When Cora Clayburn arrived at St Winifred’s Hospital, having been informed that Frank McCracken had been moved to the Brockhole Ward, she felt very relieved. It didn’t just mean that he was responding well to treatment, but that the difficulty of getting in to see him no longer existed – because it was now six o’clock and officially visiting time.

But even as she approached the entrance to the hospital block where the recovery wards were located, she was stunned by the sight of McCracken emerging in front of her, in company with several of his heavies, including Mick Shallicker. McCracken was dressed in the trousers and shoes he’d been wearing when they’d first taken him in, his suit jacket draped over his shoulders to protect his bare but bandaged torso from the evening chill, but was walking briskly and discussing something with his men. When he saw her, he fleetingly stopped in his tracks, but then cut left, crossing the car park towards his Bentley.

‘Frank … Frank!’ she called, hurrying after him.

He stopped, shoulders sagging, before asking the rest of his team to give him some space.

Obediently, they moved off, halting by the car about twenty yards away, watching with interest. Only Shallicker hung close.

‘What’re you doing?’ she asked, in a voice of genuine concern.

McCracken shrugged. ‘What does it look like? I’ve discharged myself.’

‘Frank … you only got shot yesterday!’

‘Cora, you should not be here. Hasn’t Lucy told you?’

‘I don’t take orders from Lucy.’

‘Well, you should on this occasion.’

‘Look … it’s Lucy I want to talk to you about.’

‘There’s a surprise.’ He walked on.

‘She’s told her bosses.’

He stopped again and turned. Shallicker came forward too.

‘She’s just rung me,’ Cora said, pale-faced. ‘Told me to come and see you. I couldn’t believe it. But she wanted me to give you that message. Apparently, it’s for your own safety.’

‘When you say she’s told her bosses,’ he said, ‘told them what exactly?’

‘That you’re her father.’

McCracken exchanged a glance with Shallicker. He shrugged again. ‘It doesn’t matter.’

Cora was baffled. ‘Won’t it change your situation?’

‘My situation, as you call it, has already changed. But like I say, that doesn’t matter now. What matters is that you get right away from here.’

‘I don’t understand …?’

‘Away from me. Do you understand that, at least?’

‘I see.’ Cora couldn’t conceal how upset this made her.

‘It’s for your own good.’

She nodded but said nothing.

‘Tell Lucy I appreciated the heads-up.’

He walked on, veering towards the rest of his men.

‘That’s it, then?’ Shallicker said.

‘That’s it,’ McCracken replied. ‘We haven’t got a bloody choice now.’

Chapter 41

As Lucy pulled onto the drive of her bungalow on Cuthbertson Court, she heard the landline ringing inside. She hurried indoors, just in time to catch it.