Free Man in the Shadows by Peter Corris Page A

large medical practice with numerous . . . branches, is not unconnected.’
    â€˜That’s interesting.’
    â€˜Watch your step, Cliff. They’ve got lawyers . . . ’
    â€˜I’d never do anything against the law, Frank. You know that.’

 
    15
    D RIVING south with Greenway the second time was a very different experience from the first. He was alert, anxious to talk, and he seemed to think we had a good deal to talk about. First, he had to tell me about the success of his mission to the clinic.
    â€˜I’m sure it’s the same guy,’ he said. ‘Thickset, bald, asking about Annie.’ He consulted his notebook. ‘Time’s a bit vague—a few weeks ago maybe.’
    â€˜Doctor? White Volvo?’
    â€˜Not known.’
    â€˜Cut it out. You’re right though, it sounds like a piece of the puzzle.’
    I’d seen one of the hospital’s computer terminals and he questioned me closely about it. Had I the make of computer and the model? Was there a printer attached? Did I see a photocopier? I wasn’t much help. With regard to Smith’s office I mostly remembered my aching head and the single malt.
    He rubbed at some dirt on the windscreen. ‘Not very observant, are you?’
    â€˜At least I didn’t get my gun stolen.’ It was a silly reply but it shut him up long enough for me to brief him on what we needed from the records: names corresponding to the initials in Annie’s diary and everything to do with them; a ‘Dr K.’ if possible; evidence on the hospital’s finances; drug irregularities.
    Greenway nodded. ‘Anything else?’
    â€˜Yeah. Anything that seems relevant.’
    I questioned him about the hospital’s security arrangements which he’d observed on a preliminary visit, before he roped me in.
    â€˜I didn’t see any patrols or anything like that. I don’t think there’s a resident security man. I think some kind of security service paid a couple of calls.’
    â€˜You
think
?’
    â€˜They did. Once or twice. I was pretty tired.’
    â€˜That means a good alarm system. Could be tricky. How many patients and live-in staff, would you say?’
    He thought about it for a kilometre or so. ‘Thirty-five patients, round about. The administrator’s got a flat in the grounds and there’re nurses on duty around the clock.’
    â€˜Male nurses?’
    â€˜I think . . . yes, I saw one.’
    â€˜There’s your night-time security man. We’ll have to handle him somehow. Any ideas, Greenway?’
    â€˜Call me Gareth.’
    â€˜I can’t call anyone Gareth. How about Greenie?’
    â€˜Jesus. Well, what about a diversion?’
    â€˜You’re learning.’
    It was a dark night, no moon and Southwood Hospital didn’t go in for floodlighting. There were lights on some of the buildings and along sections of path that were used at night, but most of the place was in deep darkness. I drove past the front entrance and up a side street looking for high ground. We found it in a quiet street on the south side of the hospital. We sat in the car and pooled our knowledge about the layout.
    â€˜How do we do it?’ Greenwood’s voice almost broke. He was nervous. I didn’t feel a hundred per cent confident myself.
    â€˜We can go through the fence. It wasn’t wired before, no reason to think it would be now. Iassume the buildings have alarms—doors and windows and such.’
    â€˜You could set off an alarm in one of the buildings while I go for the administration building.’
    â€˜I could. With a bit of luck I can disconnect the alarm before you go in. I’ve got the tools. If it’s not too complicated.’
    â€˜That’s it then.’
    â€˜You’ll need some time. We might need something to keep them busy for a while.’
    â€˜Like what?’
    â€˜Let’s not think too