‘She’s opened her eyes. What’s your name, love? Tell us your name.’

She tried to form the words, but they came out sounding as if she was drunk. ‘Andi … Carr.’

‘Well, Andi, we’re going to get you to hospital. You were unconscious, so we need to check you out.’

‘Where … What … ?’ It was too hard to speak, so she closed her eyes again.

When she opened them, she was in a bed, with curtains drawn round her. She panicked and tried to sit up but couldn’t. Only then did she realise she was the one who kept whimpering.

The curtain moved and a nurse came in. ‘So you’re awake again. How do you feel?’

It wasn’t as hard to speak this time, but she still sounded drunk. ‘Dopey.’

‘What’s your name? Your address?’

She listened patiently as Andi stumbled out the information, then patted her arm. ‘Can you give me a sample?’

Andi nodded but when the nurse brought a commode, she protested, ‘I don’t need that. I can go in the toilets.’

‘We need to test your urine. We think you may have been drugged.’

It was a moment before Andi could speak. ‘I can’t – remember anything.’

‘That’s the effect of some drugs.’

‘I didn’t – take anything. Not a thing. I was working – at the club.’

‘Let’s do the test, shall we? Good girl.’ She covered the container and straightened the bedcovers. ‘They want to talk to you now.’

This time when the curtain opened it was a police officer who came in. As the nurse carried away the sample, the newcomer took the seat next to Andi.

‘The nurse says you’re starting to make sense.’

Andi looked at her. ‘I can’t remember anything. How did I get here?’ That terrified her.

The woman’s face was tight, as if she was holding back anger. ‘No, you won’t remember. We think you’ve been doped with something like Rohypnol. The test will show if we’re right but you’ve got all the classic symptoms. Look, I’m sorry if this upsets you, but we need to take you to the rape unit to find out whether anyone assaulted you. We suspect they did, but we want to make sure. Is that all right?’

Andi tried to think, but her head seemed full of cotton wool. In the end it was her companion’s obvious concern for her that convinced her to agree. ‘Yes, but could you – call my mother? Could she meet us there?’

‘Good idea. Give me her number.’

‘It’s unlisted. You won’t pass it on to anyone?’

‘No. It’s quite safe with me.’ She took it down and gave the piece of paper to someone outside. ‘Do you want to get dressed now? We’ve found some clothes for you. We’ve had to take yours away for examination.’

Andi let herself be helped to dress in paper clothing, then sat in a wheelchair wrapped in a blanket as they pushed her out to a car. She felt numb, disoriented, as if this was happening to someone else and she was just watching.