“Don’t eat too many of those,” he said to Reilly, “they’re not good for you.”
“I’ll take my chances,” said Reilly, glancing at his partner. “How’s the boss man?”
“Stable.”
“That’s what you lot always say, when you’re not saying ‘we’re doing the best we can.’”
The doctor smiled and wrote something on his clipboard.
“Did you find out what was in the syringe?”
“Yes. Secobarbital.”
“That sounds Russian, which means it can’t be any good for you.”
“It’s in a group of drugs we call barbiturates.”
“What does it do and how dangerous is it?”
“It slows the activity of your brain and nervous system. Short-term it’s used to treat insomnia, or as a sedative before surgery.”
“And long term?”
“We don’t use it for anything long term. Tell me, how is your friend’s health in general?”
“He’s about the fittest person we know.” Reilly held up the doughnut. “Won’t touch these things, or anything related to them.”
“Okay. Has he been to see his doctor for anything recently?”
“Not that I know of. The last time he went to the surgery his doctor had retired and he’d dropped off the system. They usually have to send for him to see if he’s still alive.”
The doctor nodded, writing more stuff down. “What’s that rash on his face?”
“I’m not entirely sure but I found a can of mace very close to where he was attacked.”
Reilly thought he caught a sigh of relief from the doctor. He asked why.
“We thought it might have been an allergic reaction to the barbiturates. That can happen. But the pepper spray would explain things. Has he been subjected to anything else recently?”
Reilly thought about the crime scene with Michael Foreman and the nitrogen mustard. He had no choice but to mention what had happened and that he didn’t think his friend had actually been exposed to it.
“That’s for us to decide but thank you for telling me, Mr Reilly.” The doctor lowered his clipboard, stepped over to the machinery, recording the readings.
He was about to leave the room.
“Just hold your horse there, Doc. Are you not even going to tell me how he is?”
The doctor glanced at Gardener. “He’s stable, Mr Reilly.”
“You’re just full of clichés. Come on, son, give me a gut feeling here. Is he okay; he is going to live, isn’t he?”
The doctor smiled and tapped Reilly’s shoulder. “We’re doing the best we can.”
THE END
Acknowledgements
I’m so pleased by the success of the IMP series and, as usual, there are a number of dedicated people to thank for their help: Iain Ross; Darrin Knight, a tough, no nonsense, Irish DI in the North East of England; Bob Armitage, who served many years as a chemist at a hospital in Scunthorpe; Will and Harry of Edge Waes; and Peter James, fellow author and friend.
More fiction in this series
IMPURITY
Book 1 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
Someone is out for revenge. A grotto worker is murdered in the lead up to Christmas. He won’t be the first. Can DI Gardener stop the killer, or is he saving his biggest gift till last?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B081Z817GY/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B081Z817GY/
IMPERFECTION
Book 2 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
When theatre goers are treated to the gruesome spectacle of an actor’s lifeless body hanging on the stage, DI Stewart Gardener is called in to investigate. Is the killer still in the audience? A lockdown is set in motion but it is soon apparent that the murderer is able to come and go unnoticed. Identifying and capturing the culprit will mean establishing the motive for their crimes, but perhaps not before more victims meet their fate.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B082SYZCFW/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B082SYZCFW/
IMPLANT
Book 3 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
A small Yorkshire town is beset by a series of cruel murders. The victims are tortured in bizarre ways. The killer leaves a message with each crime – a playing card from an obscure board game. DI Gardener launches a manhunt but it will only be by figuring out the murderer’s motive that they can bring him to justice.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085GFV2BR/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085GFV2BR/
IMPRESSION
Book 4 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
Police are stumped by the case of a missing five-year-old girl until her photograph turns up under the body of a murdered woman. It is the first lead they have and is quickly followed by the discovery of another body connected to the case. Can DI Stewart Gardener find the connection between the individuals before the abducted child becomes another statistic?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08917ZGG9/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08917ZGG9/
IMPOSITION
Book 5 in the DI Gardener crime fiction series
When a woman’s battered body is reported to police by her husband, it looks like a bungled robbery. But the investigation begins to turn up disturbing links with past crimes. They are dealing with a killer who is expert at concealing his identity. Will they get to him before a vigilante set on revenge?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08P1ZCC7S/
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08P1ZCC7S/
Other titles of interest
THE IMMORALIST by Nathan Senthil
Self-styled Mr. Bunny wants to be the most notorious killer in US history. With four high profile figures slowly hanging to their deaths, he’s off to a good start. NYPD homicide detective Gabriel Chase much catch him, no matter at what cost. But who will have the last laugh?
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B085Y9XR2B
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B085Y9XR2B
LATENT DAMAGE by Ian Robinson
When a respected member of the community is murdered, it is not the kind of knife crime London detectives DI Nash and DS Moretti are used to dealing with. Someone has an agenda and it is rotten to the core. But catching this killer will take all of their police skills and more.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/dp/B08TX1QLDC
http://www.amazon.com/dp/B08TX1QLDC
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