Page 134 of A Quick Buck

“Aw, hell.” Junior scowled in obvious disappointment.

That meant probably good news for Uncle Patrick.

“What’s going on?”

“They’re almost done. Mr. Star is sendin’ Mace up—”

The door suddenly burst open, and Mace rushed inside the room. He must have run the whole way. He picked up Noah like a ragdoll, staring him right in the eye as he demanded, “Are you having any blurred vision? Diarrhea? Vomiting?”

“Jesus, fuck!” Noah wiggled and pushed him away. “I’m fine!”

“Are you sure?” Mace continued to shout. “You might be in shock!”

“He didn’t drink that much, for fuck’s sake,” Junior complained. “I’m fine too! In case yous was wonderin’.”

“That’s exactly what people in shock would say!”

“I’m not in shock!” Noah groaned. “Hey, can you guys just tell me what’s going on with my uncle? Maybe?”

“He’s almost definitely in shock,” Mace said gravely. “I can smell the confusion, the fear, the sheer desperation. Mm, and merlot.”

“Alistair will be up as soon as he’s done.” Junior was speaking to Noah and ignoring Mace. “You just chill out, you know. Try not to pass out or whatever.”

“Yeah. Thanks.” Noah dragged his hands over his face. “I’ll just be here. Wondering if my uncle is fuckin’ dead. And oh yeah! Thinkin’ about how somebody might have tried to kill me!”

“Cheer up, Crisco.” Junior grinned. “They didn’t get ya.”

Noah sighed.

“Noah.” It was Alistair, and there was no sign of Patrick.

Noah didn’t even care. He bolted right into Alistair’s arms, clinging as closely as he could. He was finally able to identify the source of the awful sloshing in his guts: fear. He was afraid. He was terrified of what had possibly happened downstairs with Patrick, and now knowing that someone wanted to kill him was even more horrifying. He had no idea what to do, and the only person who made him feel safe was right there.

“I’ve got you,” Alistair soothed, his strong hands rubbing Noah’s back and cradling his head against his shoulder. “You’re all right, sweet boy. You’re all right now.”

“What the fuck is happening?” Noah closed his eyes and held on tight.

“I don’t know,” Alistair replied honestly, “but I’m going to find out.” He kissed Noah’s hair. “Is there anyone—”

“Who would wanna kill me?” Noah scoffed, and he laughed. He felt insane. All of this was totally insane. “I don’t know. I don’t fuckin’ know.”

“I sent off some of the alcohol from the party to test for illicit substances, but nothing came up.” Erasmus was with them now, hovering behind Alistair. “Then again, they weren’t looking for a blood pressure medication.”

“Have them test everything again,” Alistair said firmly. “And take that bottle too.”

“You got it, Mr. Star,” Erasmus said.

“Would that medication make everybody sick like it did at the party?” Mace asked with a frown.

“Side effects of spironolactone include dizziness, lightheadedness, stomach upset, diarrhea, nausea, vomiting, and headache,” Junior read dutifully from his phone. “Sounds pretty fuckin’ familiar. I’m sure this is what was in our fuckin’ drinks at the party.”

“Why didn’t it set off your asthma?”

“I don’t fuckin’ know! Maybe ’cause it was watered down?”

“The ice, soda?”

“Sure! Yeah! That! But this is that shit, though. I know it!”