“I understand, but ma’am, you can’t go further.”
It’s then that I notice Raquel climbing out of the back of the ambulance, holding a cup of dark liquid.
“Beth,” she says frantically. She hands the cup off to another paramedic and he disappears into the hospital.
“I swear she was drinking soda,” she insists as she joins my side.
I shake my head. At this point, I don’t care. I just want Thea to be okay.
“Tell me what happened,” I say as I lead her away from the ambulance and toward the emergency room entrance.
“She was fine and then started complaining she was dizzy. She tried to get up off the barstool and collapsed. She hit her head and wouldn't respond to anything.”
Charlie comes running up to join us, having parked the car. He ushers the two of us through the automatic doors. We are greeted by a calm receptionist who directs us to the waiting room. I take a seat on the plastic-covered chair between Charlie and Raquel and nervously begin to tap my foot, the sharp clicking of my high-heel filling the room. Charlie places a hand on my thigh; his touch instantly soothing my frayed nerves. Raquel notices but doesn’t say anything.
We wait.
And wait.
And wait some more.
I find comfort in resting my head on Charlie’s shoulder as we sit there. Finally, I look over at Raquel.
“You don’t have to stay,” I say quietly, so as to not disturb the other people in the waiting room.
“I want to.” She looks tired but becomes a bit more animated when she starts talking. “She’s my friend and I want to make sure she’s okay. Besides, it was my fault we were out tonight anyways.”
Charlie stands up to stretch his legs and once he makes sure I’m okay for the moment, announces he’s going on a short walk. I nod and turn back to Raquel.
“Can you think of anyone who might have done this? Or anyone you recognizedin the bar?”
“We saw Jake in the bar,” she says, “He was mad about her talking to some girl named Emily. He was pretty pissed off and then all of a sudden, he wasn’t.”
My blood boils as I think about Jake, the way he treated Thea, and the possibility of him doing this. I make a mental note to tell Charlie so it can be investigated later.
He returns a few moments later with three bottles of water and some snacks from the vending machine. He passes a pack of snack crackers to me and one to Raquel.
“Oh,” I say, holding my hand up. “I’m not hung-”
“Eat,” he commands. “You had a lot of wine.” He’s in official sheriff mode.
Begrudgingly, I take the crackers and open them before cracking open the water bottle. My stomach grumbles in appreciation.
Raquel opens hers and quietly nibbles on the crackers, all the while staring at the tile floor.
“I shouldn’t have taken her,” she says quietly.
Charlie looks at her. “This is not your fault, Raquel. Both of you listen to me. This is not your fault.”
She nods as if she understands. “I just feel so bad.” She puts her head in her hands.
A doctor, clad in a long white coat, walks into the waiting room.
“I’m looking for the family of Thea Calloway,” he announces as he looks around the room.
We three stand.
He acknowledges us with a nod and motions for us to follow him. We scurry across the waiting room after him, as he leads us to a small, private room. He steps behind the desk and Charlie motions for Raquel and I to sit in the chairs.
