Page 6 of Lie for a Lie

I knock again, a little louder. I hear a slight shuffle of clothing, and Katherine is gurgling. Panic hits, and I tug on the handle again.

“I need you to open this door.”

I attempted to knock open the stall door with my shoulder before realizing I have to pick the lock. I rush back to the sink to my purse, looking for the small pocketknife I always carry. I try to get a response from Katherine while forcing myself into the stall.

“Katherine, I am going to open this door,” I say when the lock finally gives out.

The sight is as I expect. Katherine’s vomit covers every bit of her tiny and expensive designer dress.

“Shit,” I mutter before checking her pulse with one hand.

I step back, trying not to gag at the smell of the vomit, and attempt to pull my cell phone out of my purse, still on the sink. When I come back over, I lift her head, noticing the white powder on her nostrils and what looks like dried blood smeared on her cheek.

“You stupid bitch,” I mutter out loud when I finally get the phone pressed to my ear just in time to hear the operator.

“911, what’s your emergency?”

“Hi, I found my friend unresponsive in the restroom with obvious signs of drug and alcohol abuse. She may have overindulged. We need some medical help.”

“Any idea what drugs?”

Bre pushes open the door, freezing in place.

“Possibly cocaine. She has a white powder under her nose,” I answer the dispatcher’s question.

“Jesus.” Bre sighs, almost in disbelief, lingering in the doorway, absorbing everything happening.

“Somebody is on their way. Do you need me to stay on the line?” the dispatcher asks.

I look back toward Katherine, lightly snoring on the toilet, and roll my eyes.

“No. Please hurry. Thank you,” I say before disconnecting the call.

I toss my keys to Bre, trying to get her to focus.

“Hey, I need the boys to help me move her and my work backpack from the trunk. Can you take care of that for me, Bre?”

I linger on her for a moment, seeing it all there on her face. The memories of our childhood and Bre finding me like this a little over ten years ago.

“Yes,” Bre manages before I turn my attention back towards Katherine and hear the bathroom door close behind me. Not bothering to look up when both men barrel into the now very crowded bathroom a few moments later.

“Fuck, not again.” Graham sounds pissed, and I just look towards Chris, who looks surprised.

“I need you to help me lay her on the floor.”

I look towards Graham, flinging my braid off my shoulder, noticing Bre, who had just come to the door with my work bag in hand. Chris reaches for my bag.

“I let the owner, Val, know what was going on.”

I nod towards Bre as Graham pushes past me to Katherine and lifts her over his shoulder. I grab her belongings, and we head towards the cot that is emptied for her. Katherine’s vomit now soaks Graham’s blue shirt.

Once he lays her down, Chris places my work bag next to us. I start to look through my bag to see if I still have an IV. Noticing Graham almost seeming conflicted. So much so, I decide to pull his attention.

“I found her unresponsive. Probably got lightheaded when her nose started to bleed. Sat down in the stall and everything was probably spinning. I think she was trying to sober up a bit and went too hard.”

He looks at me, focused on every word.

“The ambulance is here,” Bre says as I finally pull my attention from Graham.

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