Ace and Fillmore walked in through a set of wide revolving doors. The building was ultramodern- glass, modern art. The ground floor atrium soared up thirty meters, creating a huge space, filled with light and glowing with vibrant, shifting colours.

Ace was carrying a bunch of flowers in his arms and Fillmore had a fruit basket. They approached the curved reception desk. The young woman on the desk smiled enquiringly.

"A friend of ours was admitted last night," Fillmore said. "Lauren Sullivan. We don't know which ward she's in"

"Just a moment" the young woman tapped at a keyboard. "She's in Richard knight ward. 8th floor"

Fillmore plucked a white rose from the bunch that Ace was carrying. Smiling, he handed it to the young woman.

"Thank you" she laughed in surprise. But as she took the rose from Fillmore she noticed the wedding ring on Fillmore's hand. Feeling a bit down hearted she looked at them and said, "Go to lift bank D. that'll take you up to the ward"

They walked through into the towering, airy hospital. Escalators tracked up and down. A large chrome cube ran with glistening water. There was a huge red, yellow and green steel sculpture - the runner. A mobile of rainbow-coloured leaves fluttered down the full five floors from the transparent plastic roof.

"This place is more like an art gallery than a hospital" Ace said. "I hope they bring me here if I ever get ill!" they stepped into a gleaming metal lift. A few smooth moments later, the doors opened and they made their way to the ward.

"Notice anything else?" Fillmore said "it doesn't even smell like a hospital, and I should know what with the amount of times I've been in one" the ward had a reception area and doors leading to small side rooms. A man with cropped bleached hair was working at the desk. Fillmore explained the reason for their visit.

"Lauren" said the young man. He pointed, "We've put her in aside room. She's sleeping. We're not allowing any visitors at the moment" Ace looked at him

"Sleeping, not unconscious?"

"She came out of it in the middle of the night," said the bleach- haired man.

"The overdose wasn't as bad as was feared."

"So what happened when she got here" Fillmore asked

"We went into the usual emergency routine" the man said "we emptied out her stomach and aspirated her to get rid of any bit and pieces. Then we gave her some activated charcoal to mop up the remnants. She was out of it for a couple of hours after that. When she woke up she was disorientated and a little distressed, so we gave her a mild sedative"

"But she's in no danger?" asked Fillmore.

"The test results aren't back yet" said the man "we can't be sure what's going on until we've got a better idea of what she took". He smiled reassuringly. "The chances are we got to her in time. She was lucky"

"How soon is she likely to wake up?" Ace asked

"It could be any time now" said the man "you're welcome to wait" he gestured towards the doorway. "We're expecting her parents at any moment. They're driving down from a holiday in Scotland. Do you know them?"

"I'm afraid not," Ace said

"There are a couple of other people waiting already" the man said "you could sit with them"

"Friends?" Ace asked.

"I don't think so" said the man "police I think" Fillmore and ace exchanged a glance.

"We'll come back later." Fillmore said "could you give her these?" he placed the fruit basket on the desk. Ace laid the flowers alongside. The man nodded.

"Who shall I say their from?" he asked

"Tell here they're from her best mates'" said Fillmore. "She'll know who you mean." Ace glanced quickly into the waiting room as they left the ward. A man and a woman were sitting there reading magazines. ISI, definitely. The risk that they would be recognised by these officers was minimal, but the police presence at the hospital would make having a quite word with Lauren a little tricky.

"Now what?" Ace asked as they descended in the lift.

"Plan B" said Fillmore

"I didn't know there was a plan B"

Fillmore smiled, "there's always a plan B"

The police van was parked in a side street. From the outside, it looked like an ordinary white van- but it was packed with state of the art electronics. Fillmore disengaged the alarm and climbed in the back. He emerged seconds later. He stepped down on to the road and then sat down on the back of the van, opening his hand once seated. When Ace saw what was in Fillmore's hand he nodded. How he understood Fillmore's plan B. in Fillmore's hand was a small uhf transmitter.

"This little baby will pick up an ant fart at fifteen meters," Fillmore said "it'll transmit to the scanner. We'll be able to hear every word in that room, clear as crystal. We just sit back and wait for our friends from ISI to go in there and ask the questions" he grinned "job done and we haven't disobeyed orders"

"But how do we get it in there" Ace asked "maybe we should have hidden the bug in the fruit or the flowers"

"Too obvious," Fillmore replied "it's always possible the police would check for something like that"

"Got a better idea, we could simply dress up as regular hospital staff and hope for the best. I can act the part of a brilliant young neurosurgeon." Ace said looking at Fillmore "you can be a trainee nurse" Fillmore looked back at him.

