I'm working on draft two of De Buke, now called In The Wicker Wood - Secrets Uncovered..

Fanahan brings the Seeing Eye dog to the Hospital to try and flush out Georgie....

Shay put the boot down, accelerating hard, and headed for the Hospital Prison, hoping that no motorbike Garda came by and stopped the car because of the speed. If that happens, he thought, I hope he's armed I can get him to shoot the dog.

They arrived, unfortunately at lunch time. Fanahan tried to get the staff to bring the patients out and line them up in the corridor. He was advised that although Drummond was a place for housing the criminal insane, that not all inmates were criminals. Some he was reminded were not held at the pleasure of the state, but sometimes dumped there by relatives, or in some cases the individuals had no family or friends, or indeed homes.

Chastised, Fanahan decided to try and use the dog in the dining room. It was a disaster, the dog was fine and behaved himself, walking where Aoife directed him. It was the patients who messed the process up.

They tried to feed him bits of their food, to pet him or call him over to their table. At least Fanahan decided some of this group was not afraid of dogs, so that was good: but it was also bad, for him that was. Others ignored Davie, as he walked around. None however jumped up and tried to get away. One lady thought the dog was her husband reincarnated, “Jerry. Jerry,” she called, “You said you would return as a dog. Tell me Jerry where did you hide the money from the pension you got when you retired?” Then she seemed to remember and tried to lunge at the dog. “I remember, now, you went to the Canaries with that tramp.” And she lunged again at the dog and tried to hit him with her walking aid.

Just before they departed Fanahan thought to ask, “Did we cover all of the inmates? Were any missing, were they all in that room?”

“Yes Detective, except those confined to barracks for their own safety.” the Matron answered.

“Jees, why didn't you tell me. How many?”

“Five.”

After he cheeked those by holding the dog at the open door of their rooms, without any reaction. He thought to ask, “Are they all drugged up.”

“Of course.”

“So they wouldn't know if Jack the Ripper, came in to their cells? Bloody hell maybe one of them is Jack.”

“Unlikely Inspector.”

“Aoife, thanks for your help. I will drive you home now. Hold on a second can you, until I check something”

At the entrance he called a warder over and enquired where they stored their empty bottles. Then he moved the car around to the storage and cleared his car boot of the smelly, stinking, covered with spills bottles. Then he drove back to collect Aoife. Now Mutt. You can keep your nose out of my business.

As he left he decided to wind down his window and wind up the Matron: who was making sure he left. “Is that the lot then? No bodies in the basement? That's the lot then, all checked out.”

Unruffled the Matron confirmed that he had in fact met and examined all the patients. Then she halted. “Except of course except the General, he is on a day out, with some friends.”

“The General. Who is he? How long has he been here? When will he return?” Fanahan snapped.

“Go easy, please. This evening his friends will bring him back. He's here a good few years now. Harmless. He just thinks he was a soldier in the local defence force. You know during the Emergency.”

Emergency? What bloody emergency, a cock up in the nappy supply? Hold on WWII, we called that little barney The Emergency over here.

“ You know how to contact me. Let me know when he returns. Meanwhile can I speak with the Warden? Sorry Professor Murray, the man who is supposed to be in charge.”

“He was called away without notice Detective. We were all surprised, we need him here to help with the arrangements. Technically the patient was in his care.”

Three weeks later when no phone call had been received, Fanahan rang Drummond and found out General was still on a day out with friends. In other words the only suspect he had: who perhaps was Georgie was in the wind, AWOL, over the wall, water under the bridge. Gone. As well he found out the facility had a new Warden. A new Head Man, Shay Smiled at that, and this news didn't surprise him.