Rolt looked grey and drawn. Whatever anger he was feeling, he was doing his best to keep it at bay. ‘They’ve taken away some remains. They said they’re hopeful of getting an ID.’

Inside, the building was a mass of rubble, everything dripping wet from the fire hoses. Three floors had collapsed in on themselves. They stepped aside as two men in hard hats with lamps attached came through with a body-bag on a stretcher.

‘How many casualties?’

‘Five dead. Fourteen critical, three unaccounted for. A few hours later, the canteen would have been full and the toll would have been triple that.’

Tom stood on a plastic sheet that covered the foyer floor. ‘How many explosions?’

‘Just the one, far as we know. The fractured gas pipes did the rest.’

‘Any ideas on how the guy got so far into the building?’

‘One witness claims they heard shots before the blast. The police think he may have shot his way in.’

‘Any weapon recovered?’ Tom surveyed the wreckage with a wearily practised eye. The bomber would have to have been a giant to carry the weight of bang to make a hole that big. This wasn’t some random attack.

‘Sorry I dragged you up here.’

‘Not a problem. And since I’m here, I could look in on that guy Blakey I told you about.’

‘Let me come with you. I’m only getting in the way here.’

Chapter 29

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Selly Oak Hospital, Birmingham

Blakey lay flat on his back, surrounded by a spaghetti of drips and drains. He was staring straight upwards, his eyes glazed. He turned his head as they approached and a smile spread over his face. ‘They said you’d called.’

His voice was small and slurred. He tried to lift his head, gave up. Tom stood right over him so he didn’t need to move.

‘You’re my first visitor.’

‘What about your mum?’

‘She’s gone to my sister’s in Leamington. They smashed her windows. She’ll come when she’s got her nerve back. I’ll still be here. I’m not going anywhere.’ He closed his eyes again.

Tom took his hand. It felt limp and lifeless. ‘How are you doing?’

‘How does it look?’

Tom wished he hadn’t asked. He introduced Rolt.

Before they had got past the pleasantries a nurse and two orderlies appeared.

‘Hello, Cliff. We’re taking you down to pre-op. Going to have another look at that spine of yours.’

‘Whatever.’

The nurse gave Blakey a wan smile and turned to Tom. ‘Sorry to break up the party, guys.’

Rolt reached forward and gripped Blakey’s shoulder.

‘We’ll get your mum and sister out to see you. That’s a promise. Then we’ll see what else we can do for them and you.’

Chapter 30

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