ThedayafterProfessorSilverlake,consultantneurologistattheDartmouthLondonhospital,hasrailedatthreepatientsforsmokinganddrinkingonthepremises,allthreearefounddead.Silverlake,apparentlythelastdoctortovisittheward,latergoesberserkwitharifleandiskilledbypolicesnipers.Theward'snightnurseisalsofounddead.Nikkiisdeeplyupsetathavingtoperformanautopsyonalittlegirlwhowasmurdered,apparentlybyJasonBodle,onwhomSilverlakeonceperformedlife-savingsurgery,andwondersiftheprofessorallowedhimselftobeshotoutofremorse.WhilstBodleiscommittedasunfittoplead,Silverlake'sdaughter,Naomi,asksNikkitohelpclearherfather'snameofmurder.
