He had a shower, a long one, then towelled himself down and sat in his robe watching as dawn broke over the cathedral city. The morning light was watery and palest pink, gradually turning to icy white. He looked at the suit hanging on the wardrobe door, at the shoes on the floor beneath it and at the shirt and tie on the back of the chair. It occurred to him at that moment, for the first time in his life, that he was getting too old for dressing-up.

Christopher had arranged to meet Monty Loveday in the cathedral close at Winchester. The day was cold and the sky the colour of parchment, with dove-grey clouds rolling in from the west. He’d hoped they might have been able to sit outdoors at a table in front of one of the little cafés that were dotted around the side streets. It would be easy to talk there, more difficult to be overheard. But as they met the weather broke and a heavy shower forced them to seek shelter in the cathedral.

‘Not the best place to talk is it?’ muttered Monty as they strolled quietly down the north aisle.

‘Well, we can walk in the rain if you’d rather,’ said Christopher.

‘No thanks. I don’t want to order my own post-mortem.’ Monty chuckled. ‘What is it then? Why the cloak and dagger?’ His hands were pushed deep into the pockets of his trousers, his suit jacket and raincoat unbuttoned so that he looked rather like a gangly version of Columbo.

‘Can I level with you?’ asked Christopher.

‘S’why I’m here,’ replied Monty.

Christopher spoke softly. ‘It’s about Reggie Silverwood.’

Monty Loveday looked impassive. ‘I gathered as much. Go on.’

‘I don’t want this to sound like the ravings of an embittered doctor who is out for retribution.’

‘So it’s something to do with Randall Cummings?’

‘Yes.’

Monty stopped walking. ‘Has he been up to something?’

‘I think it’s almost certain.’

‘So what’s your theory?’

‘Well, it is only a theory, but I just have a feeling that it’s an accurate one.’

Monty walked on slowly and Christopher moved with him. ‘I’ve known for some time that Randall has been preferential in his dealings with patients. Encouraging some of them to go private. Telling them that he could offer them better care that way.’

‘Disagreeable but not illegal.’

‘Not as such, no. But I know for a fact that in the case of at least one kidney transplant patient the organ was withheld and given to someone who could afford to pay for it.’

Monty stopped walking again. ‘Are you certain?’