Midnight Murders by Katherine John

another door, this time on an area bustling with noisy activity.
    â€˜Not put out to tender.’ Peter gazed at the white-overalled staff who were flitting between modern cookers and stainless-steel work surfaces.
    They walked down the back staircase to the cellars and a boiler room that was fed on gas, the sub-station that housed the cables for the incoming electricity supplies and the generator back-up. Remembering another case he’d worked on, Peter lifted the iron plates that covered the incoming supply, but he uncovered only thick black cables.
    â€˜The incinerator was installed only last year.’ Waters pushed back a heavy sliding door and said hello to a man who was fiddling with rows of dials. Peter looked at the mass of pipes, cables, and small tunnels leading off into darkened spaces.
    â€˜We’ve seen the whole of the old building?’
    â€˜Yes.’
    â€˜It’s a paradise for someone who wants to conceal a body,’ Peter mused. ‘And bloody murder for a policeman looking for clues. Absolute bloody murder.’

CHAPTER SIX
    â€˜Anything interesting?’ Dan asked when Peter and Michelle walked into the administrator’s office.
    â€˜Nothing obvious,’ Peter replied. ‘Only a nightmare of a building to search. Who’s organising it?’
    Dan studied his fingernails and said nothing.
    â€˜You can’t do this to me.’ Peter protested.
    â€˜Drug Squad officers organise the most thorough searches,’ Dan flattered.
    Tony spoke to his secretary in the outer office before joining them. His face creased in annoyance when he saw Dan sitting behind his desk, a notepad covered with scribbles in front of him, the telephone conveniently placed at his elbow. ‘Can I get you anything, Inspector?’
    â€˜No thank you,’ Dan replied. ‘Your secretary has provided me with everything I need.’ He moved an empty coffee mug to the edge of the desk before rising from the chair. ‘And I won’t be inconveniencing you long. We’re moving a mobile HQ into the grounds.’
    â€˜A demountable building?’ Tony asked warily.
    â€˜More of a caravan,’ Dan looked through the window. ‘Perhaps you can advise us on a suitable site.’
    â€˜If it’s space you’re looking for, there are rooms the size of football pitches going begging in this building,’ Tony said.
    â€˜Our mobile HQ contains all we need, and we won’t get under anyone’s feet,’ Dan countered. ‘Where do you suggest we put it, Mr Waters?’
    â€˜I’ll think about it,’ Tony put off the decision.
    â€˜It’ll be here in an hour,’ Dan said shortly.
    â€˜How about close to the main gate, so we can keep police traffic in and out of the hospital to a minimum.’
    â€˜That’s too public,’ Dan stroked his double chin. ‘It will attract sightseers. I thought somewhere at the back of this building. Behind the tunnels?’
    â€˜As you wish,’ Tony agreed, wondering why Dan had bothered to ask his advice when he’d already decided on the location.
    â€˜I’m also expecting two teams of police,’ Dan warned.
    â€˜To search the building?’
    â€˜Later, first I want them to do some digging. The heat-seeking cameras came up with a few spots. They’re probably nothing, but to be on the safe side we’re going to excavate your flowerbeds.’
    â€˜May I ask how long this digging is likely to take?’ Tony was beginning to wonder if his day was ever going to end.
    â€˜There are two hours of daylight left. We’ll start as soon as they get here, which with luck,’ Evans glanced at his watch, ‘will be in the next ten minutes. But if we find anything unusual, we may work through the night.’
    â€˜In the dark?’
    â€˜We’ll bring up floodlights.’
    â€˜I must protest. Lights would definitely disturb the patients.’
    â€˜We