“If no one prescribed it, then how did she get it?” Carlotta asks.
The doctor takes a deep breath before continuing. “Unfortunately, ketamine is a nightclub drug. Men sometimes use it to drug women. It’s known as one of the date rape drugs.”
Carlotta gasps, her hand flying to her mouth.
“Of all the…” Dan shakes his head.
“No,” I say. “Tessa wasn’t at a club tonight. She and Garrett went to dinner, and then they went to her place, and—”
“Do you know that for sure?” Dr. Hedstrom asks.
“I wasn’t there, if that’s what you mean. But that’s what she told me. But…”
“What, Skye?” Braden nudges me.
“Tessa wasn’t herself tonight. She was so upset over something that normally wouldn’t upset her. Just like the last time.”
“The last time?” Carlotta says.
Crap. I didn’t mean to say that. I can’t rat to Carlotta about Tessa taking ecstasy. I continue, “Either she’s really in love with this guy, or…”
“Or he drugged her,” Braden says matter-of-factly.
My blood runs cold. Garrett? No. He wouldn’t drug her. He wouldn’t. But if he would, then would Peter, his best friend, do the same?
“Mr. Black, if you know something, you need to tell us,” Dan says.
“Call me Braden. If Tessa wasn’t at a club tonight, how else would she have gotten ketamine?”
I have to say something. I don’t want to, but I have to. For Tessa’s own good.
“Tessa doesn’t normally do drugs,” I say, “but a couple weeks ago, when she and Garrett broke up, she took ecstasy.”
Carlotta nearly loses her footing, but Dan and Braden both steady her.
“It’s off brand for her,” I say. “I was surprised as all of you are. But I felt I should say something. If she took ecstasy, it’s possible she took ketamine.”
The doctor talks to Dan and Carlotta, and soon their voices are only a buzzing between my ears.
Because none of this makes sense.
Images appear in my mind. That night I went clubbing with Tessa, Betsy, Garrett, and Peter. Tessa was on Garrett’s lap within a minute, and by the end of the evening, Betsy was cuddled up with Peter…whom she’d just met.
They were lovey-dovey all the way, and I didn’t think anything of it.
Except now?
Neither of them were acting like themselves.
Is Braden right?
Did Garrett give the ketamine to Tessa?
And did Peter give it to Betsy?
Oh. My. God.
Peter hit on me first, and Braden showed up and took me away from him.
Peter seemed almost afraid of Braden when we saw him at the Opera Guild Gala.
At the time, I figured it was because of the contract his father’s firm wanted with Black, Inc.
And Braden seemed adamant that I stay away from Peter.
Was it jealousy?
Partially, yes. But what if it was also something else?
I break through the buzzing voice. “Braden.”
“Yeah?”
“You’re serious, aren’t you? You think Garrett gave Tessa the ketamine.”
“I have no proof of that.”
“Then why did you bring it up?”
“Let’s just say I think he may have access to it.”
The doctor’s voice is still buzzing to the Logans.
Finally, I break through. “Can we see Tessa?”
“Just her parents for now,” Dr. Hedstrom says.
I nod. So many questions. Tessa promised me she wouldn’t do drugs. Yet somehow ketamine got into her system. Would Tessa lie to me?
No, I don’t believe she would. She never has before.
Which means Garrett gave it to her or someone else did.
And whoever did, they did it without her knowledge.
She was drugged…and Garrett is the prime suspect.
“Doctor,” I say, “could ketamine and alcohol have such a dire effect? Obviously it was a small dose of ketamine, right?”
“It’s hard to say. We’ll know more after we’re able to speak with Tessa. If she doesn’t have any retroactive amnesia, we’ll know the dose was small.”
“Retroactive amnesia?” Carlotta asks.
“Amnesia that causes you to lose time from before you took the drug. For example, if Tessa took the drug at—”
Dan clears his throat. “My daughter did not take that drug.”
Did he hear me say she took ecstasy? Though I agree with him now. Tessa didn’t take the ketamine.
Still, it got into her system somehow.
“I need to ask you both,” Dr. Hedstrom says. “Does Tessa take anything else? Like I said, I couldn’t find any prescriptions in our system, but does she take anything else?”
“You mean like over-the-counter stuff?” Dan asks.
“Yes, over-the-counter meds. Herbal supplements. Everything.”
“I honestly don’t know,” Carlotta says. “She hasn’t lived with us since she was eighteen.”
“Her allergies were bothering her tonight,” I offer. “She takes that stuff. I think it’s echinacea.”
Dr. Hedstrom raises her eyebrows. “Do you know how much echinacea she takes?”
“No, just that she takes it. She has terrible hay fever.”
“That may be the issue. Echinacea can interact with ketamine and make the effects more profound. Then the alcohol on top of everything…” Dr. Hedstrom shakes her head. “But the good news is that Tessa is out of danger. She probably would’ve come to on her own, but I’m glad you brought her in, especially since she was vomiting.”
“Mr. Black…” Dan begins.
“Braden, please.”
Dan nods. “Braden, you seem to know this Garrett. I need to get in touch with him.”
“Not a problem,” Braden says. “If Garrett Ramirez gave Tessa ketamine, I will find out.”
“Thank you,” Carlotta says. “But what can we do now? The deed is done. I’m just thankful Tessa is all right.”
“We’re all thankful for that,” Braden agrees, “but I will look into this. I’ve looked the other way far too long.”