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Not that I could see.
Still, what would he have to gain by drugging my best friend?
Then there were Theo and Tom. They both knew Murph, had partied with Murph. As far as I knew, they liked Murph. At least they’d never let on they didn’t.
Of course, Larry had all but admitted the two of them were getting into the drug business. Pot, though. Marijuana was a long way from heroin. How would they even know how to get heroin?
My mother… She liked Murph. Would she do such a thing? No.
Daphne’s parents. Of course not. Lucy was recovering from an overdose herself, and neither of them had any sort of motive.
Patty and Ennis? No way.
The few other guests were friends of my parents from Snow Creek. Good people who had no reason to drug a person they didn’t even know.
That left one person.
Larry.
Larry, who had tried to tell me something before we got interrupted in my bedroom.
Larry, who was technically family now that I’d married Daphne, his half sister.
Family wouldn’t do that.
Besides, of the three Future Lawmakers, Larry was the one who actually had a semblance of a conscience. Not a whole conscience, mind you, but at least the semblance of one.
He had something to tell me, and I needed to find out what it was.
Could I call him now? It was the middle of the night. He probably wouldn’t answer. He might not even be home. He could be staying at a hotel.
Damn!
Larry had nothing against Murph that I knew of, but he knew something—something about Theo and Tom.
I had the feeling he wanted out.
And for some reason, he didn’t think he could get out.
Who would want to hurt—
Hurting Murph would hurt me, and the only person who wanted to hurt me was…
But she was locked up and medicated.
Locked doors didn’t stop Wendy. I knew that firsthand. But medication would. First thing in the morning, I’d call Piney Oaks to make sure she was still docile and inside her room.
Better idea, I’d have my father do it. Money talked.
I quickly asked him.
“They have someone at the switchboard twenty-four-seven,” he said. “I already called them. She’s medicated and in her room.”
“Thanks,” I said. “I don’t know why I didn’t think of it first thing.”
“It’s your wedding day, son. You’ve had a few other things on your mind.”
“Yeah. I guess so. I should be with my wife right now.”
“Go if you want. I’ll take care of Sean. He’ll have everything he needs. You have my word.”
“Daphne’s asleep by now,” I said, “and it’s the best thing for her. I’ll stay.”
“As you wish.” Dad rubbed his chin. “You and Daphne are so young to be saddled with all of this.”
“We can handle it.” I prayed my words were true. “I just don’t understand who would want to hurt Murphy.”
“Have you considered that he did it himself?”
“OD’d? Hell, no. Murph doesn’t do drugs. Plus he’s the happiest guy on the planet. At least he was, until Wendy pulled that freaking gun on him.”
“Being held at gunpoint can fuck you up, Brad.”
“Do you think it fucked Dr. Pelletier up?” I couldn’t help asking, albeit quietly.
My comment didn’t faze him. “It may well have, but it was a move I had to make. You weigh all the pros and cons, son, and when the benefit outweighs the cost, you do what you have to do. Besides, we’re not talking about Dr. Pelletier. We’re talking about a college senior with no psychological training who might not know how to deal with such a trauma.”
I considered his words. “I don’t think so. I can’t see Murph doing something like that.”
“We have to consider every angle.”
“I get that, but no. Murph didn’t do this. I’m certain. Even if he’d been thinking about it, he wouldn’t fuck up my wedding.”
“All right. I won’t leave any stone unturned, son. I’ll get to the bottom of this for you.”
“Thanks, Dad.”
My father was such an enigma. I both loved and hated him. Right now, I was thankful for him and his money. I had no doubt he’d figure out what had happened to Murph.
“Shit. There’s a doctor talking to Murph’s parents.” I stood.
“Leave them be. Let them deal with this.”
Perhaps I should have listened to my father, but I was missing my wedding night for their son. I walked over.
“How is he, Doctor?” I asked.
“And you are?”
“Bradford Steel. Sean’s best friend. My father is the one who brought him to the ER.”
“I see.” He looked to Murph’s parents.
“It’s okay,” his father said.
The doctor cleared his throat. “We got the rest of your son’s blood work back. The amount of heroin wasn’t enough for him to overdose. Just enough for him to get dizzy and pass out. The problem is the other thing the screening showed. He has botulinum toxin in his system.”
“Botulism?” his mother said.