"How about I'm the brilliant surgeon and you're my most challenging patient? that could work though but it's probably best if we keep it low key"

"We should look out for coats- that would make us look like orderlies or porters," Ace said, Fillmore nodded.

They re-entered the hospital, this time taking the escalator up to the ward. They avoided the main entrance, searching the corridors and hallways, moving purposefully, always keeping up the appearance of knowing exactly where they were going. They found a staff changing room and pulled on orderlies' coats. Then they discovered a back way on to the ward- a flight of stairs which led to a sun lounge where patients could sit and watch television.

"It's show time," Fillmore said. They walked on to Richard knight ward. A nurse approached them.

"Who are you?" she asked.

"The agency sent us," Fillmore replied. "We were told to come up here and make our self's useful."

"You can't just wander around," she said. "Go and speak to the ward sister. She'll assign you some duties."

"Thanks we'll do that" Fillmore said. Ace spotted a store room with an open door. He ducked inside and came out carrying a mop and bucket. They walked the length of the ward without anyone else questioning them.

The door to Laura's room was open and they where able to slip inside with out being noticed. There where 4 beds but only one was occupied. Laura was curled up on her side.

Ace stood close to the door- ready to stall anyone who wanted to come in. Fillmore moved quickly over to the bed. Laura looked pale but peaceful. He lent forward, peeling the tape off the adhesive on the back of the bug, intending to attach it under the metal frame near her head.

However he found himself looking in to a pair of deep brown eyes.

"Hi, Laura," he said "how's it going?"

Ace glanced around. Laura had woken up

"My head and stomach hurt" Laura murmured

"I think that's from them pumping you out, Laura" Fillmore said, he smiled "you must have had quite a night. Do you remember any of it?"

Laura turned on to her back. Fillmore rearranged her pillows. Ace quietly closed the door, but kept watch through the glass panel.

"I remember acting stupid," Laura murmured. "My mouth's all dry"

Fillmore poured her a cup of water from her bedside jug. She drank it slowly and with evident discomfort. "Do you know what made you ill?" Fillmore asked. Fillmore knew he didn't have much time. He glanced over at ace. Ace nodded- everything was ok so far.

"I took some pills," Laura said. She closed her eyes, "stupid thing to do. I've never done anything like that before."

Fillmore smiled "I guess you won't be doing it again any time soon"

"Not in a million years" she opened her eyes. She looked drained and weary. "I've been going through a bad break-up, and the guy who gave them to me said they'd just make me feel good. He said they where called Gems. He gave me six of them- he said they where really weak – that they would just give me a happy feeling you know?"

"Don't know, but I'll take your word for it" Fillmore said

"I thought they would be harmless," Laura said "otherwise he wouldn't of just handed them over like that." She swallowed some water with difficulty. "I thought what the heck and took all six"

Both Fillmore and ace winced "bad move" they said at the same time.

"Tell me about it" said Laura with tears starting to roll down her face, "my parents are going to go insane," she whispered. "I've done this sort of thing before and after the last time I promised I'd never do it again, now look at me"

"Don't worry about your mom" Fillmore said. "She'll be too relieved that you're ok to beat you up." He looked at her. "Did you know the guy who gave you the pills?"

Laura shook her head, "his name was Daniel. That's all I know. I remember he was talking with a black haired girl- I can't remember her name- but she's a friend of Karen's."

She obviously meant Ingrid. "Did you see him with anyone else" Fillmore pressed.

"Earlier on, before he came over to me, I saw him talking to the club Dj- Kallisto. Maybe she knows him" she closed her eyes again and sank deeper into her pillows. "I'm tired. I hope the police lock him up and throw away the key."

Fillmore straightened up. "I'll let you sleep Laura" he said. He touched her shoulder "you'll be fine but next time some guy offers you some pills at a night club…"

"Just say no" Laura interrupted with a weak smile. Don't worry, I've learn my lesson"

"Good, you could have ended up in a coma or worse" Fillmore reminded her. She nodded.

"Fillmore" ace said in a warning voice. Some one was coming. Fillmore pocketed the transmitter- he already had the information he needed. He walked to the door and the two of them slipped out. A man and a woman where walking toward them. They had strained and anxious faces. Laura's parents- straight from their desperate drive down from their holiday in Scotland. Fillmore and ace melted into the back ground.

"Right then" Fillmore said when they where back outside and in the van "next stop- Dj Kallisto."