Page 30 of Nightshades

“I don’t know why you think you are comfortable enough to examine my room without a warrant, but you are mistaken. I am being cooperative. Don’t even think for a second you can take advantage of that.”

“Detective,” Jake warns.

“No, she’s right, Sheriff Holland. Apologies, Detective Sanchez. I meant nothing by it. If you could come to the kitchen so I can collect samples from you, that would be very helpful.”

“Of course.” I stand in the doorway, stretching my arm out to urge them to leave my room.

One by one, they trail out the door. Waylon is the last one out, shooting me a wink of support. Snagging the handle, I take a quick peek around my room to see if there is anything out of place that I need to be worried about.

The picture of my parents is turned around. The aged backside is tinted yellow, and the cursive writing from my mom can be seen, showing the date when the photo was taken.

Ineverhave that photo flipped over.

Someone was in my room, and I’m going to make it my mission to find out who. This person invaded me, my home, and my sense of safety.

This is personal now.

Closing my eyes, I gain my composure as I shut the bedroom door, not wanting them to see how worried I am. Taking a seatat the four-person dining room table, Savannah begins to collect her evidence.

From hair, to scraping under my nails, to swabbing the inside of my cheek, I’m certain she has gotten everything she could possibly need.

“If you don’t remember anything?—”

“—Not if,” I correct her, narrowing my eyes at her audacity for calling me a liar. “Idon’tremember anything.” Savannah causes my trigger finger to flex.

“Right. Of course. I’m saying maybe there’s something in your blood. Maybe you were drugged. It would explain it.”

“So would hitting the steering wheel and getting a concussion.” I turn to Jake. “She works for the department?”

I find her incompetent.

“Let her take all the samples she needs so you can officially be off the suspect list, Lula. And then we will be on our way. Stay home today, and I’ll call you with any updates.”

“This is ridiculous.” I shove the robe sleeve up my arm, allowing her to draw the blood she needs.

“Woah, that’s interesting.” Savannah lifts the vial into the air, the overhead light reflecting off the tube.

The air around me becomes hard to breathe when I see the color of my blood in the small glass tube. Suddenly, my house doesn’t seem so cozy with so many people standing around me.

Savannah twists and turns the vial, her eyes laser-focused on my blood inside the glass.

Blood is red.

Mine?

For the first time in my life, it isn’t only red, but black swirls have mixed in that remind me of the way smoke drifts.

“You don’t remember being drugged?” Savannah questions me again, never taking her attention away from the vial.

I clench my teeth together and dig my nails into the table. “For the thousandth time, I don’t remember anything. I only remember swerving off the road because someone or something was standing in the middle of it. That’s all I have for you, okay? That’s it. I need you all to leave. Now.”

“Oh, I’m so sorry. I didn’t mean to make you upset. I’m only trying to understand why your blood would be like this.”

“I’ve never seen anything like that either.” Jake leans in closer to get a better look.

“And if I had any answers to give you, I’d give them to you. Instead, you keep asking me if I remember when I’ve said I don’t. Take your vial and your other samples and get off my property. All of you.” I drag my eyes from Savannah to Jake. “Please,” I add, doing my best not to cry.

I always cry when I get too upset, and the last thing I want to do is cry in front of my new coworkers.