‘Well, she’s pretty much the same as she came in, though cleaner: she let us wash her this morning. None of us can tell if she’s English. She’s had an EEG, an ECG, and a general check-up, nothing wrong with her really. It’s a miracle given that Saturday morning at dawn was two degrees above freezing.’

‘Any distinguishable marks?’

‘Well, that’s the problem, she won’t let us complete a detailed examination. I told the staff who bathed her to look out but they saw nothing. She keeps herself all coiled up, like a spring.’

‘Sexual assault?’

‘She won’t let us anywhere near that.’

‘Right. Not surprising really is it? She must be terrified. Psychiatry?’

‘They haven’t been, you might just catch them; they’re due at one o’clock.’

Kelly looked at her watch. Her stomach had been grumbling but she’d ignored it, now she knew why. They had plenty of time to meet the woman and grab a coffee. ‘Right, can we go in?’

Sister Cane nodded. ‘Follow me.’

They were led down the corridor, past shared wards and private rooms, and came to room number eighteen. In washable marker on a white sign outside the room was written ‘Carla Rigg’. Droll, the consultant must think himself a clever dick.

Sister Cane took them inside.

‘You have visitors!’ she announced breezily. They stood at the foot of the bed looking at a lump of sheets. The blinds were fully open but the bleak, rain-filled sky outside afforded little light. Sister Cane switched on a bedside light. ‘There we go, that’s better. How are we feeling? Have we got a name? A “hello” would be nice for these folks.’

‘Hi there. I’m Detective Inspector Kelly Porter and this is Detective Constable Rob Shawcross. We’re with Cumbria police. You do understand that you’ve been found in Cumbria, wandering about in the small hours? You must have been terrified.’ Kelly eased in.

The bundle of sheets shifted and the woman looked over her shoulder.

‘So, you can hear me? That’s a good start,’ Kelly carried on. The woman slumped back to her position.

‘Can I sit you up?’ Kelly went to the head of the bed to take a pillow and help the woman up. Suddenly her arm was grabbed by a hand emerging from the sheets and Kelly gasped in surprise, but soon recovered, allowing the woman to hold on to her, whilst assessing danger. Her hand was freezing cold.

‘Now, now!’ Sister Cane waded in, but Kelly held up her free hand.

‘You check me out, I don’t mind. I’m not here to hurt you. I just want to find out where you’ve come from. Perhaps a name?’