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CHAPTER SIX
For a second, Jessie thought Michaela’s roommate was dead too.
Despite the EMTs’ assurances to the contrary, she was unresponsive when they opened the ambulance door and tried to get her attention. Even after they called her by what the EMT said was her preferred name, Lizzie, she didn’t stir. It was only when Ryan pulled off the thermal blanket she was wrapped in that she gave them the time of day.
“What?” she demanded in a tired, surly voice.
The girl looked to be in her late teens. Even if she hadn’t seen Lizzie’s room, Jessie would have guessed she was a more restrained personality than her roommate. Her brown hair was tied back tight and her makeup was subdued to the point of unnoticeable. She was dressed conservatively in a zippered CSUN sweatshirt and pants. She wore a crucifix necklace.
Jessie frowned at Ryan, not pleased with his tactics. But he shrugged as if to say he was done being patient.
“Lizzie,” Jessie began, using her most sympathetic voice, “we’re investigating what happened and we need to ask you a few questions.”
“They gave me something,” Lizzie said. “I’m feeling a little loopy.”
“We understand,” Jessie assured as she helped the girl up to a seated position. “And we’re going to have you go to the hospital to get checked out momentarily. But we need to get some basics from you first, okay?”
“I guess.”
“How did you know Michaela?” Jessie asked.
“We went to high school together,” Lizzie said, speaking slowly as she focused on each word. “She left early but we stayed in touch. When I graduated we decided to become roomies. She was a good roomie.”
Jessie glanced over at Ryan. The girl was really zonked out. Getting much out of her would be hard. He raised his eyebrows in frustration. Jessie tried again.
“Lizzie, did Michaela have family in the area?”
With much effort, Lizzie shook her head.
“What about a boyfriend or someone she recently broke up with?”
“No boyfriend,” Lizzie answered lazily.
“Maybe a co-worker she had problems with?”
Lizzie’s eyes, which had been glazed over, briefly focused.
“Mick was a waitress,” she said adamantly.
“Okay,” Jessie replied, surprised by the intensity of the response. “Did she have any issues with anyone at work?”
“She was a waitress,” Lizzie repeated vehemently.
Jessie gave up and turned back to Ryan.
“I think we’re going to have to wait to talk to her. This is pointless.”
“That would be my preference anyway,” said the EMT, who had been standing nearby. “After what she’s been through, and with the medication she’s on, I’d really like to get her looked at.”
“Go ahead,” Ryan told him. “We’ll come by to talk to her tomorrow.”
They watched as Lizzie was strapped into a stretcher and the ambulance doors closed. As the vehicle pulled away into the dark night, something occurred to Jessie.
“The Valley detective still hasn’t showed up.”
“I’m actually not sure we want to be here when he does,” Ryan noted. “I don’t want him peppering us with questions about the ‘investigation pattern’ we’re pursuing.”
“You don’t want to ask him why he showed up so late?” Jessie asked, surprised.
