Luckily, there was no one else at the reception counter who was waiting to be attended to. Brenda walked up to the uniformed police officer behind the counter.

“Yes, can I help you?” he asked.

Suddenly, everything seemed to be swimming in front of Brenda’s eyes.

“Yes, I’d like to speak to someone about…” she began.

But that was as far as she managed to get before she fainted.

***

Slowly, she came back to consciousness.

When she had finally come too, she found herself seated in a chair beside a table in an interview room. A man was hovering close beside her.

“Are you feeling all right now?” he asked, anxiously. “Or would you like us to get you an ambulance to take you to hospital?”

“Oh no, that won’t be necessary, thanks,” she replied. “I’ll be all right in a moment, it’s just that I’ve been under a lot of strain, recently.”

“I expect you could do with a hot drink, Ms….”

“Dalton. Brenda Dalton. Yes thanks, I’ll have a cup of coffee.”

“How do you take it? Black or white?”

“White, with two sugars, please.”

When the coffee arrived, Brenda gratefully drank almost all of it in one gulp, seemingly oblivious to the fluid’s hot temperature.

“Thanks, I really needed that” she said.

“Now, are you sure you don’t want an ambulance? Are you sure you don’t want to go to hospital?” the man persisted.

“No, really, I’m alright,” said Brenda “I’m very tired, but I don’t need to go to hospital. I came here because I wanted to talk to someone in authority, and I don’t want to pass up that opportunity, now I’m here.”

“Well, you can talk to me. I’m in authority here,” said the man, smiling. “My name’s Donaldson. Inspector Donaldson. Now, what was it you wanted to talk to me about?”

“Well, it’s all rather a long story, really,” said Brenda. “I am… well, I’m going to resign, but at the moment, strictly speaking, I still am a student nurse at that mental hospital, the one further up off the motorway. Do you know it?”

“Yes.”

“Well, I told you it was a long story, Inspector,” said Brenda, “and it is….”