Midnight Murders by Katherine John

available on that particular ward… ’
    â€˜How long has she been here?’ Dan interrupted.
    â€˜On the ward or in the hospital?’ Goldman replied.
    â€˜Both.’
    â€˜I’d have to check the records. But if my memory serves me correctly, I’d say she’s been on the ward about two months.’
    â€˜And in the hospital?’
    â€˜Longer.’
    â€˜Did she come here directly from prison?’
    â€˜I really shouldn’t be discussing… ’
    â€˜It doesn’t matter.’ Dan knew he could find out all he needed from the records. He glanced at the plan he was carrying. ‘All six blocks are connected to the main block by perspex tunnels?’
    â€˜They are,’ Harry concurred.
    â€˜But not with one another?’
    â€˜Not directly. You’d have to walk to the main block then retrace your steps down one of the other tunnels to reach a separate block.’
    â€˜And all the therapy units lie in this area here.’ Evans jabbed his index finger over a large space set behind the old hospital building, in front of the modern blocks. It was dotted with the outlines of demountables.
    â€˜Not any longer. We’re in the process of relocating the therapy units in the old hospital alongside the administration offices. Those blocks were purpose-built in the seventies. And, like most buildings of that era, they’re sadly lacking. Their roofs are flat and leaking, there are damp patches on the walls, the windows are metal-framed and draughty… ’
    â€˜In short, they are cold and wet with rotting fabric. There isn’t much you can tell us about buildings built in the seventies,’ Dan interrupted. ‘Our station is one of them.’
    â€˜We all have our crosses to bear, Inspector Evans. All the blocks, apart from the postnatal depression ward, are identical, and our staff man them round the clock. If anything untoward happens in any of them, we know about it immediately. There’s little point in you looking over all of them. It would gain you nothing, and the patients would be upset at the intrusion. If you have to enter any of them I would appreciate it if you and your men were accompanied either by me or Dorothy Clyne.’
    â€˜And where would we find you in an emergency?’
    â€˜The switchboard can always reach us.’
    â€˜We will have to visit them, if only to interview the patients, but I’ll bear your directive in mind, Dr Goldman. We are here to conduct a murder investigation,’ Dan reminded him.
    â€˜Where do you want to go next?’ Harry asked.
    â€˜The therapy units, then the old hospital.’
    â€˜The therapy units, like the wards, are the province of the patients. I would appreciate it if you entered them only with a staff escort.’
    â€˜You mentioned there were some areas of the hospital to which we could have free access,’ Dan said. ‘Perhaps now would be a good time to tell us where they are.’
    â€˜The floors of the old hospital that have been taken over by the Health Authority’s administration unit, but it might still be as well if you cleared your movements with our administrator, Tony Waters.’ Harry looked at his watch. ‘If you’ll excuse me, I have an appointment with a patient. If you wait here, I’ll ask a porter to take you to Tony’s office.’
    He left them in the corridor and disappeared into the ward office. Through the open door Peter saw a male nurse talking to an attractive blonde sister.
    â€˜That sod doesn’t trust us,’ Peter informed Dan.
    â€˜He has a hospital to run.’
    â€˜Or something to hide.’
    â€˜That’s what I like to see, Peter, coppers assuming everyone guilty until proven innocent.’
    Harry Goldman returned with the blonde. ‘Sister Ashford has volunteered to give up a few minutes of her free time to take you to Mr Waters’ office. If you’ll excuse me