Her pointer finger shook harder. She grabbed her knuckle with her other hand, pressed both down against her leg. She heard rustling but didn’t look up. The roller coaster, ready to fall.

“I’m scared and I hate it.”

She heard a sound, something like a whisper, something like her name. She took a deep breath, leaned forward, exhaled. Not only was she headed for another panic attack, this time she ran the risk of having to pay a hospital bill if they found her on the floor.

The whisper repeated, louder this time. “Caitlin.”

She closed her eyes, shook her head. “Not gonna happen.”

The voice came back. “Caitlin.”

She looked up, saw Scott Canton’s open eyes, one finger in the air.

A smile broke across her face. “Scott, you’re awake!”

His finger motioned to come closer. “Caitlin.”

His voice sounded hoarse. Caitlin saw a squeeze bottle of water next to the bed, squirted some into his mouth.

“You had a stroke. Do you need anything?”

“Molly,” he said, the word barely air over teeth.

Caitlin looked for the nurse call button. “Who’s Molly?”

Scott shook his head, motioned again.

She leaned in. “I’m here. What about Molly?”

He continued, each word a labored effort. “Were—”

She nodded. “Were?”

“—did see—” He stopped, shook his head like the words were wrong.

Caitlin found the call button on the side of the bed, hit the control.

“—get—”

“I’ll get the nurse, Scott. People are on their way.”

He shook his head again, frustrated.

“You don’t want the people?”

She felt his fingers ring around her wrist, looked up to his eyes. He took another breath, gave the whole thing a run. “Were did see get the Molly?”

Caitlin sounded out the words. “Were did see—” She laughed at her own stupidity. Not only had Scott heard her entire recap, he’d found the missing piece. “Where did Lakshmi get the Molly?”

The room filled with qualified medical professionals, all with questions of their own. Caitlin gave them room to work. She’d gotten what she came for.

Chapter 59

CHAPTER

59

CAITLIN FOUND A blue bike with a faded Pizza Monster sticker locked to the theater building’s bike rack. She checked the time. 2:58 PM. According to the schedule posted online, Chad Branford’s class ended at three.

Her phone chimed with another text from Lakshmi.

The first had arrived at 10:02 AM: Pls call me when u get a chance.

The second, 12:37: I would gladly take a lie detector test.

The latest: I can’t believe u would trust the BPD over me.

The girl had a point.

“Caitlin?”

She turned around, saw Chad Branford, bike helmet in hand. “Professor Branford, I was hoping to run into you.”

He flashed a smile. “Please, call me Chad. Are you here with Lakshmi?”

“All by myself,” she said. “I’m surprised you remember me.”