Nikki gave a long shuddery sigh. ‘You know, you really are a good bloke, Dave, but you’ve got enough problems of your own.’

‘We all have our crosses to bear, ma’am, but it doesn’t stop us lending a hand to a friend, does it?’

She looked across at him, quite liking the thought of being someone’s friend. ‘You’re beginning to sound like Joseph.’

‘That’s not such a bad thing, is it?’ Dave asked with a faint smile.

‘No, it’s not.’ She stared across to the room where gowned hospital staff were still moving around her injured sergeant.

Nikki sank further down in her chair. She was so weary of sitting in hospital waiting areas while those she loved and cared about lay on trolleys, or beds or tables, with their lives suspended between heaven and earth.

‘He’s going to make it, you know,’ said Dave positively.

‘If he does, it’s down to you. I never dreamed you’d follow us. I thought you’d have gone to the docks.’

‘I don’t like crowds, Guv. And I had a really bad feeling about you and the sarge.’

‘Thank Heavens you did.’

‘By the time I got there, Joseph was already on the ground, and you were yelling your head off.’ Dave shook his head. ‘I rang for the ambulance and told them I needed a quiet approach to the entrance as far from the river as possible. I ran back when I saw their vehicles, then I had to re-evaluate the scene, didn’t I? I couldn’t let those medics wade into a potentially life-threatening situation, but when that one came at you with the knife, I told them to throw on the blues and twos and decided to wade in and help. Am I glad those villains decided to leg it!’

‘You came across that car park as if the hounds of hell were after you.’ Nikki gave him a tired smile. ‘I had no idea you possessed such speed.’

‘Surprised myself, ma’am. It’s funny what the old adrenaline can do.’

‘Control to PC Harris, confirm your location. Over.’ Dave’s radio crackled into life.

‘PC Harris here. Still at Greenborough Hospital. Over.’

‘Any news on Sergeant Easter?’

‘Not yet. I’ll contact immediately we have anything.’

‘Thanks. The Super wants you to ring control on a landline, please?’

‘Wilco.’ Dave flicked off his radio and turned to Nikki. ‘They want me to ring in.’ His voice dropped to a whisper. ‘Must be for an update on what’s going down.’

Nikki straightened up. ‘Then go. And ask them when it all kicks off, and if they have the suspects in place.’

Dave was back in moments. ‘Everything is ready. They reckon within the hour, and they have four suspects in their sights, three male and one female.’

Nikki gave up a silent thank you.