Софи Райан - Telling Tails

“Based on what Rose just told me, I suspect that she could have been dosed with methohexital.”

“Which is?”

“A rapid-acting barbiturate. Dentists use it quite a bit. Rose could have been unconscious in seconds and awake again in as fast as five minutes. It can’t be detected in the bloodstream after twenty-four hours, which is why I want to get a blood sample now.”

“But they did blood tests last night,” I said.

Nick nodded. “Those would have just been routine tests, most likely just a CBC—that’s a complete blood count—and a creatine kinase test which they do to help rule out a heart attack. They wouldn’t have had any reason to test for methohexital.”

We stepped inside. Rose was talking to Mac. Elvis was on the workbench washing his face and ignoring both of them. There was no sign of Mr. P. Rose handed Nick his phone without comment.

“Why don’t we use my office?” I said.

Nick smiled. “Good idea.”

“Nick’s going to take a blood sample from Rose,” I said to Mac by way of explanation.

“I heard,” he said. “I can hold down the fort.”

“Thanks,” I said.

There were no customers in the shop proper, which was a good thing because the moment Avery caught sight of Rose she bolted across the room and threw herself into Rose’s arms. Her face was pale and unshed tears glistened in her eyes.

Rose gave me a baffled look and folded the teen into a hug. “My dear, what on earth is wrong?” she asked.

Avery pulled back, her eyes scanning Rose’s face. She swallowed hard. “I’m sorry. I’m so, so sorry,” she said. “It’s my fault you got hurt.”

“Nonsense,” Rose said, brushing a strand of hair behind Avery’s ear. “First of all, I’m fine, as you can see. And second, what happened to me is the fault of the person who whacked me over the head. Why would you think that has anything to do with you?”

“I took your phone.” She pulled the cell from her pocket and held it out.

Rose smiled at her. “Child, that phone couldn’t have saved me, but a lovely dog did. His name is Casey. Would you like to meet him?”

Avery sniffed, swiped at her nose with the sleeve of her plaid cotton shirt and nodded.

“Splendid.” She reached into her bag and handed Avery a tissue.

I looked at Nick and dipped my head in the direction of the stairs to the second floor. He nodded and headed quietly for them.

Mac had come in behind us and was standing at the cash desk. I walked over to him while Rose explained to Avery how they were going to make dog biscuits for the Clarks’ big black Lab.

“I knew something was wrong when she got here,” he said, indicating Avery, who was smiling now as Rose held her hands and talked. “She wouldn’t tell me what it was, but she made me swear on your life that Rose was okay.”

“I guess that’s why my ears were burning,” I said with a smile.

Mac smiled back. He was Nick’s height, all lean, strong muscle with light brown skin and cropped black hair. He smelled like Ivory soap and peppermints. “Do I want to know about this blood sample Nick is going to take?”

“Probably not,” I said, “but I’m going to tell you later anyway.”

He laughed.

“Thanks for opening this morning,” I said.

“Anytime.” Mac’s eyes stayed locked on mine just a little longer than they needed to before he looked over at Rose. “I’ll put Avery to work sorting that box of postcards you bought from Cleveland. You should probably get Rose upstairs before she changes her mind or Nick does.”

I gave my head a little shake. “Umm, yeah, I should do that,” I said. I looked around. “I thought Charlotte was coming in.”

Mac nodded. “She was here. She and Mr. P. are working on something.”

“Do I want to know about it?” I asked.

He came around the cash desk.

“Probably not,” he said, raising an eyebrow, “but I’m going to tell you later anyway.”

Like he had just a moment before, I laughed.

I walked back over to Rose and Avery and dropped a hand on Avery’s shoulder. She turned and I could see that all the anxiety and fear were gone from her face. I smiled at her. “Kiddo, could you sort through that box of postcards that Mac has out on the workbench?”

“I was going to do that, Sarah,” Rose said.

“You should take it easy today,” Avery said, “shouldn’t she, Sarah?”

“Yes, she should,” I said, fixing Rose with a steely stare to make my point—which I knew she’d ignore.

“I’ll do it, Sarah,” Avery said. “Is it okay if I make the tea first?”

I nodded. “Absolutely.”

She gave Rose a quick hug and dashed up the stairs, taking them two at a time.

I put my arm around Rose’s shoulders and we followed at a slower pace.

“I can’t believe Avery thought what happened was her fault,” she said. She was still holding her phone, and she tucked it into the pocket of her pink cotton sweater.

“She loves you,” I said. I hesitated, took a breath and let it out slowly before I spoke again. “You’re not going to do anything again like last night, right?”

She didn’t speak and she didn’t look at me. She just gave her head a little shake.

We found Nick in my office holding a cup of coffee and leaning against my desk. He gestured to the large mug beside him. “That’s for you, and, Rose, your tea is coming.”

I reached for the coffee and took a long drink, making a mental note to thank Avery for bringing the cup and Mac, who I knew had made the pot of coffee just the way I liked it.

Nick settled Rose on the small love seat in my office and very quickly and efficiently drew her blood. “I’m going to drop this at the lab,” he said.

“Thank you,” Rose said, reaching for the cup of tea that Avery had just delivered. “Nicolas is very good with his hands,” she said to me, bending her head to take a sip.

Nick’s mouth twitched as he tried not to grin. I glared at him and he wisely turned his attention to his bag.

“Good to know,” I said.

Nick slipped the shoulder strap of the black nylon first aid kit over his shoulder. Then he leaned down to give Rose a hug. “If you need any help with that dressing, let me know,” he said.

Rose kissed his cheek. “I will,” she said.

“I’ll see you and Jess tonight?” Nick said to me, raising an eyebrow.

I knew he was referring to Thursday Night Jam at the Black Bear Pub.

I nodded. “We’ll save you a seat.”

After Nick was gone, Rose stretched out her arm and studied the tiny bandage Nick had put in the crook of her elbow. “He really is good with his hands,” she said.

I grabbed my mug from my desk. “You could at least try to be a little less obvious,” I said.

“At my age I don’t have a lot of time to waste on less obvious.”

I made a face and Rose laughed. She studied her arm again. “How long do you think it will take before we get any results?”

“A couple of days, I’m guessing,” I said. “I think it may all be a little faster because Nick is using the medical examiner’s lab.”

Rose gave me a knowing smile over the rim of her china teacup. “I know,” she said. “That’s why I let Nicolas think he was winning a victory by getting me to ask him to do the blood sample.”

I shook my head.

She got to her feet and headed for the door, leaning over to kiss my cheek as she passed me. “Don’t worry, dear,” she said. “I would never use my powers for the forces of evil.”

“I’m pretty sure Darth Vader said the same thing,” I called after her. I could hear her laughing as she went down the hall.

I dropped onto the love seat and drank the last bit of now cold coffee in my cup. There was a knock on the office door. “C’mon in,” I called.