Page 3 of Derailed
2
Sean
We can’t leavethe building. It’s swarmed with fans. We can’t just hail a cab, either. The street’s lined with town cars and limos for the show. Besides, we don’t even know which hospital they took Iz to, so it takes more time than necessary before Austin sweet talks some employee into finding us a reliable ride and someone to sneak the four of us outback.
At the hospital there’s more of the same. They won’t let us back to see him.We’re not family. No bribe or flirting does the trick. These employees are real sticklers for the rules, so instead we find ourselves stuck in a dreary waiting room for the next fewhours.
Austin cusses at his phone, checking for updates on social media, but I can’t get myself to watch the video clip of what I experienced live. Remembering is enough to curl my stomach into knots. Until I see that Iz is safe and alive with my own two eyes, I won’t believe what I readonline.
Sometime after two in the morning Bedo finally shows up with our publicist Erika and Lexi’s agent Amie at hisside.
“Where the fuck have you been?” Trent pulls out of Lexi’s reach and marches over to meet them. He looms over Bedo’s much shorter frame so he’s in hisface.
“I don’t have the patience to deal with any more temperamental children so sit the hell down and calm your tits.” Bedo barks out while meeting Trent’s glare. “We just came from hisroom.”
“How is he? He’s okay?” Lexi interrupts. Her gentle touch on Trent’s arm is all it takes to get him to backup.
“He’s alive. Barely.” Erika exhales a heavybreath.
“Thank God.” Austin glances up and signs a cross over his chest. Funny, that’s the most religious I’ve ever seen himbehave.
“Sure. Let’s thank God, but first . . .” Bedo’s gaze narrows and he glances around the room we’re in. We’re the only people occupying this area, but he drops his voice so we all have to shuffle closer. “We need to have a heart to heart.” Bedo clears his throat but it’s Erika who speaksup.
“How many of you knew Iz was shooting heroine?” she says, her gazecutting.
“What?” I blurt, my eyes wider than theaccusation.
“Shit.” Austin cusses, his momentary man of God act obliterated by his four-lettervernacular.
Trent shakes his head. “No, fucking way. Can’t bepossible.”
Bedo speaks slowly, his gaze even and accusatory. “We’re not placing blame. But this is your one and only get-out-of-jail-free card. We need to know what we’re dealing with before law enforcement isinvolved.”
Austin blinks his eyes twice and laughs once. “You’re joking,right?”
Bedo’s gaze turns hard and his nostrils flare. “Does it looks like I’m fuckinglaughing?”
“We had no clue. Swear. At least I didn’t.” I sit totally stunned and glance up atTrent.
He furrows his brow and it’s then I realize we all had no fucking idea. We all just sat by, enabling our friend. Week after week we knew he was usingsomething, and expected nothing bad would everhappen.
Lexi’s voice, usually strong and full of attitude, wavers as she meets my gaze. “I didn’trealize. . .”
Trent’s glare snaps to Bedo. “He’s been high, sure. But I’ve only ever seen him smokeweed.”
“Okay then, next question. Who was dealing?” At our blank expressions, Bedo’s voice grows louder. “He’s been living at the house. One of you has to knowsomething.”
Austin shrugs, meeting all of our stares before turning back to Bedo. “We had more of a don’t ask, don’t tellagreement.”
I rub my temples at the tension building behind my eyes. “I looked the other way. Maybe if Ihadn’t. . .”
Trent presses his hand on my shoulder. “You can’t blame yourself,man.”
Lifting my gaze, I can barely meet hiseyes.
Bedo’s designer leather shoe taps at the floor while he gives us each one last hard stare. He settles on Lexi, but it’s Erika who speaks up, her tone steady and clear. “What about you, Lex? You two are close,right?”
Lexi inhales and throws her hands up as her face falls. “I’m still trying to get him to stop smoking.” Trent winds her fingers in his and tugs her to his side. She rests her head on his side and meets Erika’s stare. “I don’t do any ofthat.”
