James shook his head and blew out a breath. The question was still playing on his mind fifteen minutes later when he left Nash’s house. Stevens stayed behind with the SOCOs to see what else they could find.

The City of Lancaster was twenty odd miles south of Kirkby Abbey, but it was a straight run along the M6 motorway. James was there in less than half an hour and DC Abbott was waiting for him in the A&E department of The Royal Lancaster Infirmary.

‘Nash is still unconscious but they’re describing his condition as stable rather than critical,’ she told him. ‘He’s got severe concussion, two broken ribs and a broken left leg, plus a bunch of cuts and bruises. But it seems that no damage was done to any internal organs.’

‘Are they expecting him to wake up soon?’

‘When I last spoke to the doctor about forty-five minutes ago, she said it was too early to tell. But we should get an update soon.’

While they waited, they got themselves a coffee each and discussed Nash’s note. And they were still discussing it when a Dr Amara Khan came to talk to them.

‘I’m pleased to inform you that Mr Nash has regained consciousness and we’re confident he hasn’t suffered any brain damage,’ she told them. ‘However, he’s had to be sedated because of his various injuries, including whiplash and broken bones. He’s in extreme pain and not yet able to communicate coherently.’

‘So, when do you think we’ll be able to talk to him?’ James asked.

‘Not until tomorrow at the earliest,’ the doctor replied. ‘He’s in no fit state to respond to questions at this stage.’

James nodded. ‘You need to know that your patient is a suspect in a murder investigation and he deliberately drove into a wall to avoid being questioned. It means I’ll have to arrange for an officer to stay close to him overnight.’

‘That won’t be a problem, Inspector. Can I leave it to you to inform his next of kin?’

James nodded. ‘It’s in hand. His parents live in Spain so I don’t know how long it will take them to get here.’

‘We’ll be ready for them.’

‘And what about his clothes and shoes? Presumably they’ve been removed.’

‘Of course.’

‘Then we need to take them with us so that they can be checked over in the lab.’

The afternoon was giving way to evening as James and Abbott headed back to Kendal. Abbott drove while her boss made various phone calls. He spoke to DS Stevens who was still working with the forensics team at Nash’s house.

‘There’s nothing else so far,’ Stevens said. ‘I’m still sifting through his paperwork, but I’ve checked his shoes and none of the soles match the bloody prints at the crime scene.’