‘Argh, bloody monitoring paperwork,’ Jaq muttered for the hundredth time as she scowled at her computer screen.

‘How far have you got?’ Darren asked, not looking up from his own pile, actual papers in his case, labels for all the evidence they’d gathered.

‘I am at form 36 of 52.’

‘At least you’re past halfway.’

Darren sounded relaxed. Maybe it was because he was older that he seemed to enjoy the downtime they had between cases.

‘I swear we spend more time reporting on our casework than actually solving crimes.’

Jaq didn’t expect a reply. She always said the same things when they wrapped up a case, and she already knew what Darren’s response would be.

She’d just pressed save on form 36 and started pondering whether she should have lunch before she tackled the next form when her office phone rang.

‘Excuse me, ma’am,’ the desk sergeant said as she picked up. ‘I have a call for you from somebody called Simon White. He said it has something to do with Sarah. He said you’d know what he means.’

At the sound of Sarah’s name, Jaq’s stomach gave a frightened twist and she snapped, ‘Put him through.’

‘Ah… Jaq?’ Simon said, his voice sounded odd and tinny on the phone. ‘Sorry to bother you—’

‘Get to the point,’ Jaq snapped. ‘What’s happened to Sarah?’

‘She’s ill. I’ve taken her to A&E, the thing is, Aaron is in Edinburgh on business and HR doesn’t have any other family contacts for her.’

‘Which hospital?’ Jaq said, and she noted Darren’s head snap up as he gave her a querying look. She got the hospital name from Simon and said, ‘I’ll be there in half an hour,’ as she slammed the phone down.

‘Work?’ Darren said.

‘Personal. I’m sorry I have to go.’

Darren waved her off and Jaq ran all the way to the tube station. It would be quicker than trying to get through London’s congested streets by car.

Public transport being what it was, it took her forty-five minutes to get to the hospital. It took another frustrating thirty minutes to convince reception to give her Sarah’s location until she resorted to flashing her badge. This elicited the information that they had moved Sarah from A&E into a ward.

The fact that it had happened so quickly alarmed Jaq and made her worry all the more about Sarah. People usually spent hours in A&E. Despite her anxiety, she walked all the way, following the blue line marked on the floor.

Simon’s familiar figure, standing in the middle of the corridor speaking to a fresh faced youngster, provided her final clue for tracking Sarah down.

‘You may as well go back to the office,’ he was saying to the kid.

‘Simon!’ she said, keeping her voice low for the sake of the patients she could see via the glass windows in each ward door.

He swung round and a look of relief suffused his face.

‘She’s in there,’ he said, pointing at the door to his left. ‘They won’t let me in because I’m not family.’

‘I’ll deal with it.’ No hospital rule would keep Jaq out. ‘Do you know what’s wrong?’

Simon shook his head.

‘Maybe food poisoning. She was throwing up all morning and then she collapsed.’

‘Poor thing,’ Jaq said and pushed her way into Sarah’s ward.

It was the usual spartan, six-bed ward. All the beds were occupied and it took a moment to find Sarah in the one by the window. She looked frighteningly pale.

‘Sarah,’ Jaq said softly as she stopped by her side.

‘Jaq,’ Sarah said with a relieved smile. ‘I guess Simon called you. I told him not to bother.’

‘Fortunately, he didn’t listen. I also called Aaron. He’s arranging a flight back.’

‘Honestly, there’s no need for all this fuss,’ Sarah said, but alarmed Jaq with her listlessness.

‘They hauled you into A&E, love, and they gave you a bed. They don’t do that unless it’s serious. Have they worked out what’s wrong yet?’

Sarah shook her head.

‘They’ve taken about a pint of blood for tests, though.’

‘How long have you been feeling ill? You should have called me.’

‘I didn’t want to bother everybody. It’s been three or four days, but this morning was the worst. I was actually about to head off to the doctors. I’d packed up my bag and everything when I collapsed in the office. It was so embarrassing.’

‘Don’t stress about it. I’ll bet they’re all just worried for you.’

‘Thank God for Simon, though. Everybody else went into a flap. He just swooped in, calm as you please, helped me to my feet, ordered Brian to take my other side and got Aisha to hail a cab.’

‘That was good thinking, a cab is always faster than an ambulance.’

‘That’s what he said when everybody else objected. And he made sure the nurses in A&E took me in right away. I didn’t realise what a good guy he was to have in an emergency till today.’

