EDWIN ASTELL STILL hadn't returned home by the time they left the hospital. They found him working quietly in his office in the High Street. Rafferty didn't pause to knock on his door, but thrust it open. 'I want a word, Mr Astell. In fact, I want several words. May we come in? You might be interested to learn that we've just come from the hospital.'
Astell frowned. 'Hospital? What are you talking about? What's happened?'
'I think you know. You might also be interested to learn that your wife’s alive. She seems to make a habit of stumping the doctors, as, after this latest overdose, they didn't give a great deal for her chances. Neither did I, I'll admit. But she's making a surprisingly rapid recovery. She was sitting up in bed, chatting nineteen to the dozen to one of my WPC's when I le
