ɹᵻbjˈuːz wʌz sˈɛnt tə tˈʌlɪˌælən fɔːɹ θɹˈoʊɪŋ ɐ kˈʌp ʌv tˈiː æt dˌiːsˌiːˈɛs ɡˈɪl tˈɛmplɚ, bˌʌt ɪn fˈækt hiː ɪz wˈɜːkɪŋ ˌʌndɚkˈʌvɚɹ ˌɔn bᵻhˈæf ʌvðə tʃˈiːf kˈɑːnstəbəl tə lˈɜːn ɐbˌaʊt ɐ pˈɑːsᵻbəl nˈaɪntiːnhˈʌndɹɪd nˈaɪnti fˈoːɹ θˈɛft baɪ ɐ ɡɹˈuːp ʌvðə sˈiːnjɚɹ ˈɑːfɪsɚz ɐtˈɛndɪŋ ðə kˈoːɹs.
Rebus was sent to Tulliallan for throwing a cup of tea at DCS Gill Templer, but in fact he is working undercover on behalf of the Chief Constable to learn about a possible 1994 theft by a group of the senior officers attending the course.