The second book in the Dr Richard Pryor series, 2010

May 1955

Brenda Paxman stopped her grey Morris Minor outside the chemist’s shop in the High Street, ignoring the nearby ‘No Parking’ sign. A few miles from Stow-on-the-Wold, Eastbury was a sleepy haven of peace, well off the main roads. No one was likely to object, as the small Gloucestershire town had no traffic problem – and even if it did, who was going to complain about the local District Nurse?

Short and dumpy in her navy-blue uniform, Nurse Paxman went into the shop clutching her large medical bag and advanced on the assistant with a list of items she needed replenishing.

‘Get these together for me, please, Molly.’ She brandished an order form at the skinny girl behind the counter, just visible in a gap between a pyramid of baby food and a pile of assorted cough medicines.

‘Can you have them ready first thing in the morning, dear? I can’t stop now, I’ve only just finished at the Parkers.’

At this, there was a rapid clicking of heels from the dispensary at the back of the shop and an older woman appeared alongside the girl. She had sharp features and a narrow mouth, with greying hair pulled back severely into a bun at the back of her head. A long white coat and a glass measuring-cylinder in her hand marked her out as the pharmacist. In fact, Sheila Lupin, MPS, owned the business, being the only chemist in the town.

‘How is she now, Brenda?’ she demanded abruptly.

The plump middle-aged nurse shook her head sadly.

‘Not much different from usual, Miss Lupin. She should be in hospital, just for nursing care, but she won’t hear of it.’

‘The other nurse will be in this afternoon, I hope?’ snapped the pharmacist.