Page 18 of Cadaver Lab: Mind Over Murder

“Peyote,” he said, his tone flat. Angry.

“Ooo, I’d always wondered what peyote was like,” Harper said. “Native Americans used it for ceremonies and vision quests, you know. I researched it for a book once.”

Liam shook his head, a head which seemed to be growing larger the angrier he got, like the time she watched the inflating of the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade balloons.

The dancing cups had been cool. But the angry expanding Liam coming at her now? Not cool.

Maybe this peyote wasn’t so great after all.

Chapter Seven

“What does a peyote hangover feel like? I think I have one.” Natalie pressed the palm of one hand to her head while cradling the mug of coffee in the other to her chest.

Mornings were hard enough. But the mornings after Alice had roofied the book club, which happened more often than one would think, were extra hard.

But there was one good thing about last night’s drugging. The last time she’d seen Harper, the woman was not thinking at all about Pompous Doug. She was actually having a good time. Even singing Prince songs as Stone boosted her, giggling the whole time, into the passenger seat of his high truck.

That was good. Harper needed to take her mind off the whole murder lawsuit thing for a little bit. Maybe Alice’s evil plan had a purpose after all.

Standing by the counter, Liam raised a dark brow in her direction. “I wouldn’t know, having never done peyote personally.” He shook his head. “Where the hell did Alice get peyote anyway?”

“Probably someone in her new biker gang.”

“Her what gang?” Liam’s usually deep voice rose a solid octave on the question.

Natalie dismissed the question with flick of one wrist. “I’ll tell you later. I think I might have to throw up now.”

“Lovely.” Lips compressed into a flat line, Liam glanced at the time displayed on the microwave then back at Natalie. “I was going to head to the lab. But now I’m afraid to leave you.”

“You can leave. I’m not going to die… probably.”

With an exhale, Liam sat in the chair instead.

“Aww. You do love me.” Natalie tried to smile but wasn’t sure it came out that way.

“Of course I love you. I love you more when you’re not about to hurl your coffee on me, but even then, I still love you.”

She couldn’t respond as she kept her lips pressed together tightly as the coffee she’d managed to swallow did indeed feel as if it was deciding whether to stay down or come back up.

Pretending all was well, she valiantly ignored the turmoil in her belly and said, “Seriously, Liam. You don’t have to be afraid to leave. I know you’re excited to cut into that new brain of yours.”

He made a move that was half shrug half-hearted head tip.

She frowned. “What’s wrong? You love locking yourself away in the lab when you get new brains.”

He let out a sniff and mumbled, “Not this time.”

“Why not this time?” she asked, suspicious enough to almost forget about the nausea. Was Liam finally noticing that his profession was gross?

There was that shoulder lift again. “It’s nothing.”

“Oh, it’s definitely something.” She waited.

Liam wasn’t wishy washy. On the contrary. He was usually very definitive in almost all things. Except, for some reason, this.

“Spill,” she demanded when he remained silent.

He pulled his mouth to one side but still managed to look hot. “Fine. Don’t make a big deal out of it but… I think…” He pressed his lips together and raised his gaze to her. “I think I might have heard something.”