The warden shook his head slightly. 'He's in intensive care in the South Hampstead up the road. He hasn't recovered consciousness.'
Sally joined Delaney. 'Comatose?'
The warden shrugged. 'Unconscious is all I know.'
'What's the prognosis?'
The warden spread his hands. 'I don't know; you'll have to talk to the hospital but it's probably too early to say.'
Delaney nodded. 'Who did it?'
'We're not exactly sure.'
Delaney glared at him. 'What the hell do you mean, you're not exactly sure?'
'All right, Inspector. Just calm it down, will you? Five men attacked him in the showers early this morning. He was knifed, hit his head badly. He lost a lot of blood.'
'Who were they?'
'We don't know who all of them were. Two of them got away.'
'How?' Delaney couldn't believe what he was hearing. 'This is supposed to be a secure prison for God's sake.'
'Three of the men were badly hurt by Norrell. Two of them are dead, the other is in intensive care.'
'And you've got no security footage?'
'The camera was taken out. That's why the two officers were dispatched. If they hadn't got there in time, Norrell would definitely be dead.'
'And they just let two of them walk away from it?'
'They were prioritised on dealing with the injured people.'
'Convenient.' Delaney couldn't keep the sarcasm from his voice.
'What exactly are you implying, Inspector?'
'What motivated the assault?'
'You know as well as I do, there could be any number of reasons. I have it on good authority that Norrell was involved in the manufacture and distribution of child pornography. Particularly nasty child pornography at that. You know what happens to people like that in prison if they're not in a segregated unit.'
'And why wasn't he in a segregated unit?'
'Because he wasn't charged with paedophile activities, Inspector, as you very well know. He was charged with murder and conspiracy to commit murder. He was a category-A prisoner and treated as such.'
'I want to talk to the guards who broke up the fight.'
'I'm afraid that won't be possible right away.'
'Why not? There's been a death, a serious assault. This is a police matter now.'
'And an investigation is under way. Your involvement will need to be officially sanctioned.' He shrugged, apologetically. 'At this moment it is out of both our hands.'
Delaney looked at him steadily. 'You know why I was due to speak to him?'
'I do. And I'm sorry.'
'Then you also know why I'm not going to just let this go?'
'Of course I do. And I want you to know that I will do everything in my power to help you, Inspector Delaney. Work with me on this.'
Delaney turned to Sally. 'Come on, Constable.'
