Page 89

Chapter 46

‘Howlong have they agreed to keep her, ma’am?’ Flynn asked Chief Superintendent Mathers.

‘If no genuine cases come in, a fortnight. We’ll contribute to the costs and they’ll put it down as a joint training exercise.’

‘And worst-case scenario, everyone gets to think about a ricin attack in the capital,’ Poe said.

‘Do you think he’s stupid enough to make a move here, Sergeant Poe?’

Poe looked around the adapted command centre. It was in a sectioned-off area of the nurses’ station. Anyone going into the bed unit had to pass through Mathers’s handpicked cops. Their IDs were scanned then a member of staff vouched that they worked on the ward. The medical team routinely monitored the bed unit’s video and telecommunications system, but now cops had their eyes on the screen as well.

‘I don’t see how he possibly can,’ Poe admitted.

‘But?’

‘But I’d have said the same thing about Harrison Cummings. The Botanist got to him and he was in Specialist Command’s security bubble.’

‘That’s what I’m afraid of. I don’t feel as confident as I—’ A burp of static from her radio stopped Mathers. She tilted her head, pressed the transmit button and said, ‘Say again.’ She listened then frowned. ‘OK, thank you. You did the right thing.’

‘Problem?’ Flynn said.

‘The Botanist has been in touch again.’

Poe got out of his chair. He didn’t know why. ‘And?’ he said.

‘He wants to speak to Henning Stahl. The sergeant he spoke togave him the command centre’s number. He’s calling back in two hours.’

‘Why so long?’ Flynn asked.

‘He knows where we are and he knows where Stahl is,’ Poe said. ‘He knows we’ll have to collect him.’

‘He’s watching us?’

‘Or second-guessing what we’ll do. I’ll go and get Stahl.’

‘Get uniform to drive you. I’ll authorise blues and twos to make sure you aren’t held up.’