θɹuː mˈoʊst əv ðə nˈɑːvəl, ʃiː ɪz ʌŋkˈɑːnʃəs, wɪð hɜː mˈʌðɚ ɹˈoʊnə ænd, ˈɔfən, ɹᵻbjˈuːzᵻz ˈɛks pˈeɪʃəns ˈeɪtkən æt hɜː bˈɛdsaɪd.
Through most of the novel, she is unconscious, with her mother Rhona and, often, Rebus's ex Patience Aitken at her bedside.