The Eighth Witch by Maynard Sims Read Free Book Online Page A

his eyes. They were watcher’s eyes, picking up the slightest changes in Annie’s demeanor and body language and analyzing them in a blink.
    “Is something amusing you, sir?” Sparks said to Carter. His voice was smooth and devoid of accent. A university voice—classless and anodyne.
    Carter shrugged away the question. “No,” he said. “Nothing at all.”
    “And who might you be, sir?” Lacey said, taking an interest in Carter for the first time.
    “This is Robert Carter, a friend of mine,” Annie said. “He was at the dinner last night as well.”
    “Why are you here?” Lacey said.
    “I gave Annie a lift.”
    “How well do you know Professor Norton?”
    “Barely. Met him for the first time last night.”
    “And did you hit it off?”
    “No. Not really,” Carter said.
    “And why was that?” Sparks said.
    Carter assumed that Penny and Adam Chapman had given the policemen chapter and verse on the events of the previous evening, including the initial antipathy between Norton and himself, so there was no sense in pretending otherwise. “I thought he was an arrogant bore,” he said.
    “And is he?” Lacey said to Annie.
    “Henry has his moments,” Annie said. “Usually he’s delightful company, but last night…” Her voice trailed off.
    “Perhaps he was put out that there was another man on the scene. Someone to divert your attention away from him.”
    “I don’t think I like what you’re insinuating, Inspector,” Annie said. “Henry and I are friends. Nothing more, nothing less. Besides, he’s in a relationship.”
    “Ah, yes, with Ms. Holly Ireland. Of whom neither hide nor hair has been seen since last night. A coincidence, Sergeant?”
    “I don’t believe in coincidences, sir,” Sparks said.
    Lacey rubbed his chin. “Hmm. Neither do I.”
    “I’d like to see him,” Annie said.
    “I’m afraid that won’t be possible,” Lacey said.  
    “Actually, that might be a good idea.” The young doctor had been standing in the background during the entire conversation. Now he stepped forwards.
    “And why would that be, Dr. Jhadav?”
    “The professor is in a comatose state. Perhaps a familiar voice, a voice of a friend, may help bring him out of it.”
    “Do you want him out of it?” Lacey said. “From what I’ve seen of him, he’s pretty banged up and when he regains consciousness he’s going to be in a world of pain. Might it not be in his best interests to leave him as he is for the time being?”
    “Inspector, I agree, he’s not going to be comfortable but I’d prefer him to be conscious. We have drugs to combat any pain he’s in and it will be much easier to assess any brain damage he may have suffered. We need to see if there is a case for neurosurgery.”
    “Well, you’re the expert,” Lacey said.
    Jhadav smiled, white teeth gleaming in his handsome Indian face. “Yes,” he said. “I am.” He opened the door to room 208. “This way,” he said to Carter and Annie Ryder.

Chapter Six
    Room 208 reeked of antiseptic and Carter gagged as he stepped through the door. He’d awoken to find himself in a room very much like this one several months ago, and the memories were still lodged in the back of his mind. The antiseptic smell brought them rushing to the forefront and he found himself hanging back in the doorway, ready to flee if they started to overwhelm him.
    Norton was lying in the bed. Wires hung from pads stuck to his chest and trailed back to a vital signs machine standing at his bedside. An intravenous drip was suspended from a stand next to it and fed a clear solution through a tube into a vein in his arm via a cannula.
    Annie gasped when she saw him and tears sprung to her eyes. “Oh my God!” she said softly. “I wasn’t expecting anything like this.”
    Carter took her hand and squeezed it reassuringly. “He’s in the best place, Annie,” he said, but even he was shocked by the severity of Norton’s injuries. There wasn’t a square inch of