Page 36 of Countdown

“Oh stop.” She yawned again and coughed.

“You getting sick?”

“No, I just n-need something to drink. I left my c-cup out there, but...” She walked to the water cooler in the corner and swayed.

“Hey, Raina. You okay?”

“I ... I’m n-not sure.” She turned and wobbled. Her arm shot out to brace herself against the wall. “I don’t feel ... right ... Vince...”

“You’re slurring your words.” He gripped her forearms and lowered her into the nearest chair.

“I ... I...” She sucked in hard—or tried to. Her gaze met his, panic swirling in the depths. “Vince ... can’t ... breathe... help ... think drug...” Her eyes rolled up in her head and she was out.

Vince didn’t waste time by hollering at her to stay awake. He gently eased her to the floor, then bolted out of the room in search of a doctor. “Hey! Hey! I need some help in here!” A doctor spun and every eye in the place turned toward him. “Got a woman who can’t breathe! Possibly drugged!” The vision of her swigging the drink just before she led him to the private room played in his head.

Two hospital personnel bolted after him. No doubt flashing his badge helped get the immediate response. He led them to her, then stood back while they dropped to the floor next to her.

Vince raked both hands through his hair.

The nearest doctor turned to him. “What did she take?”

“I don’t know, but she was slurring her words and her balance was off right before she passed out. I’ll be right back.” He raced out of the room and headed for the ER.

“Vince?”

Penny’s voice spun his head to the left.

“What’s going on?” She hurried toward him while he never broke his stride.

“I think someone drugged Raina.”

“What!”

“Get me a glove and a paper bag?” he said as he spied Raina’s cup still sitting on the counter where she’d left it and rushed toward it.

With questions burning in her eyes, Penny handed him the items he’d requested. He donned the glove, then used a pen to hook the handle and slide the cup into the bag. “Tape?”

A wide-eyed nurse pushed a roll to him.

Once he’d taped and labeled the bag, he tossed the glove into the trash and bolted back toward the room where he’d left Raina in the hands of those who would help her. “Please, God, let her be okay.”

Penny stayed on his heels, and together they arrived just as Raina was being transferred from the floor to a bed.

“Gayle, how is she?” Penny asked the dark-haired woman hooking an IV to a rolling pole.

“Respiration is depressed. Oxygen seems to be helping. We don’t know what she took, but we sent blood to be analyzed ASAP. Should know something—” Her phone pinged and she glanced at it. “GHB. It’s GHB.”

The doctor nodded. “Let’s get some diclofenac in her.” He grasped the rail of the gurney. “Out of the way, people. Head to room 5.”

Penny touched his arm. “I’m going to let Dr. Kirkpatrick know what’s going on. He’ll have to call in another paramedic to take Raina’s place. If she wakes up before I get back, reassure her that everything is taken care of. She’ll worry.”

“Sure. Of course.” He fell into step behind the gurney while Penny took off for the elevator. He gripped the evidence bag, his mind already churning through the next steps to take to find out who’d drugged her. He tapped a speed-dial number that went to his buddy Clay, hoping the guy would answer. As a school resource officer, he wasn’t always available, but he had contacts in the department and Vince wanted the best on this.

“Vince, what’s up?” Clay answered halfway through the second ring.

“Someone drugged Raina. This is a police matter. I know you have resources with the local police department that I don’t have. Do you have a contact here in Asheville that you could ask to come over to Mission downtown campus?”

“Wait. What? Drugged Raina?”

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