Through the voile she had a hazy view across the street outside, only a narrow path separating her front door from the road. The building at the end of the road was a church of some unusual denomination. When services were on groups of people would often pass by on their way to or fro, but at this time of night the church was shut and the road was quiet. She pulled the curtain, blinked in the darkness, and stepped carefully towards where a lamp stood on a small table in the corner of the room.

The sofa she’d bought when she moved in was a tad too big for the room but it had been the most comfortable she’d tried and she’d wanted it. She sank onto it, curling her legs underneath and reached for the remote control to switch on the TV.

The hummus was almost gone and Jodie’s eyes were growing heavy when the house phone rang, startling her. She wasn’t expecting anyone to call. A brief hope that it might be Flynn quickly fizzled. He didn’t know her home number. It could be her friend, Rivka. She’d not spoken to her for a few days. She glanced at the ornate clock that stood on the mantelpiece. Ten o’clock. Her friend would never ring that late. When it stopped, she shrugged. Probably a wrong number.

That thought hadn’t finished when the phone rang again. Someone definitely wanted to get hold of her. She reached for the handset. ‘Hello?’

‘Jodie, it’s Katy Dobson.’

Jodie swung her feet to the floor. ‘Katy? Is something wrong?’ Because there had to be. Ringing her at home, at this hour, something had to be wrong.

‘I’m sorry, Jodie, I’m afraid I’m going to have to suspend you pending an investigation.’

Jodie laughed because she couldn’t think of any other way to react. Suspended? ‘What am I supposed to have done?’

‘Bessie rang me. There’s been a serious medication error. I’m sorry, I’ve been left with no choice.’

Bessie, the smiling, helpful night nurse. Why hadn’t she rung Jodie if she’d discovered a problem? It was bound to be something she could clear up easily. Jodie didn’t make medication errors, ever. But a complaint had been made and the wheels would go round and round. ‘Okay, I understand. What happens now?’

‘I’ll be in touch regarding a meeting with you and the human resources manager. You’re in the RCN, aren’t you?’

Jodie murmured an affirmative, grateful she’d taken the advice to join the nursing union.

‘It might be a good idea to contact them. I have no choice but to inform the NMC, the RCN will be able to deal with that for you.’