‘Not as bad in his case,’ Baker replied. ‘He’s already come out of surgery. Sounds like the bullet bounced off the top of his left shoulder. Soft tissue damage and a broken collar-bone, but that’s about it. He’s going to be okay … which is hard lines for us, because it most likely means we’re going to have to look after him while he’s in here.’

‘You mean in case the shooter comes back?’ she said.

Baker shrugged. ‘It’s a possibility. We’ve scrambled a Trojan, but they’re not here yet. The nearest available unit was at the airport.’

Before they could say more, the doctor reappeared in the doorway behind them and called Beardmore back in. Baker shuffled after him, and Lucy took the opportunity to head for the main entrance. Cora got up and scuttled after her.

They strode across the car park, bypassing the two uniforms, who again didn’t seem to notice them.

‘Well?’ Cora asked.

‘Just keep walking,’ Lucy said tightly.

‘I overheard some of that, but I need to know the rest.’

‘I’ll tell you when we get away from here.’

Cora fell silent until they were alongside her Honda.

‘Sounds like he’s going to be okay,’ Lucy said.

‘Thank God.’

‘Look! For Christ’s sake, Mum … you’ve got to get a grip on this! Dad is not your husband, he’s not your boyfriend, you’re nothing to him.’

Cora blinked in surprise but held her ground. ‘Did he tell you that? You lie to me, and I’ll know.’

‘He’s a hoodlum … okay? He’s on every police watch-list there is.’

‘That’s not what I asked you.’

‘Even if he didn’t say you’re nothing to him, all these things …’ Lucy made a strenuous effort to calm herself down. ‘All these terrible things he does for a living are relevant, because they display a total absence of morality, a vileness of spirit …’

‘Lucy … you know that’s not the whole man.’

‘Even if it wasn’t … his partner’s lying at death’s door. If she dies, or is left in a coma, or survives but is crippled, what happens then? Do you think he’s just going to push her aside and get someone else?’

‘He’ll need to find comfort somewhere.’

‘Oh, you can’t be serious.’ Lucy felt like ripping her hair out, not to mention her mother’s. ‘Look, I know you’re lonely, Mum. I know there hasn’t been any kind of romance in your life for a long time. But this path you’re walking is fraught with danger for both you and him.’

‘I don’t think Frank’s the sort who worries too much about danger, Lucy.’

‘And what about me?’ Lucy asked.