‘He checked out,’ he says, without looking up.

‘What do you mean, he checked out?’

The nurse regards her coolly with a less than impressed attitude. ‘He was feeling much better and we needed the bed. So he left.’

‘Left when?’

The nurse sighs and consults his paperwork. ‘Six thirty this morning.’

‘Shit! He is unwell. You could have kept him here?’

‘This is a hospital. Not a prison.’

Archer bristles at the man’s sass.

‘He was checked over by the doctor who diagnosed him fit and well. He could leave as long as someone, a friend or relative, took him home.’

‘Did he leave with the officer who was protecting him?’

‘Oh, you mean PC Simpson, the officer who slept the entire night in the easy chair in Mr Blackwell’s room?’

Archer’s heart sinks. Simpson again.

‘I have no idea who he left with. I was busy with other patients.’

‘Can you ask your colleagues?’

‘I’m the last on the shift, Detective Inspector Archer. Please come back tonight.’

‘Do you have his home address on file?’

‘I’m not sure that is allowed.’

Archer’s eyes blaze. Her tone sharpens. ‘I’m sure you are aware of the circumstances which led to Mr Blackwell requiring hospital treatment. I’m sure you, like the rest of the world, witnessed him almost being executed live on the Internet.’

The nurse shrugs as if urging Archer to make her point.

‘The killer failed in his attempt to kill Mr Blackwell, which means he’ll try again. I need to ensure Mr Blackwell is safe from harm. I need your help to do that. So, please, do the right thing, log in to your hospital system and find me Mr Blackwell’s address. Now!’

Archer’s gaze doesn’t flinch.

The man shakes his head and relents. He searches his computer, writes the address on a Post-it note and hands it across without looking up.

‘Thank you,’ she says tersely, and leaves.

She feels a twinge of regret at her exchange with the nurse. He seemed tired and stressed and has no doubt worked long hours. Probably longer hours than she has. Like the police force, the NHS has suffered savage government cuts to their budgets, which impacts not only on the public but the staff who work so hard to do their best.

On the way back to her car she dials Jamie’s office number but the call goes straight to voicemail. She tries twice more with the same result.

Archer squeezes back into the car and thinks. There is no way of instantly contacting Jamie. His phone is in an evidence bag, having been used as one of the cameras to live stream his attempted murder.