"I shouldn't have a.s.sumed you knew what you were doing. We could have missed the whole thing. "

"It would have taken us almost as long to travel back on the Ways, especially if you take the walk into account. "

"Yes, but we could just as easily have ended up at next Tuesday and missed the ceremony."

"We didn't, though, did we?" It was what she would have said to me in the same circ.u.mstances.

Blackbird turned to me, exasperation on her face. "Do you know where the hospital is?"

"I have the name of the hospital. I think it's somewhere near Marylebone."

"Then perhaps we should get a taxi. A cab driver should know where it is."

"Won't that be uncomfortable?"

"We're not going very far and it's safer than other ways."

She stepped to the edge of the Strand and hailed a pa.s.sing black cab. It pulled across the traffic and drew up alongside us. I named the hospital to the driver and he gave us a curt nod, so we piled into the back. The journey to the hospital took us down the deserted shopping streets, the lights still bright in the windows. As we came closer to our destination the shops gave out to offices and residential buildings. The cab turned left into a side street and pulled up by the kerb.

"Here ya go, mate." The driver announced our arrival. I paid him out of my diminishing cash and he rumbled away down the street. "There. That wasn't so terrible, was it?"

"No, but I'm going to need more money soon."

Trying to get more cash to bolster my diminishing reserves would be an interesting experiment, since I was sure if I used my cash card the police would know both where and when I had used it within minutes. They had already tried to track my phone, so the bank account would be the next logical step.

"We'll cross that bridge when we come to it," she said. It was an acknowledgement that if we could get to the ceremony then we would need to start thinking about the longer term. It brought home to me how little I had left. My life was in tatters and I was hunted by both the Untainted and the police. Still, if the re-forging of the knife went badly then there wouldn't be any future for me to worry about. I needed to focus on the task in front of me and set the consequences aside for later in the hope that there would be a later.

"Claire said there was security at the hospital." I eyed the unguarded doorway as we approached, wondering what form that security might take.

"If they are on the alert for unexplained visitors and strange faces then we may have some difficulty reaching Claire, even allowing for the fact that I can make us less noticeable. We will need to know where they are in the hospital, though. "What do you suggest?"

"Why don't you go in and use your charm. It worked at the Royal Courts of Justice."

"Will you wait here?"

"Come back out here when you find out what's going on," she called after me.

I walked across and up the steps through the front entrance into the well-lit reception. There were closed doors leading off to left and right at the back and a desk in the centre.

"Can I help you?" The middle aged lady sat behind the desk would look more at home in a corporate reception than a hospital.

"Yes, I hope so. I'm hoping to meet up with one of the visitors here. Her name is Claire Radisson. She's the clerk to the Queen's Remembrancer? I believe he's been admitted here and she's here with him. Would it be possible to see her?"

"I am afraid his visitors are restricted," she told me. "I'm actually here to see the clerk, rather than the patient himself, but it's quite difficult to contact her while her mobile is switched off in the hospital," I explained. "I need to collect some things and I understand she's been here since he was admitted. It's quite urgent." I stressed the urgent part. "What name is it, please?"

I used the name I had used when visiting the Royal Courts. "It's Dobson, Niall Dobson."

She consulted a list in front of her. "Is there anyone with you, Mr Dobson?"

"I have a friend with me. She's waiting outside."

"And her name is?" she prompted.

"Delemere. Veronica Delemere."

"Ah yes, Ms Radisson had left instructions that she was to be informed when you arrived. I'll let her know you're here. If you would care to wait for a moment."

She picked up the phone and indicated the chairs to either side of the reception area.

I thanked her, but went back past the chairs and out to where Blackbird waited. Walking from the well-lit reception out into the dusk, it was hard to locate her. I jumped when she tapped me on the shoulder. "Don't do that."

There was a p.r.i.c.kling of the skin as the delicate threads of Blackbird's magic wrapped around us while she drew me out of the light and into the shadows beside the doorway. "Is something wrong?" I asked her.

"Maybe, maybe not. If that receptionist is expecting us then maybe others are too."

"How did you know she was...?" Then I realised what she'd done. "You were in there with me."

"I followed you in un.o.btrusively. I wanted to see what happened."

"You could have told me."

"If I had told you then you would have looked for me.

You might have given me away."

"I wouldn't have."

"You wouldn't be able to help yourself. As it was, you acted normally and I was able to take a quick peek at her notepad while she was dealing with you. "

"You were behind her?"

"They are up on the fourth floor. There's a note for her to call suite four fifty-two when we arrive. That must be where they are. "

"Then let's go and find them. "

"I don't like going where I am expected."

"You think it could be a trap? I don't think Claire would be involved in anything like that."

"She may not be running things. If the police are involved then who knows what may be waiting for us. Come on." She walked away down the street. "Where are we going? "

"To find another entrance."

We walked around the side of the building and onto a side street. About three quarters of the way down the street there was an access ramp, big enough for the hospital laundry trucks. It led down into an area under the hospital which was blocked by a metal grid that rolled down from above. During the day when they were expecting deliveries it was probably rolled up, but now it sealed the ramp from the outside world.

There was a box on the wall with a circular grill and b.u.t.ton to speak to a remote station. The entrance had two cameras monitoring it, one pointing at the box and another scanning back and forth along the entry ramp in an automated cycle.

Blackbird paused and then walked towards the shutter. The p.r.i.c.kling of her magic intensified. "Stick close to me."

We approached the wall box and she placed her hand upon it. There was a grinding squeak and the barrier began to rise.

"Don't you just love technology?" she smiled. "Years ago I would have had to get someone to come and let us in. Now we can do everything remotely. "

"Won't the security people see us on the cameras? "