Midnight Murders Read Online Free

scales Peter ducked, but not low enough. The bottle hit his cheek bone, splitting the skin.
    â€˜Ian’s probably still with the whore, but not the whore I found him with,’ Vanessa rambled. ‘She wouldn’t be pretty enough for him. Not after what I did to her… ’
    â€˜Vanessa!’ Peter commanded. ‘Look at me.’ Staring into her eyes, in an effort to hold her attention, he fumbled blindly for the shelf at his side and deposited the scales on them. As soon as his hands were free, he moved like lightening. Grasping Vanessa’s wrists he hauled them behind her back. ‘Where do you want her?’ he asked Jean.
    â€˜Out of that damned dispensary for a start,’ Jean said hollowly, sickened by the chaos Vanessa had wrought in the secure drug cupboard.
    â€˜You should have locked it.’ Peter yanked Vanessa into the corridor.
    â€˜The lock jammed three months ago. When we asked for it to be repaired they put a padlock on the outside, which is a fat lot of good when you’re working inside. I’ve complained every day for three months and got absolutely nowhere.’
    â€˜I phoned security, they’re on their way. I’ve also asked for a couple of porters and an extra nurse,’ Lyn whispered from the open door of the ward office. Trevor had helped her into a chair and she was sitting, dabbing ineffectually at the glass-studded cuts on her arms and legs with a handkerchief.
    Jean studied her with a professional eye. ‘Phone for an ambulance to take you to casualty in the General.’
    â€˜I’m fine,’ Lyn sipped the water that Trevor had brought her from his room.
    â€˜No arguments, telephone now. I’ll check how “fine” you are as soon as I’ve dealt with this. Can you keep a grip on Mrs Hammond, Sergeant Collins?’
    â€˜I’ll manage.’ Peter tightened his grip as Vanessa tried to kick his shins. It was an ineffectual gesture given that she was wearing slippers.
    â€˜I thought everyone was in the garden.’ Lyn apologised.
    â€˜It appears everyone was, except us and this lady.’ Peter gave Vanessa a crocodile smile.
    Jean retrieved the key to the padlock from the debris on the floor and pushed the door to the drug cupboard over the carpet of broken glass. ‘Talk about bolting horses and stable doors.’
    â€˜I’d rather not think what could have happened if any other patients had been here, or you hadn’t.’ Lyn handed the glass back to Trevor.
    Peter sensed Vanessa becoming restless under his grip. He saw her staring at a security guard, two porters, and a male nurse who were making their way up the corridor towards them. Jean snapped the padlock shut.
    â€˜Bring Mrs Hammond into the treatment room please, Sergeant Collins,’ Jean asked.
    Peter pushed Vanessa inside. The male nurse joined them.
    Jean continued to speak softly while the male nurse primed a syringe behind Vanessa’s back. The moment the syringe was ready, she pulled up Vanessa’s sleeve. Vanessa quietened within seconds and Jean had no difficulty in leading her out of the room into a four bedded ward.
    â€˜Here we are, Vanessa, a nice clean bed. All we have to do is draw the curtains and you can take a nap,’ there was more than a hint of irony in Jean’s voice.
    â€˜I don’t want to sleep,’ Vanessa slurred. ‘You bitch… you bloody bitch… ’ she fell silent and Jean joined Peter in the corridor.
    â€˜Thank you, we couldn’t have managed without your help.’ She led him back into the treatment room.
    â€˜Any passing visitor would have done the same.’
    â€˜Most visitors wouldn’t have been able to keep a hold on her. If you come in here, I’ll put something on that cut on your cheek.’
    â€˜Shouldn’t you see to Lyn Sullivan first?’ Peter was reluctant to allow Jean near him.
    â€˜She needs more attention than I can