Day 3
Harry groggily opened his eyes to find himself alone in the bed. There was sunlight seeping through the gap in the curtains and he could hear the water running in the shower. He rubbed his eyes and heard the water stop and seconds later Diana came into the bedroom. She was still damp from the shower and her wet hair was pulled back behind her head by a bright red barrette.
DAY 4
Harry woke before Diana and figured it must still be early as the room was still relatively dark. After a quick and necessary visit to the bathroom he walked to the windows and opened the curtains slightly. It was dark and overcast and the rain was hammering down. He knew the weather in Scotland could always be that unpredictable. One day over thirty degrees and the next chilly and raining.
Amy's life had settled into an enjoyable routine, mainly focussed on indulgent chats with patients and frequent romps with her newfound Filipino friend.
Ditzy, without ever intending to be, she rapidly became everyone's favourite nurse and, since political correctness held no sway within these private walls, attracted many a friendly pat on her perfectly formed posterior.
In truth Amy was being paid to be a tangible feel-good factor. Predictably she was propositioned - an oil-Sheik offered a house should she consent to being more liberal with her favours - but Amy charmingly deflected such inducements in a manner skilfully contrived to leave both parties un-offended.
An unorthodox experiment into sexual response concludes the trilogy.
An hour later, showered and in a crisp clean uniform, Amy reported to Gooding's office.
"I'm currently engaged in cutting edge psychosexual research, which could enhance the international profile of this clinic," he began, with customary self-importance.
"Psychosexual?" she said warily, without a clue what this meant, but a shrewd idea of the likely implications. Gooding favoured her with his most winning smile.
If first impressions were anything indication the lime tree-lined drive through landscaped gardens to the Georgian house was a promising start. Even the name on the signboard, 'Welcome to the Fardo Clinic', oozed class. Not Hospital, Clinic - very exclusive, thought Amy Jones; gosh, she really hoped she got offered this nursing post.
Inside her favourable assessment was confirmed: marble floors, oak panels; understatedly tasteful. The antithesis of the flashy footballers and soap stars who were among the establishment's best clients.