‘We’d like to offer you the position,’ the manager said at the end of a short interview. ‘Subject to references, of course.’

Jodie’s face fell. Stupidly, with all that was going on, she’d not thought about references. ‘I’ve worked for BestLife Care for six years.’

‘That’s fine.’ The manager’s voice was calm and reassuring. ‘A reference from them to say you’ve been a satisfactory employee until recent events will suffice, and perhaps one from your time in Guy’s?’

‘Yes.’ Jodie nodded, relieved. ‘That would be easy.’

‘The permanent post will depend on the results of the NMC, you understand?’

She lifted her chin and kept her eyes unwaveringly on him. ‘I assure you, there was no culpability on my part.’

‘Right,’ he said, dropping his gaze to the paperwork on the desk. ‘We can do the DBS check online now. And if you can give me, or send me, the contact details for the referees, I’ll get that done as soon as.’ The manager wasn’t a man who let grass grow anywhere. He looked up and caught her amused expression. ‘You’ll learn, I’m not someone who likes to hang about.’

The Disclosure and Barring Service check took five minutes to complete. When they’d finished, Jodie gave the manager the email address of an anaesthetist she worked with in Guy’s who she knew would happily give her a glowing reference. ‘And Kate Dobson at BestLife Care.’

‘I know Kate,’ he said. ‘Don’t worry. You’ve told me about the NMC investigation. All I want to know from her is that you’re reliable, efficient and competent.’

‘Which I am,’ she said firmly.

‘Excellent. If the references come through perhaps you could start next week.’ He picked up what Jodie saw was a duty roster. ‘We need someone for Saturday and Sunday.’

‘Perfect,’ she said. And less than forty-five minutes after arriving, she walked from Seacrest Manor feeling that one part of her life was sorted.

She planned to go directly home to ring the police about the package but she was suddenly weary, her eyes felt gritty and the thought of having a protracted conversation about Victor seemed simply too much. The package could stay unopened where she’d thrown it until the following morning.

The day had brightened. Jodie walked along Saxon Shore Way but she’d not gone far when she realised she was simply too exhausted and turned for home. A faint unpleasant smell when she opened her front door made her screw up her nose. She peeled off her raincoat, hung it and her bag over the banister and lifted her nose to sniff the air. It was an odd smell. She took a step forward, stopping as the odour intensified and looked down in horror at the package near her feet.