Jenny chewed her lip. It was possible that the heat was the reason, but still…

‘The chest pain you mentioned having when you chased after Jack—have you ever had that before?’

‘For the last few days.’ Helen scooped the little girl into her arms and walked back towards the trolley, holding the squirming toddler. ‘I’ve had a cough so I presumed it was related to that.’

‘What sort of cough?’ Alarm bells were ringing in Jenny’s head.

‘Just a cough.’ Helen gave a rueful smile. ‘I’m a smoker so that’s probably got something to do with it.’

‘How many do you smoke?’

‘About thirty a day, but don’t tell my husband.’ Helen gave a tired smile. ‘You’d smoke too if you were looking after these three.’

‘I’m not judging you, Helen,’ Jenny assured her quickly, ‘I’m just worried about you. Would you mind if I just take a look at your leg?’

Helen looked startled. ‘You want to take a look at me? But it’s Jack who’s had the accident.’

‘I know that, but I’m slightly concerned about the symptoms you’re describing.’

Helen looked at her. ‘You don’t think I’m just run down?’

‘Possibly, but I’d like to be sure.’ Jenny pulled up a chair. ‘Sit down there for a moment.’

Helen sat with the toddler on her lap while Jenny examined the leg.

‘Does it hurt if I press here?’

Helen winced. ‘Yes.’

‘Are you taking the Pill, Helen?’

The woman nodded. ‘Yes. Why? What’s that got to do with my legs and my cough?’

‘Maybe nothing,’ Jenny admitted, ‘but I’m going to ask a doctor to look at you anyway. I’ve got one more question. Have you ever coughed up any blood?’

‘A bit.’ Helen was starting to look alarmed. ‘I just assumed it was because I coughed too hard.’

‘That was probably it,’ Jenny agreed, rising to her feet and making for the door. ‘Stay there, Helen. I’ll be back in a minute.’

She walked briskly into the department and searched for Alex.

He was checking a set of X-rays for one of the more junior doctors.

‘You can see a fracture if you look.’ He pushed another film into the light-box. ‘You were looking at the wrong view.’

‘Alex.’ Jenny’s tone was urgent and he tilted his dark head in her direction, his eyes still fixed on the X-ray.

‘What’s the matter?’

‘It’s Helen. The mother of that little boy you just saw.’

‘What about her?’

‘I’m worried about her. I think she might have a pulmonary embolus.’ The moment the words left her mouth she felt stupid. She wasn’t a doctor, for goodness’ sake. She shouldn’t be going around making diagnoses. She waited for him to laugh or say something cutting, but he didn’t.

Instead, he abandoned the X-ray and turned towards her, giving her his full attention. ‘What are her symptoms?’

Grateful to him for taking her seriously, she swallowed and brushed a strand of hair out of her eyes. ‘She’s breathless, she has chest pain and she’s coughed up blood. She’s got some pitting oedema of her right leg and ankle and some tenderness in her right calf.’