Rhinoceros

'Almost,' he said. 'I congratulate both you and Bob for reacting the way you did.'

'You don't want Lisa bothered by police while she's ill,' Newman suggested.

'That comes first. Is most important. But I also think she is the key to this huge crisis building up. I think Buchanan is right in his theory. Lisa was the killer's target. We must keep her guarded night and day.'

'Harry has just gone over to the clinic to relieve Pete Nield,' Newman reported. 'I'm next on duty. No one will get at her.'

'I'll phone the clinic, see how she's progressing,' Tweed decided.

While he was speaking to Master neither Paula, Marler, nor Newman said a word. Paula sensed an atmosphere of tension in the room. After a while Tweed put the phone down.

'Master says she has severe concussion. He wants to keep her there until she's completely recovered. Warned me it could take weeks and he'll keep me informed.'

'I'd hoped for more,' Paula said quietly.

'I'm sure we all did. There's no skull fracture, thank God. Master also said he's sure she was exhausted and that has not helped.'

'She would be, after last night,' Newman commented.

'I have an idea,' Marler began. 'I'd like to go and check out that area round Ebury Street. The killer knew where Lisa was staying. That means he followed her. Might have located her pad days ago. That's what I'd have done in his place.'

'So what would you be looking for?' Newman enquired.

'His base – where he shacked up while he waited for the ideal opportunity. I might get a description of someone. It could take me days.'

'Do it,' Tweed decided. 'It's the only lead we've got to this mysterious business.'

Paula reached for his doodle pad. He had added another name, put a loop round it. Mr Blue.

'And I can't link him up with anyone.'

Tweed put a hand on the top of his head. He began to stand up, then rested both hands on his desk for support. Paula reached out, grasped both hands in hers. He sank back slowly into his chair, sagged.

'You're feeling rotten, aren't you?' Paula said, coming round to his side of the desk.

'Headache's been building up… pounding like a drum. It's so damned hot in here…'

Monica swiftly produced a thermometer, handed it to Paula. She inserted it gently into Tweed's mouth, looked at her watch, felt his temple. When she took out the thermometer she showed it to Newman.

'He's got a fever,' she whispered.

'He certainly has. That's diabolically high,' Newman whispered back.

'We're taking you to the clinic,' Paula said, leaning over Tweed. 'You're not…'

'Not the clinic…' Tweed was having trouble speaking. 'You know I… hate all medical things… hospitals, nurses fussing. Get me home… That's an order… Then get Dr Abbott

Tweed made a supreme effort. Resting his hands on his chair, he hoisted himself upright, swayed as Paula and Newman each grabbed an arm. He slowly walked towards the door as they held on to him.

'The stairs,' Monica warned, horrified.

'Bring the… pad on my desk,' he ordered Monica, then started coughing.

'Not a good idea…' she began.

'Bring the pad on my desk!' he roared.

Everyone was startled by the ferocity and strength in his voice. Monica hastily ran and picked up the pad.

'I'm going down the stairs immediately ahead of him,' said Marler. 'The hatchback is outside.'

'Water…' Tweed called out, his voice now croaking.

Monica poured a glass, handed it to Paula. Tweed tried to take it but Paula held on, guiding it to his lips. He drank the whole glass in two draughts, coughed again. They half-carried him down the stairs, step by step. Once he bumped into Marler who grabbed hold of both banisters, stiffened himself to take the weight. They reached the hall. George grasped the situation at once, ran to unlock and open the front door. Marler ran out to unlock the hatchback, open the rear door.

Tweed paused on the pavement, took in a deep breath. He looked at Paula, gave her a half-smile.

'Air's good…'

When they had Tweed flopped against a rear seat, Marler ran round to take the wheel as Paula climbed in the back. Newman waited.

'I'll keep the roster on you-know-who going,' he called out.

Upstairs, Monica had already phoned Dr Abbott, explained the situation, that Tweed was being taken home. In the Crescent the car moved off.

CHAPTER 12

They had another battle when they arrived at Tweed's flat on two floors, ground and first. Tweed told Paula where to find his keys, she fished them out of his pocket, unlocked the two Banhams, then the Chubb. Marler had held on to Tweed and Paula took the other arm and they entered the hall.

'On the couch in the sitting room,' said Paula.

'No. Upstairs in my bedroom… be comfortable there,' Tweed insisted.

'For God's sake,' Marler burst out. 'You don't want to climb more stairs.'

'I said my bedroom. I can make it myself.'

Tweed released himself from their grip, took hold of the banister with both hands, began to haul himself up. Paula and Marler leapt forward, grabbed his arms again, hoisted him up.

Inside the large bedroom Tweed sat on the edge of the bed, bent down to take off a shoe. Paula took over the job and took off bom shoes, his jacket, tie, loosened his shirt collar. Between them they had him undressed, in pyjamas and under the sheets, blanket and old-fashioned eiderdown when the door bell rang.

'That will be Dr Abbott,' said Paula. 'Go down and let him in, please, Marler…'

Tweed had flopped his head on the pillow, closed his eyes. Then he opened them and, despite Paula's protests, eased himself up on one elbow.

'My pad,' he demanded.

'You don't need that now,' Paula said firmly.

'It's in my pocket. Put it in the bedside drawer. Then get a fountain pen out of the other pocket…'

'You're not going to work…'

'Put the pad and pen in the drawer. That's an order.' As she did so he continued talking. 'No one is to know about this silliness. Anyone phoning, I'm away, can't say when I'll be back. Tell all the staff. That's another order…'

He flopped back on the pillow as Dr Abbott came in accompanied by another man carrying a machine. Abbott had a brisk manner, an amiable smile. He knew Tweed well as a friend. And he knows how to handle him, Paula thought as Abbott spoke.

'What's all this nonsense? Decided to take a holiday at long last, Tweed?'

Paula went downstairs to join Marler in the living room while the examination took place. She raised her eyes to heaven as she sat down.

'He'll make one hell of a patient.' She told Marler what Tweed had said. 'See what I mean.'

'That's what keeps Tweed going. Iron will-power…'

Abbott joined them about fifteen minutes later while his assistant went out to their car, carrying the machine. Paula also knew Abbott.

'He's got a virulent fever, a form of flu, but I suspect it's a rare strain. Has he mixed with anyone from abroad recently?'

'Yes. He toured the riot areas with us. Every conceivable nationality.'

'That's where he's picked it up, a quick-acting strain which I yet have to identify. I've given him an antibiotic and he's fallen asleep. I wanted him to be put into a clinic, but there's no budging him. Says he prefers his own bed, that he won't stand for a lot of chattering nurses fussing round him. Someone should be with him.'

'I can sleep here on that couch. You've met Monica -she can come here to relieve me.'

'Monica is a very capable woman. If there's an emergency – I don't expect one – whichever of you is on duty must call me at once. Now I'm going. I want to get the results of certain tests.'

'You'll keep me informed I hope?'

'Of course – or Monica if she's here. I have the phone number. He must not get out of bed. I slipped a bedpan under it.'

'Dr Abbott, how long do you think this will take until he has recovered completely?'