Benny fell back on the pillows. His injured feet were concealed beneath a cage that had a hospital blanket draped across it. Sweat popped out on Benny’s face as he stared at the darkly grinning man looming over him.
‘Hi, Benny,’ said Max, setting down a bag of grapes. ‘How’s the feet?’
‘What do you want?’ said Benny, panting with fright.
‘For you to stop making a noise would be a good start.’ Max sat down cosily on the edge of Benny’s bed. ‘One more peep out of you and there could be a terrible accident before those nurses out there can reach you.’
Benny lay back, eyes wide with terror. He believed it.
‘Now, where were we?’ Max gave it some thought. ‘Oh yeah. You were telling me about Rufus. Who came over from Ireland with Orla. That right?’
‘I told you, he’s staying in the flat above Partyland.’
‘Only he wasn’t. The place has been empty for ages. So that was a cold trail. And I don’t like cold trails, Benny. Cold trails upset me. I want to know where Rufus is.’
‘But I thought he was there.’
‘Really?’ Max was casually lifting away the blanket from the frame protecting Benny’s feet. Underneath it, both feet were bandaged up like a mummy’s.
‘What are you doing?’ whined Benny.
‘Just checking. That must hurt like a bastard.’
‘Wha-?’
Max slapped a hand over Benny’s mouth and then pushed his thumb hard up against where Benny had taken the first shot in the foot. Benny went puce, sweat erupting on his brow. A low groan of anguish seeped out of him.
‘Tell me where Rufus Malone is,’ said Max, turning his attention to the other foot.
Benny mumbled against Max’s hand.
Max lifted his hand. ‘What?’ he asked.
‘I don’t know where he is. I swear, I thought he was there,’ sobbed Benny.
‘Oh dear,’ said Max, and slapped his hand back over Benny’s mouth. Benny writhed, but couldn’t get away. Max pressed hard on the other foot. Blood sprang up, tinting the bandages bright red.
‘Mmph,’ said Benny.
‘Pardon?’ Max lifted his hand.
‘I don’t know where Rufus is,’ panted Benny. ‘Oh Jesus, please believe me. He told me Partyland. I heard a rumour that he had a place out on the marshes, but I don’t know where exactly.’
Max looked at Benny, who seemed to be on the verge of puking his guts up. Then he got to his feet. ‘Eat your grapes,’ he said. ‘They’re good for you.’
With that, he left.
Staff Nurse Julia Foster was irritable. She’d come on duty at six a.m., thinking she’d have time for a nice cup of tea, catch her breath, have a bit of a natter, then on to business. But her schedule was already fucked. Thanks to pea-brained Susan Challis, who’d let in some total stranger last night because he claimed to be Bullet Case’s brother.