“Hot—like a model/influencer. White teeth, big hair, tight dress, expensive-looking surgical enhancements.”
“Sounds like his type.”
“She was most guys’ type,” he said. “But as I recall that night, she wasn’t in much better shape than him. Barely able to stand up herself. She kept saying it was a reaction to mango.Guava. Something ridiculous like that. It’s funny, the lies people tell when they come in here. Anyway, she was very opposed to taking him to the hospital. Said he wouldn’t want it. So we worked on him here.”
“What was done for Dylan?”
“We gave him Naloxone. Dr. Conrad—he was the physician on call that night—suggested he rest at least, but he wasn’t having it. As soon as he came to, more or less, Welch cussed us all out and left with the guava girl.”
“Was there a reason he cussed you out,” I asked, adding, “beyond the usual?”
“Someone ripped his fancy-ass shirt while administering CPR,” he said. “So maybe the usual.”
“Jesus.”
“Right? Asshole.”
“Well, at least now I know that it was the same Dylan Welch,” I said.
“Why are you looking for him?”
“I’m getting paid,” I said. “A lot.”
“Wow. Well, I guess it’s nice that somebody cares.”
“He’s from a powerful family.”
Steve puffed on his cigarette. “Hey…Sunny?”
“Yeah?”
“Please don’t tell anyone I told you this, okay? I could really get in trouble.”
“Never,” I said. “I promise.”
“For some weird reason, I trust you,” he said. “Even though I probably shouldn’t.”
“No, you should,” I said. I gave him a smile. “Really.”
We stood there for a few moments, our shadows looming on the pavement like ghosts. In a way, I wished I did smoke, just to make things less awkward and give me something to do with my hands while I figured out how to bring up his coworker again. I decided that with Steve, the best approach was straightforward. “Was Rhonda there the night Dylan came in?”
He puffed on his cigarette and nodded. “She helped resuscitate him.”
“She did?”
“Yep. It’s her job.”
“She never mentioned anything to you about knowing him, or…”
“No. She was totally professional. I assumed he was a stranger. When the two of them left, Rhonda said something like ‘good riddance,’ but I assumed it was because he was rude to the staff. I didn’t think it was because he was basically her daughter’s killer.”
I didn’t bother mentioning anything about the warning labels this time. I just thought of Rhonda, trying to lose herself in her job, only to come face-to-face with the man who destroyed her entire world. And what had she done? Saved his life.Stop underestimating people.
“This city can be insanely small,” Steve said.
I looked at him. “It really can,” I said. “It’s nice in a way, but sometimes it makes me feel like I know too many people.”
“It’s why I like England,” he said.
