Page 17 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

“You’re high and you’re hallucinating.”

“Am not.”

“Dancing cups? Purple rain?” he pointed out.

“Remember when Prince had to stop using his name?” Harper asked. “The artist formerly known as Prince. That was crazy.”

Liam drew in a breath that had his chest expanding, huge, like someone had blown him up like a balloon. “Where’s your cell phone?”

“Um.” Did she have a cell phone? Why did she need one? Everyone just came to the store to talk.

“Gabe! Are you in here?” Liam shouted.

“He’s not here.” Natalie sucked in a breath. “Ooo, unless he is and he’s hiding. And it was him whispering to me. Ga-abe? Are you here? Nope. Not here.” She shook her head then stopped, feeling herself sway a bit. “Ooo. You’re right. Dizzy.”

“Told you,” Harper said from the chair nearby, even though she sounded far away.

“Why do you need Gabe?” Natalie asked. Then said, “Isn’t it crazy I can see ghosts?”

“Right? It really is!” Harper agreed.

“I want to see if Gabe knows what Alice spiked the drinks with this time.” Liam pulled out his cell phone and stabbed the screen with a finger that seemed extra-long today. Although she really did enjoy what his long fingers could do to her.

“From now on I’m testing anything that woman brings in here.” Liam pressed the cell to his ear. “Stone, hey. I need you over here at the shop. Alice drugged the women at the book club again… Yeah. It’s bad. Harper and Natalie are tripping. Full on hallucinations. God knows what’s happening with the others who were here. Is Agnes there? …Good. Can you check if she’s all right?”

“Agnes. She’s fun. I like her,” Natalie said spinning to face Harper, then swaying again.

With one hand, Liam manhandled her until she was sitting on the sofa.

“Hey!” Natalie was going to complain until she realized how soft and comforting it was as the sofa cushions reached out and hugged her.

“Agnes. It’s Liam. What the fu—uh, hell did Alice put in the book club drinks? …Be glad you didn’t drink any. Harper and Nat are both high as a kite. Can you call Alice and ask what’s in it and then call me back? …Thanks. And tell Stone to come to the shop to collect Harper. That is, of course, if we don’t end up at the hospital getting their stomachs pumped… Yeah, it is that bad… Okay, bye.” Liam lowered the phone and looked over at the girls.

“Stomach pump? I don’t think I want that,” Harper said.

“Yeah. That doesn’t sound very pleasant at all,” Natalie agreed.

The cell rang again. Liam’s boring normal ringtone. The one that comes with the phone.

“Liam, you should change that ringtone to something fun.”

“Ooo! Like Purple Rain,” Harper suggested.

“Yes!” Natalie agreed. Then frowned at Liam’s dark expression. “I don’t think he’s happy.”

“Is he ever?” Harper asked.

With a less than indulgent glance at the two of them, Liam pressed the phone to his ear. Then followed up whatever he heard with a string of obscenities Natalie had never heard come out of him before.

“Ooo, he cusses like a sailor. I like it.” Harper said.

“He was a soldier, not a sailor, but yeah. You’re right. He’s got a potty mouth tonight.”

He lowered the cell again and glared at Natalie. “Want to know what your friend Alice drugged you with this time?”

“Sure,” she answered.

Why not? She was the curious sort. She liked to learn things.