Jaq wished she could hear more, but was prevented by the appearance of a doctor, trailed by a couple of other white-coated individuals.

‘Sarah Parker?’ the doctor said as she looked up from the glowing screen of her tablet.

‘Yet, that’s me.’ The doctor looked Jaq up and down with a questioning expression and Sarah said, ‘She’s my best friend.’

‘I’m about to discuss confidential medical information. Are you sure you want your friend to stay?’

‘I do,’ Sarah said and reached out to take Jaq’s hand.

She wasn’t the clingy type, so Jaq realised she was feeling less than her usual confident self. With good reason, the doctor looked serious.

‘What’s the matter with me?’

‘You have a severe case of morning sickness,’ the doctor said, her expression softening.

‘Excuse me, what?’ Sarah said.

Jaq was more shocked, maybe because she’d been expecting a different diagnosis.

‘You’re pregnant. I assume you didn’t know that yet?’

‘I’m pregnant?’

‘Congratulations. Although I’m afraid you’re suffering from an extreme form of morning sickness, which means you’re going to have to stay in the hospital so that we can ensure you receive sufficient fluids and nutrition. This is an entirely manageable situation in this day and age, but would have been fatal in previous eras. I have booked a specialist to come and give you all the information you need. In the meantime, all you have to do is rest and give your body a chance to recuperate.’

‘Oh my God,’ Sarah murmured as she watched the doctor and her entourage leaving the ward.

‘Congratulations,’ Jaq said. ‘So you had no idea?’

‘None. I mean, Aaron and I have discussed having children. We’d like to someday… I guess this is just sooner than we’d planned.’

‘I’m just glad it’s nothing more serious.’

While Jaq was happy for Sarah, she could also feel her own envy along with a sense of being left behind.

‘Don’t tell anyone yet, please, not till I’ve spoken to Aaron.’

‘Don’t worry, my lips are sealed. Now I’d best be going. My paperwork, sadly, doesn’t finish itself.’

‘I’m really grateful that you came.’

‘As if I wouldn’t.’ Jaq’s laugh sounded a bit strained, hopefully only to her. ‘Get some sleep. Like the doctor said, you need to rest and by the time you wake up, Aaron will be here.’

***

Simon stood in the middle of the hospital corridor wondering what he should do. He’d delivered Sarah to the hospital, sent Brian back and called Jaq. Now… did he stay to confirm that Sarah was alright, or did he just go back to work?

He was more shaken than he’d allowed himself to show. Simon supposed that after seven years of working with her, he’d developed more respect, or was that friendly affection, for Sarah than he’d realised. He really hoped she would be alright, especially when he saw the large group of doctors that headed into her ward.

He peered through the door and saw them cluster around Sarah, Jaq hovering beside her like a fierce police dog. So now he knew what to do. He’d wait to find out how Sarah was, then head back to work. It presumably wouldn’t take very long.

In the meantime, he might as well sit, since there was a row of chairs bolted to the wall opposite. It didn’t take long for the doctors to reappear, and a little after that Jaq emerged, looking sombre.

‘Is she alright?’ Simon asked, leaping to his feet.

‘She’ll be fine.’

Jaq’s behaviour was odd. She seemed both relaxed and upset.

‘Are you sure she’s okay?’

‘There’s nothing life threatening, although she will be in the hospital for a few more weeks. I can’t tell you more. I’m sorry.’

‘No, that’s okay,’ Simon said, turning to leave. ‘As long as she’s going to be better soon.’

‘Wait,’ Jaq said, and her police training made it sound like an order. It stopped Simon and he turned back to her. ‘I’m starving. I was just about to have lunch when you called. Do you fancy joining me for a quick bite?’

Simon didn’t feel like eating. He seldom did after emotional upheaval. But he also didn’t feel like having his arm twisted by Jaq and she wouldn’t let him just slip away.

‘I don’t think the hospital has much in the way of places to eat. There’s a coffee shop, though.’

‘Ug no, I’m not eating in a hospital. I’ve done that far too often. There’s a cafe outside on the High Street. Why don’t we go there?’

‘There’s a cafe?’

‘Didn’t you notice it?’

‘I was kind of distracted.’

‘It’s called Rosie’s. It’s right next to a barber and opposite a hardware store.’

‘You noticed all of that?’

‘And the makes, colours and licence plates of the cars parked outside at 2:16 as I was walking in.’

‘Wow,’ Simon said and followed Jaq out.