The Enemy Within by Sally Spencer

being young and healthy, there’s no reason why we should. But apparently it’s quite a big unit, and it’s where anybody with cancer who lives within a fifteen-mile radius of Whitebridge eventually ends up being treated. Anyway, they’ve got this one outpatient on their books – a woman called Betty Stubbs – who didn’t turn up for her treatment this morning. According to the hospital, that’s not like her at all. She’s always been so reliable before.’
    â€˜That doesn’t necessarily mean––’
    â€˜And not only that, but she’s the right age, the right height and has the right kind of cancer at the right stage of development. In other words, my dear Watson, she fits the description of our stiff to a T.’
    â€˜You seem to have learned a great deal,’ Rutter said.
    â€˜Yes, I have, haven’t I?’ Paniatowski replied complacently.
    â€˜And they really gave out all that information
over the phone
?’ Rutter asked, with growing unease.
    â€˜Yes, they did.’
    â€˜Isn’t that against the rules? Isn’t it, in all but the most extreme circumstances, actually
illegal
?’
    â€˜Possibly.’
    â€˜Yet they were perfectly willing to talk to you?’
    Paniatowski grinned. ‘I didn’t say that.’
    â€˜Then what
are
you saying?’
    The grin widened. ‘If either of us had rung up, they’d have given us the cold shoulder. But when it’s a doctor who’s making the inquiry – a member of their club, the medical equivalent of a fellow Freemason – then it’s another matter altogether.’
    â€˜And did a doctor make this particular inquiry?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜Which doctor?’
    â€˜No, not a witch doctor,’ Paniatowski said, the grin still in place. ‘A proper one, with all the right certificates hanging on the wall.’
    â€˜What was the name of this doctor?’ Rutter asked, almost – but not quite – adopting a cold official tone.
    â€˜And you call yourself a detective!’ Paniatowski replied, not noticing. ‘You should be able to work it out for yourself.’
    Rutter thought for a moment, then the answer became obvious. ‘Was it Dr Shastri?’
    â€˜The very same. She was most willing to oblige. I think that if she’s handled in the right way, she could very well turn out to be a really valuable addition to the team.’
    â€˜She broke the law,’ Rutter said, his unease having now almost graduated to alarm. ‘You
both
broke the law!’
    â€˜Possibly,’ Paniatowski agreed. ‘But only in the interests of speeding up the investigation – of seeing justice done. Besides, things are only wrong if you get caught doing them. And we won’t – because we’re the only two people who know about it.’
    â€˜You’re forgetting me,’ Rutter reminded her. ‘I know about it.’
    â€˜Yes, but you don’t really count.’
    â€˜I am your superior officer. It is
my
job to see that you’re doing
your
job within the limits of the law.’
    Paniatowski laughed, as if she thought he’d
set out
to be funny. ‘Oh, come on, Bob!’ she said.
    Rutter turned away, so she couldn’t see his frown. Monika was cutting far too many corners. Perhaps she always had, but now that he was closer to her – now that she trusted him more – he was starting to see the full extent of the problem. And it
was
a problem, because on occasions like this she was not only cutting corners herself, but also dragging him round them with her.
    In the old days he could have pulled her up for such behaviour – perhaps even issued her with a warning. But now, in their changed circumstances, he was not sure he still had that option.

Thirteen
    D exter Bryant took the seat that his wife had recently vacated and gestured to the waiter to take away her unfinished