The History Suite (#9 - The Craig Modern Thriller Series) Read Online Free Page B

acute ward: Newman. The rest of the time he’s at the university doing research.”
    “And the residents here? Do they ever go onto the acute ward?”
    The sister burst out laughing. “Not if they can help it! Most of them avoid Newman like the plague; it reminds them of their age.” She pointed towards the back of the suite at what Craig imagined was a door. “That’s the suite’s main entrance. It leads onto the garden and tennis courts and lots of them have their cars parked out the back.”
    Another way in. Craig still needed his question answered.
    “Can they access the acute ward?”
    Hazel nodded. “Ah, I see. You’re thinking about the murder in the linen room. Well yes, residents can come and go as they please, and many do. They like the hospital shop and library so they often go there. But…”
    “What?”
    “Well, I don’t mean to be rude, but we’re talking about elderly people here and the victim was a young nurse.”
    “So?”
    “Well, I doubt that any of our residents would have the strength to commit murder.”
    Craig smiled. She was probably right, but they still needed to be interviewed. He rose to leave.
    “Thank you for being so helpful, Sister. We’ll need to interview all your residents. D.C.I. Cullen here will be in touch.”
    He headed for the exit before Liam had time to complain.
    ***
    The C.C.U. Friday, 9 a.m.
     
    A sudden clatter came from Craig’s office followed by a loud “Damn!” Nicky was wondering whether to knock on his door when it opened and Craig emerged, clutching his right arm. She saw blood spreading down his shirt sleeve and rushed across, concerned.
    “What have you done?”
    Her tone was a mix of worry and reprimand that reminded Craig she was the mother of a twelve-year-old boy. He winced as she prised his fingers off the wound.
    “I tripped over my sports bag and banged it on the edge of the desk. Who knew it was so sharp?”
    “Everyone but you, apparently.”
    Nicky pushed him onto a chair, chiding him in her husky voice. “Why you keep that stupid sports bag in your office beats me. You never get time to go to the gym.”
    “Someday I might and this way I won’t have to drive all the way home to collect it.”
    She rolled up his sleeve and inspected the wound. “Since your flat is only two minutes from that gym you pay exorbitant fees to, that’s hardly logical, is it?”
    The question was rhetorical, but any answer Craig might have given would have been rendered inaudible by the thump of Liam’s footsteps across the room, followed by his loud guffaw.
    “You been in the wars again, boss? I hope it wasn’t another bullet.”
    He was referring to a case in April during which Craig had been shot in the arm and he’d taken two to the chest, or at least his armoured vest had. Craig suddenly realised the cut was in the same place he’d been shot.
    “It tore my scar open, Nick; that’s what happened.”
    Nicky gave him a dry look. “That might be why it’s bleeding so much but it’s not what made you trip.”
    She applied a crepe bandage, tying it tight with a satisfied smile.
    “There. Annette can check it if she likes, but it should hold till you can get it stitched.”
    Craig had no intention of getting it stitched; it was only a cut. He pulled down his sleeve and beckoned everyone to gather round.
    As Nicky made the coffee, Craig scanned his team. It had grown in size recently, although Ken was only on loan for a year and who knew when one of the more ambitious members might leave. Carmen was a constable but too bright to stay at that level, Jake was a sergeant who’d be going for inspector soon. In fact, if he had to lay a wager the only ones he could be sure would still be there by the end of 2015 were Liam, Nicky, Davy Walsh their analyst and Annette.
    As Annette’s name entered his head a doubt entered too. Would she still be with them next year? Since her husband’s affair her already significant ambition had grown; who knew when