Betty, a pharmacy lecturer at the local University, is in a café in town having a coffee and a chat with her friend and pharmacy colleague Paul. When Paul is away from the table Betty overhears the neighbouring table's conversation. She quickly realises that the three young people siting there are students, and they are talking about patients.
Although they do not mention any names, Betty recognises that they are discussing the clinical condition of a family involved in a car accident last week. The driver, the father (Ben) died, and the mother (Isobel) is in a critical condition and is being treated in intensive care. Their one-year-old baby (Archie) now seems to be recovering well in another hospital.
Betty hears one of the students say, 'You know the police took a blood sample from him before he passed away, don't you? Suspected drunk driving. Not good.'
When Paul returns to the table Betty tells him what she’s overheard. Troubled, she asks Paul what he thinks she should do.