Page 76 of Artifice
“He thinks Dr. Wells is drugging those kids mercilessly,” Mrs. Potts said. “Henry didn’t think it was right. He doesn’t care how troubled they are. Kids that age shouldn’t have to take a cocktail of twenty different medications.”
Olive’s eyebrows shot up. That was a lot of medications for kids to take.
Were these kids’ parents aware of what they were being given?
As if Simon were reading her mind, he said, “Parents sign a waiver when they take the kids there and drop them off. It pretty much lets the school do whatever they want to and gives them no legal liability for it.”
Olive frowned at those words. She hated to hear that.
And now more than ever she hated the school.
CHAPTER 40
After they finished talking to Mrs. Potts, Olive turned to Simon.
“Can I speak to you a moment?Alone?” She made sure the last word sounded pointed.
Simon remained unfazed by her words. “Of course.”
Instead of going back upstairs, they slipped out back. Tevin still hadn’t come inside looking for her, but that wasn’t surprising. He’d said he was going to do some work in the van.
She and Simon remained in the shadows of the patio, grateful that no one else was out here to see them.
Olive stared at Simon, sure to let him know she meant business. “Who are you?”
“It’s not important.”
She narrowed her eyes further. “It’s important to me.”
“I’m on your side.” He said everything casually, like he was unaffected by it all.
“That means nothing. I don’t know you. Why should I trust those words?”
He stepped closer, not breaking eye contact. “Because I know who you are, and I haven’t blown your cover yet. If you couldn’ttrust me, don’t you think I would be doing everything I could right now to destroy you?”
Olive considered his words. She supposed he was right. But that still didn’t mean he was trustworthy.
Though she wanted to take a step back, he might see that as a sign of weakness. For that reason, she remained in place—even though Simon was standing entirely too close.
She leveled her gaze with his. “What are you going to do now?”
“I’m going to keep doing what I have been doing. Looking into this place and trying to shut it down.”
“Do you know anything about those supplements?”
“I’ve heard about them, but I’m still trying to get my hands on them.”
“Where are they kept?”
“I assume in the dispensary at the school. I’ve been waiting for the right opportunity, but I haven’t found it yet. I do know those hallways are monitored. Every twenty minutes, someone walks by. It’s not much time to get inside and get out without being caught . . .”
Olive’s stomach knotted at the thought. “I don’t like the sound of this dispensary.”
“You shouldn’t,” Simon said. “Because I seriously doubt all those supplements are for the benefit of the kids.”
Olive blinked. “You think someone’s doing experiments on them?”
“It’s my best guess.” He shrugged.
