Page 15 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

“Is it THC sweet tea again?” Harper asked, referring to yet another one of Alice’s contributions to book club refreshments.

Alice swung her gray head. “Nope.”

“All right, then. Thank you for bringing it.”

“You’re welcome.” Alice grinned a bit too wide and Natalie wondered if she needed to worry.

“So no funny mushrooms you grew in your basement or cannabis from your garden?” she asked again.

“Nope. Cross my heart. And I don’t have time to garden anymore, silly. Not now that I’m busy with the B-Listers.”

Harper visibly bit her lips over that. Of course she was dying to tell Alice that ‘B-Listers’ probably didn’t have the meaning she thought it did. It was the first thought Natalie had when seeing it on her vest. But neither had the nerve to tell Alice.

Natalie pressed her own lips tightly together before she broke out laughing. When she’d controlled the impulse she nodded. “Okay, then. We’ll bring it in.”

When they were out the door, Harper whispered, “You think it’s safe?”

“It must be. If it’s not pot or shrooms, what else could she possibly lace her tea with?” Natalie asked.

“Ecstasy?” Harper suggested.

“Where in the world would she get her hands on club drugs?” Natalie asked.

“Yeah, I guess you’re right. It should be fine. And honestly, how bad could it be? I have more things to worry about than what Alice might put in our drinks.” Harper sighed. “Maybe a little molly would help me forget this whole Pompous Doug mess.”

Natalie had to agree.

Chapter Six

Natalie paused in her post-book club clean-up to notice the rain outside.

“No one told me the rain would be purple.” Frowning, she turned from the window. It took her a moment but she finally located Harper, sprawled in a chair. “I mean, they predicted rain, but not purple rain.”

Head lolling to the side, Harper said, “Purple Rain. That was a great song.”

Natalie turned back to the window. “Do you think it’ll stain?”

“What will stain?”

“The purple rain.”

“Purple rain, purple rain…” Harper sang, then sighed. “I miss Prince. Such a shame he’s gone.”

The meeting room was empty of people, save for Harper and Natalie. What it was not empty of was trash.

There were disposable cups and napkins on every surface. Natalie had meant to clean them up, but now that they were dancing, how could she? It’s not every day a row of red Solo cups danced a conga line.

She did wish they’d stop spilling the remains of their contents all over the table though.

“I’m surprised there was so much tea left over. Alice brought home both jugs like three-quarters full. I thought it was good. I had like three big cups full.”

“I drank a bunch too. I mean it was a little bitter, but I just added more sugar to mine.”

“Yeah. I added lemon wedges and honey to my cup,” Natalie said as she watched the napkins join in the festivities, dancing the Can-Can like a line of French showgirls.

Natalie.

“Yeah?” She spun, looking for the sound of the voice that had called her name.