Page 40 of Twilight Tactics

“I did.”

“While I believe you, if we both go over the room one more time, at least we can say we searched.”

“Fine.” They both looked for several minutes, then collapsed onto the bed. “Told you,” Ollie said.

“Okay, then there are only a few options as to what happened to it.”

Ollie nodded. “I didn’t put it back and laid it somewhere else, I put it back but didn’t zip the pocket and it fell out, or someone took it out.”

Elena didn’t want to go where that last statement would take them. It was bad enough she’d thought it, but to have Ollie once again echo her thoughts...

“Well, I don’t think someone took it out,” Ollie said. “At least not intentionally. Or at least I don’twantto think that.” She bit her lip. “But both packs are gone.” She rubbed her eyes. “I really don’t want to believe someone would do that. And how would they even know they were there?”

“Where did you have the backpack? At the gym, right?”

“In the locker.”

“Did you lock it?”

Ollie shot her a thin smile. “No. I wasn’t really worried about someone stealing it. Not here.” Her jaw hardened. “Lesson learned.”

“But ... that just doesn’t make sense for someone to steal it. Why would...” She snapped her lips together. Some people didn’t need a reason.

“Then again, itissteroids.” Ollie narrowed her eyes. “You got addicts here?”

Ugh. “Yes. Former addicts, but ... yes.”

“And former addicts have been known to relapse.”

She wasn’t wrong. “I’ll see what we can find out. We have cameras. We’ll see who went in and out of the gym during the time you were there.”

“But who would know? We haven’t told anyone about my disease, so there’s no reason for anyone to think I’d have drugs on me. You only just learned about it.”

She raked a shaky hand through her hair, and Elena’s nursing instincts kicked in. “We’ll figure it out. In the meantime, why don’t you lay down and rest while I let the others know. We’ll have to get you more meds.”

“I feel so stupid.” Ollie flopped back onto the pillow.

“Don’t blame yourself. Seriously. Stuff happens. It’s just a problem to solve.”

“But a problem I created if no one took them. And even if someone did take them, I was the one who had them on me unsecured in a place where addicts are. I mean, it’s not likethey’re opioids or something, but still, when you don’t have anything, steroids will do.”

“Ollie,” Elena said, placing a hand on her arm. “Please. No self-blame. You have enough to deal with, without that. Now, do you mind if I check your pulse?”

“Sure.” Ollie flung her arm out in Elena’s direction. Elena started the timer on her smartwatch and took the girl’s pulse. “It’s a little faster than it should be.”

“Where can I get more meds?” she asked, fear in her pretty eyes. “If I don’t take them on time, I’ll get dizzy and nauseous, and I absolutelyhatethat feeling.”

“I know. We’ll work that out. You just stay here and we’ll get your meds ASAP. There’s a pharmacy in town. Maya is a doctor. I have no doubt she can write the script. Easy peasy.”

Hope flared. “Really?”

“Really.”

Ollie closed her eyes with a sigh. “Oh, thank goodness. I forgot Maya could do that. That’s a huge relief.”

“Rest. I’ll fill in the others.”

“They’re going to think I’m so stupid,” she muttered. “But even worse than that, they’re going to think I’m irresponsible.”