Cowley came to Charing Cross Hospital the day after Bodie's memorable visit to London Zoo to find his two agents in a private room working on an enormous English breakfast. Bacon, eggs, sausage, fried tomatoes and mushrooms, black and white pudding, baked beans, and in place of toast a plate of scones with clotted cream, lemon curd, and three kinds of jam on the side. Bodie and Doyle were washing the food down with tea, and Cowley was gratified to see that that although the curly-haired man's face was haggard, his color was good and his eyes were bright. Cowley pulled up a chair, accepted a scone and a cup of tea, and munched in silence before directing a baleful expression at Bodie. "I thought you might like to know the results of Bella Consulus' inquest. The verdict was murder."

"No surprise there," said Bodie.

"Murder committed by person or persons unknown."

"What?" Bodie spluttered, choking on his tea. "Lynn Consolus confessed to putting poison on her mother's steering wheel!"

"That confession was of no value," said Cowley frostily. "She would have said anything with you shoving a cobra in her face."

Now Doyle was the one who coughed, spraying crumbs from his scone. "You did what?"

"It was worth it," said Bodie defiantly, looking at Doyle. "There was no time to lose trying to persuade her to talk."

"Oh, I know." Cowley took another scone, spread it thick with cream and curd, and took a bite. "And you know that you're lucky not to be in the dock. Lynn Consolus wanted to file charges against you, but I pointed out to her that she was doing well to be getting away with murder and if she pressed the matter, I'd find some way of sending her to prison for the rest of her life. Pure bluff, of course, but she's rather a stupid woman and she backed down." Cowley drained his tea and poured another cup.

Bodie's face was dark with fury. "She almost killed Ray and she gets to walk away with all that money?"

"That's about the size of it." Cowley sipped his tea and nibbled at his scone. "Oh, we'll keep an eye on her, but I doubt she'll run afoul of the law again. She got what she wanted, much good may it do her." He leaned forward and locked eyes with Bodie, saying forcefully, "And you got what you wanted, so don't get any ideas about revenge in that thick head of yours."

"Don't worry, sir," said Doyle. "I'll keep him out of trouble."

Cowley stood up. "If you succeed in doing that, Doyle, you'll be the first. Well, I'm off. You may both take the rest of the week. I'll see you bright and early Monday morning."

Fairbairn was in the corridor when Cowley came out of Doyle's room, and he put out his hand. "I'm Doctor Alistair Fairbairn. It's a pleasure to meet you, Mr Cowley."

"The pleasure is mine, sir." Cowley shook the hand. "Thank you for taking care of Doyle."

"It was an honor," said Fairbairn, but he looked troubled. "I couldn't help overhearing your conversation while I was waiting to speak to you. I didn't know the lengths Mr Bodie had gone to to get the antivenom. Will he be in trouble over it?"

"He should be." Cowley shook his head. "But he won't. Those two…"

"Yes," said Fairbairn softly. "They're quite something, aren't they?"

Cowley looked back into the room where Bodie and Doyle were squabbling over the last scone, the sight giving him a warm feeling of satisfaction. "They're all that." Cowley smiled to himself. "It's a fine Scottish name you have, Dr Alistair Fairbairn. Let me buy you a dram of pure malt scotch."