The road was clear, so she didn’t bother to slow down as she turned in to the supermarket car park, but another car seemed to appear out of nowhere and smashed into her. She screamed and then something hit her on the head. The next thing she knew, she was lying on the grass near her car. Lights were flashing and a policeman was standing nearby.

‘She’s conscious,’ someone said. ‘And she’s been very lucky, doesn’t seem to have broken anything, just a tap on the head. Better take her to hospital for a check-up, though, just in case.’

The policeman knelt beside her. ‘Would you blow into this, please, madam?’

Gail looked at the tube in horror and closed her eyes.

‘She’s lost consciousness again,’ he called.

Someone else knelt, took her pulse and opened her eye forcibly. ‘I don’t think so. She’s just closing her eyes. Open your eyes, please, madam.’

She didn’t dare.

Silence, then the policeman said, ‘I’d better come with you, make sure they take a blood sample and check for alcohol. Her breath definitely smells of booze. Here, take her handbag with you. I’ve got her details now. We don’t want anyone stealing her things. I’ll follow you.’

Gail kept her eyes closed all the way to the hospital, refusing to speak or respond to them in any way.

They took her to a cubicle, she could see that through her eyelashes if she opened her eyes a tiny bit. But she didn’t admit she was awake; the mere thought of doing that and having to answer questions filled her with panic.

‘A doctor will be along in a minute,’ the same voice said. ‘But I’m pretty sure she’s conscious.’

When the footsteps had gone away, Gail half-opened her eyes and took a cautious look round. She was alone in a curtained cubicle, but someone was standing outside it, someone with black, highly polished shoes and dark-blue trousers that showed underneath the knee-high curtain.

Tears leaked out of her eyes but she didn’t risk moving to brush them away. What was she going to do now?

The shoes moved away; she heard the person walk a few steps and come back. After a minute he did the same again, going further this time, as if he couldn’t bear to stand still.

Gail saw her handbag sitting on a chair next to the bed. Her shoes were on the floor under it.

Careful to make no noise, she slid off the bed, picked up her shoes and bag and waited till the feet started walking away from her again. A quick glance outside showed that there was a bend in the corridor in the opposite direction. She’d run away the next time he walked down the corridor.

The policeman came to stand outside the cubicle for a minute or two. She kept willing him to start moving again. Why didn’t he start pacing up and down again? She needed to get away.

‘Ah, there you are, Doctor!’ he called.