The day after Professor Silverlake, consultant neurologist at the Dartmouth London hospital, has railed at three patients for smoking and drinking on the premises, all three are found dead. Silverlake, apparently the last doctor to visit the ward, later goes berserk with a rifle and is killed by police snipers. The ward's night nurse is also found dead. Nikki is deeply upset at having to perform an autopsy on a little girl who was murdered, apparently by Jason Bodle, on whom Silverlake once performed life-saving surgery, and wonders if the professor allowed himself to be shot out of remorse. Whilst Bodle is committed as unfit to plead, Silverlake's daughter, Naomi, asks Nikki to help clear her father's name of murder.
