It’s only when Jess hears Sheila’s voice that she notices the car parked outside the vicarage. Tired after another broken night, and listless enough to need to concentrate on where she places her feet, she swings about, seeking the origin of the disembodied voice.

Her boss is alighting from her car, an eyebrow already raised. ‘Your daughter not with you today?’

‘Sorry. Had no choice. Short notice. It—’

‘I’m not here to discuss your childcare arrangements. I’m here because of your attitude towards your client.’ With an expression equalling the severity of her black suit, Sheila wastes no time in crowding Jess at the end of the front path. ‘All I ever ask of my employees is that they’re punctual, that they follow their brief in a professional manner. Am I asking too much, I wonder?’

‘I’m just trying to make things better for Flo. Stuff needs sorting out here, Sheila.’

‘My point exactly, Jess.’

‘There’s no assistive tech. Place is a shambles. It ain’t been de-cluttered. It’s too dark for her. It’s—’

‘When Mrs Gardner was able, she left strict instructions about her care. She wanted everything left—’

‘She’s living off lemon puffs. She ain’t getting the right nutrition. I’m no doctor—’

‘Quite!’

Chastened, Jess lowers her eyes and softens her tone. ‘But I know when a client is knocked off, Sheila. She’s either confused or flat. She’s got delirium. Half the time the poor love must be terrified. She should be on oxygen. The notes ain’t up to date. She’s wandering. Hospital. It’s that time.’

‘You bit my hand off when I told you about the salary for this position but perhaps I need to rethink the posting.’

Jess’s posture softens further and her placatory tone closes on wheedling. ‘No. I really need . . . I can do it, Sheila. I just think, for Flo’s sake, the appointee needs to make improvements.’

‘That’s not your concern.’

‘It’s just . . . Sheila. This place. It’s, I don’t know. It’s not right. It’s unhealthy. All wrong. And Flo. She ain’t as incapacitated as it says in the notes. They’re wrong. She’s been wandering. Day and night. She—’

‘Impossible. So is it you or your client that’s suffering delusions? And by the look of your eyes, it’s clear to me that it’s time you took better care of yourself. Never mind your client. And you’ll need to because I’m going to need a greater show of flexibility and commitment from you. Starting with you working the night shift from next week.’

‘God, no.’

‘What?’

‘I promised Izzy. Nights is too hard on her—’