Franny O’Rourke was pacing his office. He was perturbed that he had been unable to finish off Marcus. Damn delivery boy. Good thing he had spotted the lad before he was seen smashing Marcus’s face. One final blow would have done it, but now Marcus was in the hospital, being guarded by the police. Franny pounded his fist on the table. He was going to get even with Marcus one way or another.

He picked up the phone and called a buddy of his in the police force. Bribery knew no boundaries. It was as prevalent in England as anywhere else.

A chipper young voice answered. “And what can I do for you today? Need someone to look the other way?” Franny O’Rourke’s inside man had a burner phone that Franny would replace every couple of days by leaving one in a locker at the bus station.

Franny replied, “Nope. Need to find out where they’re holding Julian Marcus. Which hospital?”

The voice at the other end of the phone remained silent.

“Didn’t you hear me?” Franny was losing his patience.

“Er . . . that’s under a lid. Only the top brass know.” The cheerful voice had become somber. He knew the reaction he was about to get.

“You bloody well better find out!” Franny shouted and threw his phone across the room. He was going to finish off Marcus if it was the last thing he ever did. No one screws with me. No one.

About an hour later, his mangled phone rang. He walked over to it and gingerly picked it up. He was glad it still worked. These flip phones are a lot sturdier than the expensive smartphones. What’s so smart about them, anyway? You need an encyclopedia to figure them out. “Ye better ’ave some news for me,” Franny snapped.

“The Royal London Hospital.” Then the phone went dead.

Franny grabbed his cap and a slicker and headed out the door.

It had taken Eileen several days to get Franny’s location. She had followed the slimy kid around until he was able to lead her to Franny O’Rourke. Now Franny was on the move. She sent a signal to Avery, who forwarded it to Charles. There had been a BOLO, “be on the lookout,” on Franny O’Rourke for over a year. He was wanted for a number of crimes, but he was slick and always seemed to slip through the cracks. Whispers and rumors had been bandied about that he had someone on the inside of the police department, but there had been no chatter as to who it could be. Eileen tried to keep up without being spotted. Franny entered the Underground and boarded a train. Eileen was not far behind. Several stops later, Franny exited the Underground and walked toward the Royal London Hospital. Eileen signaled Avery again.