whether anyone had noticed a man in the vicinity of my room during the night. I told him he was wasting his time as Agnes the night sister clearly hadn't observed anyone and that therefore my sole concern at the moment was to prevent a further attack. I then informed him of our plan to let the world think I had moved hospitals and asked whether he could issue an instruction to the staff to the effect that my whereabouts were under no circumstances to be revealed.
'It's a very unusual request,' he replied after a few moments' reflection, 'even for such a charming lady in distress as yourself. Why haven't you told the police about this?'
'Quite honestly, because I don't think they'd believe me. I'd rather not go into the whys and wherefores. I just want to be safe for the time being and this seems as good a way as any to achieve it.'
'Not knowing what's behind all this makes my decision all the more difficult. All right though, just this once. I'll tell the nursing staff that it's imperative you are not disturbed and that for special medical reasons, which I am not at liberty to disclose, I do not want your continued presence here to be made public. Of course, that must apply to everybody, including your friends.'
'You mean, no visitors?'
'Just that. And anyway, if you really are under threat – and I accept your fears may be well-founded – what is there to stop your would-be assailant simply following one of your friends here?'
I had to agree. That possibility hadn't even occurred to me. 'Can I keep in touch with them by phone?'
'I don't see why not, but you'd probably be better using one of those portable ones. My instinct would be to take the hospital phone out of here and then there's no chance of a call being accidentally put through to you.'
'I suppose you're right. It's going to be very boring on my own. How long before I can get out of here?'
'Two or three more weeks, with a bit of luck, and then there's a lot of work to be done with the physiotherapist. I wish I could give you better news.'
'One last question.' I had to find out. 'Will I be able to ride again?'
'It's a matter of time and luck. But if you asked me for the odds I'd say it's about two to one in your favour.'
That was better than I could have hoped for. 'Thank you. I can think of one bookmaker who won't be laying them.'
As soon as Mr Maddox had left I telephoned Amy to tell her what had been decided. I was going to miss her company over the weeks ahead and wanted to ask her to bring down a portable telephone on her final visit that evening. I was very conscious of the debt I owed for her support and friendship and resolved to show it in a positive way as soon as the present ordeal was over. She was on the other line and I left a message with her secretary to call me back. I had hardly put the phone down when it rang again.
'Victoria, it's me.'
'That's quick. I just wanted to tell you what Mr Maddox has agreed about this moving business.' I proceeded to fill her in on my conversation with him.
'That all sounds very sensible,' she said, when I had finished. 'I've got some news for you. When you called just now I was on the phone to Tom's solicitor. There's been a sensational development in the case. Corcoran has reappeared on the scene and has offered to give evidence for Tom at the trial!'
'Do you mean he's back in England?'
'Not exactly. All I've been told by Tom's solicitor, who insists on playing his cards close to his chest, is that Corcoran has been in touch with them and made this offer. Exactly what evidence he's prepared to give the solicitor wouldn't tell me over the phone and I've an appointment to see him at three-thirty this afternoon. Apparently, there's something they think you might be able to help with and that's why they contacted me.'
'Have you any idea what they might have in mind? You know I'd do anything to help Tom.'
'Hardly appropriate talk from a witness for the prosecution! At the moment I'm no wiser than you. We'll just have to wait and see.'
'But what about his performance in Ireland, and my two thousand pounds? Can you trust the man?'
'I was going to ask specifically about that when we meet. At the moment we've nothing to gain by speculating. Be patient. I realise it's difficult, but you can expect me with the full story at about seven o'clock. I'll also bring a portable phone. In the meantime, take care.'
I said goodbye and spent the rest of the afternoon wondering what had prompted Corcoran's change of heart. The thought of more money, probably.
As it happened, Amy wasn't my only visitor that evening. Ralph popped in just after six-thirty with a side of smoked salmon and a bottle of champagne, which we proceeded to devour with shameless relish. My governor was full of good spirits and intent on finding out when he could expect me back in the saddle. As he sat beside me on the bed, I could see why he'd been such a ladies' man over the years. I repeated Maddox's forecast and he reiterated that my job would be waiting for me. From my point of view, the one bit of luck was that the National Hunt season was coming to an end and I could spend the summer months ahead recuperating.
'I've one piece of news for you,' he said, when we were on our second helping of salmon and third glass of champagne. 'I've had a look at the patrol film of the Sandown race.'
'And don't tell me it was my fault Admiralty Registrar fell.'
'No, my dear, no one could allege that. It's just you'll never guess who was riding that following horse, which trampled all over you.'
'Initials E. B., by any chance?'
'One and the same. Made no attempt to avoid you, almost as if he did it deliberately. The man's a common criminal and I hope they drum him out of racing.'
'With a bit of luck they will. Have you heard any more about the enquiry at Portman Square?'
'The investigation people at the Jockey Club were on to me about it this morning. They want to take sworn statements from both of us and they've hinted that if the allegations in the
'They darn well ought to. That'll please old Drewe.'
'He's been out of the country for the past few days, according to the man I spoke to this morning.'
'Where?'
'Over at his place in Ireland.'
'I'd forgotten about that.' I now remembered that James had included a brief reference to it in his potted biography. That seemed to give him a good alibi for the night of my attack.
'Did he say exactly how long he's been there?'
Ralph shook his head. 'Do you want me to find out?'
'No, it's not important. How's everything at the yard?'
'Fine, I've put most of them away now, for the summer, but I'll run a couple at Devon and Exeter next week provided the going doesn't get too firm. I don't expect too much though. I'll pop in again on Sunday if that's all right.'
I told him that I wasn't allowed any further visits for a short while and that as a favour to me he was to tell anyone who asked that I had been moved to another hospital.
Ralph nodded. 'Not more detective work, I hope?'
'Not really. I'm sorry, Ralph, I'm just concentrating on staying alive and this is one further precaution.'
He didn't try to probe any further and before he left to return to the Cotswolds I warned him to expect a visit from Amy to collect one or two things from my room.
The ever reliable solicitor arrived on the dot of seven, carrying mints, magazines and some exotic French perfume, and wasted no time in telling me about her meeting with Tom's lawyer.
'It was all very dramatic. Yesterday afternoon, Tom's lawyer received this telephone call from a man introducing himself as Michael Corcoran, one of Tom's former lads. He said that he had some information which might be useful to Tom's case. When the solicitor asked to meet him to take a statement, he became cagey and said that he feared for his life and wasn't prepared to come out of hiding until the day he's needed to give evidence at the trial.'
