Page 238 of Show Me

“Yes.”

“Any idea what type of medication?”

“No. I haven’t had the chance to look at the bottle.” I glance at the bottle on the table. Not that I’d be surprised if Lindsey didn’t have the pills in a different bottle to complicate things if Ruby was found before…. I shut the thought down again.

Ruby’s fingers twist tighter into my shirt. I feel her shaking harder now that the adrenaline’s wearing off.

“We’re on our way,” Emily says. “Two minutes.”

The line disconnects. Two minutes. It feels impossibly far away.

Ruby flinches hard against me. Her face is pale. Eyes glassy. Terrified. And I have no idea how to make this right.

Chapter One Hundred Twenty-Nine

Ruby

The world feels dark around the edges. Muted. Hazy. Like I’m standing here, but I’m not. Xavier’s arms are wrapped around me, strong and solid, one hand rubbing slow circles along my back. I cling to the front of his shirt like it’s the only stable thing left in the room.

My stomach churns. My throat burns. And it takes great effort to lift my eyelids open. The back door slams open as Emily rushes in. Dale is right behind her, carrying the medical bag.

Emily’s eyes sweep the room. Me. Xavier. Ramirez. Lindsey who is now cuffed to the chair and muttering under her breath. Jake. Their eyes meet; Jake gives her a short nod. She greets him in return as some silent understanding passes between them.

She marches across the room. “Dale, collect the pills off the floor.”

“On it.” Dale pulls gloves from his pocket as he crouches beside the overturned table.

Emily steps directly in front of me as I pull out of Xavier’s arms. Her hands come up to my face. “Ruby.” Her voice is calm. Steady. But her eyes are sharp and focused. “Are you hurt anywhere?”

I shake my head. “I don’t think so. I mean, I’m sure there will be bruises, but I don’t think I’m bleeding.”

“What kind of pill was it?”

“I don’t know, but I think a sedative.”

“How long ago?”

“Maybe fifteen minutes.”

“How many did you make you take?”

Fear twists violently through my chest again. “One.” My voice shakes. “I swallowed one, and a second one dissolved in my mouth.”

Xavier wraps his arms around me from behind, pulling me hard against his solid frame.

Emily doesn’t react. “Okay.”

“I pretended to take more.” My breathing starts shaking harder. “But they’re in the sink where I tossed them when she wasn’t looking.”

“They’re in the sink?”

“Yes.” I cringe. “I did throw up after everything. I’m not sure if anything else came up. Or if I missed the pills.” I wrinkle my nose. “I’m sorry if you have to dig through it.”

Xavier keeps one arm around me while we move toward the sink.

“You won’t have to dig.” Dale drops several pills into a small evidence bag before glancing toward her. He gives the official name of the drug and then the generic name when I stare blankly at him. “Confirmed sedative.”

Emily leans over the sink. Two partially dissolved pills sit near the drain in a shallow layer of vomit, along with what looks like more of the chalky substance. She exhales through her nose as she studies the contents.