Page 89 of Death at a Scottish Halloween

“Agreed. I need to get him down to my place.”

“I’ll get the car,” Henry said. He talked on his radio as he walked away.

Ewan came out. “What happened?”

“Jasper isn’t feeling well. I’m going to take him down to my surgery. You all stay here. I’ve got this.”

“No,” Abigail said. “I’m coming with you.” There was no use arguing with her.

“We’ll come too,” Mara said. “Why didn’t you say something?” she asked. “You did seem grumpier than usual.”

“Thanks for that,” Jasper said. “My throat is killing me.” Abigail and I stared at one another over his head. We’d seen that symptom one too many times the last week.

“Abigail and I have this covered. The rest of you stay and enjoy yourselves. I promise to text when we figure out what’s wrong.”

“Are you sure?” Mara asked. She didn’t seem happy about not being included.

“I am. If he has what I think he does, better to keep your distance.” Though they’d been together all night.

“OK. Let us know, though,” she said. “Take care, Jasper. You make an adorable Stay Puft man.”

“Thanks,” he croaked out.

She and her dentist left.

“Henry’s here with the car,” Ewan said. “I need to stay. I gave Akif the rest of the night off to spend with his family. Actually, everyone but Henry and I have the night off.”

“No big deal,” I said. “We can handle it. Once we’re at the practice, I’ll send Henry back.”

“I’d prefer he stay with you,” he said.

“You need him more than we do. Our victims are gone, no reason for us not to be safe.”

Though I had had that weird feeling of being watched when we left, but I’d shaken it off.

“Keep in touch,” he said. Someone called for him, and he left.

By the time we made it down the mountain, poor Jasper was shaking in the back seat.

Henry helped Jasper inside and into Exam One, then insisted Abigail lock the door behind him. She did as he asked. We put on gloves and masks.

“OK. First thing, let’s get you out of this.”

“Zipper is in the back. Feels like I’m swallowing glass,” he said. “What is wrong with me?”

“We’re going to swab your throat, and we’ll have answers soon.” As soon as I unzipped the back of his costume, it was easy to see he was drenched.

“You’re dehydrated,” I said. “We’re going to get you out of these clothes and get you something fresh. And we’ll need …”

“IV fluids. On it,” Abigail said.

“It’s like she reads your mind.”

“I’m lucky that way.”

He was so pale. “Sit,” I ordered. He did on the chair in the exam room. I tossed his costume on the other chair. Then I grabbed some swabs. “Open wide,” I said.

Abigail walked in with some fresh clothes, sweatpants and a T-shirt. We had a stash in all different sizes for just-in-cases. He shivered.