‘Having a coffee, are we?’ Wild Bill Pentecost said in his slow, cold monotone. ‘Oh dear … and you’re supposed to be looking after my friend.’

Chapter 33

‘I’m sorry, Mr Pentecost,’ Lucy said. ‘But you can’t come in.’

But all six were already in, the door having closed behind them. They stood in a tight group, as though on hostile ground, eyes circling the reception area for cameras and the like. Their fake security guard, Hawcroft or whatever his real name was, didn’t reappear; doubtless he was already threading back through the hospital, intent on leaving the same way he’d come in. Nurse Reynoldson remained behind her desk, each hand still clutching a mug of coffee, rigid with fear.

Having thoroughly surveyed the place, Pentecost switched his attention to Lucy. ‘I’m afraid you have the advantage of me, my dear?’

She flipped her wallet open. ‘Detective Constable Clayburn. Crowley CID.’

‘Constable …? I see.’ He took a step towards her, his men following. ‘You sure you’re not exceeding your authority here?’

‘I doubt it, sir.’ Lucy had backed up involuntarily, but now came to a deliberate standstill. ‘The patient you’ve come to visit is under police protection and needs to be kept in complete isolation. On top of that, he’s sedated. So, there’s not much good you can do in here, assuming that was your intention.’

‘My, my …’ He eyed her closely. ‘What a barbed comment.’

‘No offence was intended, sir. But I have a job to do, and I’ll do it.’

‘Just like a good little soldier … except there’s a problem. If you know who I am, you should also know that I’m much more to Mr McCracken than a mere business partner …’

He advanced again, his men coming on behind him. Lucy had no option but to shuffle backward along the corridor. The doorway to her father’s room was already only a couple of yards behind her.

‘I’m actually a rather close acquaintance,’ Pentecost said, treating her to a smile that was transparently fake. ‘And I’m sure you’ll find, if you bother to make contact with your inner female, that stepping aside here would be perfectly okay. That it couldn’t do any harm … that it would be nothing more than an act of everyday human kindness.’

A real hospital security guard now showed up from the darkened corridor, no doubt in response to the alarm that Nurse Reynoldson had activated with her foot. He was a young Asian guy, balding on top but with a thick black beard. Doubtless, this was Imran, the guy the night nurse had referred to. He was tall and well-built, but two of Pentecost’s accomplices swung around to face him, bringing him to an enforced halt.