Sandra Pullman struggled to swallow the stodgy instant coffee that the work experience girl had made her. She foolishly accepted the offer of the coffee because she had been instructed to wait for Dr Jessop at his private surgery until further notice and thought it would help pass the time.
"Ma'am, Dr Jessop will see you now" the receptionist called as she leant over the desk and gave Sandra her best false smile. In return Sandra gave her a cold icy stare, nothing untoward but it was her way of silently getting back at her for calling her 'ma'am' and not being able to stomach the over baring attitude the woman possessed.
The young girl who was there on work experience trotted out from behind the desk and collected Sandra's almost full coffee cup, desperate to get wind of what was going on.
Doctor Kian Jessop was waiting outside his room as Sandra walked along the narrow sterile smelling corridor.
"This way inspector" he said taking her by the elbows and escorting her into the office.
"It Detective Superintendent actually, Doctor" she corrected him before taking a seat.
"What can I do you for Detective Superintendent?" Than man replied snidely.
"We are reinvestigating the death of Dervla Spencer; I understand she visited you and you then prescribed her with benzodiazepine tablets after diagnosing her with anxiety." Sandra stated hoping this would prompt him into enlightening her with a little more colour into the matter at hand.
"Yes that is correct. Miss Spencer had been anxious about a number of things, the upcoming custody hearing, her relationship and of course the pressure of succeeding in her sport."
"When did you prescribe Ms Spencer the medication?"
"It was two months exactly before the Open and the course of treatment should have lasted no longer than ten days, the drug can be highly addictive and I only recommend that my patients use it for the maximum of two weeks, any longer than that and it imposes a great risk on the individual" the Doctor explained.
"Tablets were found at her house, how many times had you prescribed them to her?"
"Just the once, she was due for a routine check up on the day she died, as she was due to travel the tournament the following day but she cancelled the day pervious."
"Did she give a reason?" Sandra asked.
Dr Jessop shook his head "alas, no."
"Could she have gotten hold of the benzodiazepine anywhere else?"
"Perhaps another doctor may have prescribed them to her, but I am afraid I don't know."
"What was Dervla's frame of mind like when you saw her last?"
"Normal I guess" the man shrugged "she always had a sweet nature and asked about my family; despite everything she seemed very upbeat. Just her usual cheery self."
"Thank you very much for your time Doctor Jessop."
"Not at all Detective Superintendent, please call me if you need anything else" he smiled delivering a firm handshake when Sandra offered the doctor her hand.
"Thanks very much" she smiled.