Jameson sucked in a short breath. ‘How could she know that?’

‘She checked his head in the immediate aftermath and found nothing but a small cut on his forehead. She says he has major bruising, and they think he may have a brain injury. I expect the bruising could have come up later, but she says he has a large impact wound to the side of his skull.’

‘She’d have been under a lot of pressure. Are you sure she didn’t miss it?’

‘It’s a possibility but she’s smart. I think it’s unlikely. So we need to consider that something might’ve happened to him later. Maybe the ambulance was involved in an accident, or they made a mistake, didn’t strap him in properly. That would explain why they haven’t come forward to report anything.’

‘Or …’

‘Have you found something?’

‘Maybe. I checked with the security team at Devonport. They recorded three ambulances arriving at the main gate, two at Albert Road and three at Camels Head. So eight in total. But when I spoke to the ambulance service, they said they only dispatched seven, four from Plymouth Central and three from South Western.’

‘How many came to Exeter?’

‘None. All were instructed to go to Derriford. It’s closer and specializes in military medicine so they’re equipped for these injuries.’

‘Could they have made a mistake?’

‘Sure. Human error can always play a part.’

‘But you’re guessing not?’

‘I think something odd’s going on. Does he have any other injuries?’

‘I’ll check and let you know.’

‘Ask if he has any localized trauma: small burns, digit breakages. You know the kind of thing.’

Bloom was surprised at this leap. ‘Torture?’

‘If someone went to all this trouble to get Harry alone, I’d say they seriously wanted his attention … or his compliance.’

Karene was sitting on a row of plastic chairs in the corridor of the Intensive Care Unit. She was hunched forward. Her hair hung loose and covered her face and her left foot was tapping a steady rhythm.

‘Hey,’ Bloom said, sitting down beside Karene. ‘Any news?’

Karene didn’t look up; she just shook her head.

‘Have you had anything to eat?’ Bloom touched her friend’s arm. ‘Karene, have you eaten anything since you arrived?’

There was no response.

Bloom reached into her bag for the banana she’d thrown in on the way out of the house. She peeled it half-way and handed it to Karene. ‘Eat this.’

Karene accepted it without a word and took a bite.

‘I spoke to Jameson on the way over. He’s exploring a lead linked to the paramedics. Everything’s going to be fine; it’ll all make sense soon. Did the doctors say he’s been here since Saturday night?’

‘They said they’d check.’

‘They don’t know?’

‘Shift changes, apparently. His notes say he’s been on this ward since Tuesday evening.’