He was also conflicted by the humanity he had witnessed from Gargantua, and from Flint for that matter. The moment he was shot, Alec had become a liability: a millstone that would drag Flint down. Raven had thought of Flint as entirely ruthless, but if that were true, he would have finished Alec off and disposed of his body, never to be found. Instead they had endeavoured to save him, not knowing it was hopeless.

McLevy fixed Raven with his penetrating stare.

‘You are quite sure you did not treat such an injury yesterday?’

‘I think it would have stood out in my memory,’ Raven replied, hoping the casual nature of his answer served to cover its falsity. Also, he had technically not yet lied outright.

‘In truth it is as well,’ said Dr Simpson.

‘How so?’ McLevy asked, picking up on the gravity of his tone.

‘There is a bond of trust between doctor and patient. If an injured man, even a criminal, knew his physician might tell the police about injuries that would put him under suspicion, it could discourage him from seeking medical help. He might die, though death is not the sentence for his crime.’

McLevy’s face twisted into a parody of compassion.

‘Criminals dropping dead as a result of their misadventures,’ he said. ‘Aye, what a tragic loss to all of us that would be.’

FORTY-SEVEN

arah stood outside the main entrance to the Infirmary, the imposing scale of the building prompting second thoughts about the wisdom of pursuing this solo investigation. She recalled how it had gone when she attempted to question Dr Johnstone and did not welcome the prospect of being vehemently rebuffed again. She was growing weary of being dismissed and had at least, on this occasion, obtained an appointment rather than arriving unannounced. Miss Peat, the matron, had agreed to see her, though Sarah had been vague about the reason for the interview.

She had considered asking Dr Simpson to vouch for her, as he had recently been appointed as physician to the hospital, but that would have required divulging the reason for her visit. She and Raven had thus far managed to keep their investigations from him, though their relationship had not entirely escaped notice.

Quinton had intruded upon them when Raven was comforting her, which might have meant little to him in isolation. However, it transpired that he had witnessed them together again in the immediate aftermath of Mrs Glassford’s post-mortem examination, both being too caught up in discussion of what they had seen to notice when he stuck his head around the door. Quinton had made a remark this morning about the time she was spending in Raven’s company, as though there was something improper in what they were about. Sarah had dissembled rather than rebuke the man for his impertinence, having no wish to make an enemy of him.