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“I’ll be right back.” Hailey charged out of the bathroom and emerged from the hallway into the dining area.
Joe must’ve been watching for her. He immediately jumped up from the table and strode to her side. “What’s wrong?”
“It’s Ayala. She’s been poisoned.”
Cursing, Joe charged past her to the restroom. “Is she in the ladies’ room?”
“She’s in the last stall.”
“Conscious?”
“Barely. Someone already called 911.”
“Good.” Joe pushed into the ladies’ room and crouched next to Marcia.
“Thank you.” Hailey put a hand on Marcia’s back. “How’s she doing?”
“Still unconscious, but her pulse is strong...and the foaming has stopped.”
Joe looked up from his assessment of Ayala. “She was foaming at the mouth?”
“A little when I first found her.” Hailey helped Marcia to her feet. “Could I ask you for one more favor? Could you please tell the manager that there’s an impaired woman in the restroom and that 911 is on the way? I don’t think that other woman ever alerted the manager.”
“Absolutely. I hope she’s going to be all right. I’ve seen a lot of people passed out from booze, but not with foam coming out of their mouths.” Marcia backed out of the bathroom.
Hailey dropped to the floor next to Joe, who’d rolled up his jacket and shoved it beneath Ayala’s head.
“What the hell happened?” His harsh whisper echoed in the empty bathroom.
“When I came in here to look for Ayala, there was a woman at the sink and a locked stall. I called Ayala’s name at the door of the stall, but she didn’t answer. The woman at the sink told me the stall had been locked when she came into the bathroom. I banged on the door and heard a groan.”
“Was it Marcia at the sink?”
“No, that woman took off. Marcia came in later.” Hailey broke off as someone barreled through the bathroom door.
The manager poked his head in the stall. “Is she all right?”
Joe pressed two fingers against Ayala’s neck. “She’s still alive but unconscious. Are the paramedics here yet?”
“Not yet, although I saw them arrive street level.”
“Could you do me a favor and keep everyone out of here, and when the paramedics arrive, guide them in here? Let them know the woman mentioned poisoning before she lost consciousness.”
The manager jerked back. “Poisoning? Not in my restaurant. More like alcohol poisoning.”
“Just let them know that’s what she mentioned. It might be helpful when they treat her.” Joe tipped his chin toward Hailey when the manager swept out of the bathroom.
“That’s what she told you, right?”
“Yes. When she wouldn’t respond or open the door, I climbed onto the toilet seat in the stall next to hers, saw her slumped on the floor and hoisted myself over the top. She was mumbling and foam or spittle was forming at the corners of her mouth. When I got down next to her, she said she’d been poisoned, and then she passed out. I asked Marcia to get the manager and call 911, and then I ran out to get you.”
“How could her food or drink have been poisoned here? Maybe it happened before she got to your place?”
“I don’t know. If it was here, someone followed us. Were you watching out again?”
“Always. I’m always watching out.” Joe put his finger to his lips as the paramedics burst through the bathroom door.
Hailey told them as much as she knew about Ayala’s condition, and they took over.
An hour later, Hailey collected her keys from the valet and Joe held out his hand.
“I think I’ve completely sobered up by now, Joe.”
“If you’re sure. It might be better if you drive, anyway.”
“Why is that?”
“Because you know how to get to the Pacific Rim Hotel.”
She curled her hand around her keys until they bit into her flesh. “You want to look for Marten’s room now?”
“I think it’s past time. These people are getting bold...or desperate, and we need to put a stop to them.” He opened the driver’s-side door for her and she slid onto the seat.
