‘Airway clear but not breathing; no pulse; pupils fixed and dilated,’ she’d called out in a serious voice, carefully releasing the belt strapped around the man’s bicep and picking up the needle by his side. ‘Looks like a heroin overdose.’

It was at that point Beth started shivering again. When she’d first seen the man lying there, she’d acted without thinking, adrenalin overpowering rational thought. But once she learned that he wasn’t breathing, and realised that her calling the ambulance hadn’t saved his life, the chemicals quickly faded. It took a few more minutes for the grey-haired paramedic to officially pronounce the man dead, and by then Beth was struggling to not just feel grateful that it was all over.

Except it wasn’t all over. The confirmation of death into the paramedic’s radio had started a new flurry of activity. Another ambulance pulled up with two more paramedics, and two police officers arrived in a flood of blue light. They ignored Beth at first, heading straight for their colleagues and the man on the ground, but now one of them is walking towards her.

‘I hear you’re the person who called the emergency services,’ he says, stopping a little too close for Beth’s liking. ‘I’m PC Curtis.’

‘Beth Packard,’ she whispers, taking a step backwards. ‘Nice to meet you.’ She must sound odd, exchanging pleasantries in these circumstances, but it’s how she’s programmed to behave.

‘It must have been a shock,’ he continues. ‘Finding him like that. How are you doing?’ He pauses a moment, taking in her summery outfit. ‘I can ask one of the paramedics to get you a blanket from the wagon if you’re cold?’

Beth smiles warmly at the pale-faced police officer. Not because she wants a hospital blanket – she wouldn’t trust that it had been properly laundered after its last recipient – but because smiling warmly is her default. She probably did it on purpose once upon a time, when she first discovered the advantages it could bring. But now it’s just a habit, a defence mechanism in uncomfortable situations.

And she’s certainly feeling uncomfortable right now.

‘I’m fine – thank you though,’ she says, hoping that she sounds genuine. He seems nice enough, not one of those misogynist policemen that you read about in the press.

‘My super just called. CID will be here in a sec. We need to check the property over, then they’ll take your statement. Are you okay to wait?’

Beth smiles. It’s the very last thing she wants to do, but of course she wouldn’t admit that. Instead, she asks, ‘CID? Is it normal for them to be involved in something like this?’

PC Curtis shrugs. ‘Normal enough, I suppose, if they’re quiet. We need some help to check the shop out.’