba, even if it’s shite compared wi’ the old days.’
It was obvious that he had laid bets – perhaps he was embarrassed to admit it in front of his wife. Citizens had to use food and clothing vouchers to pay, meaning they went hungry and cold if, or rather when, they lost.
There was a faint knock on the door. I went down and opened it an inch, then further to admit Davie and two of his comrades. One, Raeburn 302, was an experienced-looking guardswoman and the other, Raeburn 499, was young and built like an old-fashioned police box. They were both carrying boxes of provisions.
I took Davie aside. ‘You trust this pair?’
‘I saved their lives, not at the same time. They’ll walk through fire for me.’
‘Excellent.’ I went over to Val. ‘Do you think you could look after my father for a few hours? The guards will help, but I think you’ve a more homely hand.’
‘Course Ah will, dearie.’ She bent over the old man’s chair. ‘Ah’ll get a nice cup of tea for you in a minute.’
I went into the bedroom and opened the wardrobe doors. I would stick out like a gigolo in my leather jacket, so I was glad to see an old donkey jacket on a hanger.
‘Is this yours?’ I said to John.
‘Naw, it wus here when we arrived.’
‘Ah’ll look after that, son,’ Val said, taking my leather jacket. ‘Nice cut. Maybe it’ll fit your father.’
I left them to it and told the Guard personnel to contact us the minute anything suspicious happened – and to barricade the door after we left.
Davie and I moved slowly down the back street. I hadn’t said goodbye to my father. There was a chance I wouldn’t be coming back, but I didn’t want to worry him.
‘What’s the plan?’ Davie asked.
‘I’m working on it,’ I said as we headed towards the 4×4.
In truth, I was all at sea. I needed to set a trap, but being unsure who I could trust made that difficult. Then it came to me.
‘Where to?’ Davie said after we got into the vehicle.
‘The Supply Directorate depot.’
He gave me a dubious look. ‘You trust the senior guardian?’
‘Of course not, but if he’s got dirty hands, his stronghold will be the last place he’ll expect us to attack.’
‘Is that what we’re going to do?’
‘What, are you scared?’
‘Fuck off. But we’ll be heavily outnumbered.’
‘No, we won’t. Trust me.’
He shook his head. ‘I’ve done that plenty of times and nearly lost my head.’
‘In this case, it would be your heart. Set your Hyper-Stun to maximum and pray to the ghost of Plato.’
‘That’ll be all right, then,’ he said.
Davie dropped me at the Fruitmarket entrance to the Supply Directorate depot at the old railway station.
‘Are you sure you can tell who to trust in Hume?’ I said.
‘Don’t worry, I’ve kept up with the good ones.’
‘Get back here as fast as you can and look for me in the security section on the left as you go in.’
‘Here,’ he said, handing me his Hyper-Stun. ‘I can get a replacement at barracks.’
I took the bulky weapon and held it under my jacket. The guards on the gate inspected my Council authorization. If they were in league with the opposition, my arrival would be passed on. I was hoping for that. If they turned out to be clean, I’d find another way of attracting attention.
I banged on the door and went in. To my relief Jimmy Taggart was there, tucking into what looked like Parma ham and polenta.
‘Hullo, sir,’ he said, getting to his feet.
‘Jimmy. Where’s your team?’
‘Out in the stacks.’
‘Have you got today’s list of shipments not to be inspected?’
He nodded to a printout at the far end of the table.
‘Right, if you can tear yourself away from pork and corn products, let’s go and tear these incoming loads apart.’
He grinned. ‘Are we going up against the bad guys?’
‘You could say that. Your people, are they dependable?’
‘I weeded out the thieves and informers, aye.’
‘Good. Hume 253’s bringing backup.’
‘Crazy Davie? He should liven things up.’
I’d never heard my friend called that. If we survived, there would be major mockery potential. Along with Thunder Boots.
‘Here,’ I said, handing him the Hyper-Stun.
‘You keep that, sir,’ Taggart said, going over to a steel cabinet and unlocking the door. There was a row of combat rifles, and boxes of sidearms, ammunition and grenades. ‘For use only in extreme situations. I take it this is one.’
‘It will be.’
The old guardsman grinned. ‘I miss being out on the border with real weapons. Now I can die happy.’
That was inspirational but also deeply worrying.