Hearts and Aces (Kelsey's Burden Series Book 7) by Kaylie Hunter (great books for teens txt) 📗

sending the video highlights to her? She could use the laugh.”

“I’ll take care of it,” Maggie said, heading up the stairs.

I went to my bedroom to put on my boots. They didn’t exactly coordinate with my yoga pants and sweatshirt, but I didn’t care. The only thing that mattered was getting Hattie’s pills so she would feel better. When I returned to the kitchen, Tweedle stood looking toward the stairs.

“Go on,” I said. “You can go say hi, too.”

Tweedle hurried around the kitchen, stacking a tray of baked goods before climbing the stairs. I grabbed my handbag and was reaching for the door when I heard a loud ruckus above me.

“I’m okay,” Tweedle said. “Just a little rug burn.”

I shook my head as I walked out.

Chapter Twenty-Eight

Doc must have warned the pharmacy to have the prescription ready to go, because I breezed in, paid, and breezed out. I was crossing the parking lot, digging my keys out of my handbag, when someone grabbed me from behind, covering my face with a rag.

Reflexively, I tried to breathe, realizing my mistake too late as I smelled the chloroform. Knowing I only had seconds, I threw an elbow into my assailant’s ribs, kicked his kneecap hard enough to hear it crack, and felt his weight drop to the side and his hands loosen their grip. Turning, I managed a throat punch as my head spun with dizziness.

As the world tilted, I staggered toward the pharmacy. The electronic glass doors swooshed open, and I fell to the floor. Dragging my handbag in front of me, I pulled my phone as I was surrounded by customers and employees asking if I needed help. I managed to hit the call and speaker buttons, calling Tyler, before my vision blurred again.

“What’s up?” Tyler answered.

“Help! Send help!”

“Where are you?” Tyler yelled.

“She’s at the pharmacy on the corner of ninth street,” one of the customers answered for me. “She seems dizzy. Should we call an ambulance?”

“I’m on my way, Kelsey! Hang on!”

“Chloro—” I’m not sure if I finished speaking before I passed out.

~*~*~

When I woke, my head was propped on Dave’s thigh as he smiled down at me. I blinked a few times, trying to clear my vision. He was wearing his uniform, meaning someone had called 911.

“Blood pressure is coming back down,” Doc said from my left, removing a cuff. “Heartbeat is still a bit fast.”

Renato stood at my feet, watching the crowd.

“How long have I been out?” I asked, trying to sit up.

“Easy there,” Doc said, pushing me back. “Do you know what happened?”

“Chloroform.”

“That’s what Tyler thought you were trying to say,” Doc said, nodding. “We should take you to the hospital for observation.”

“No.”

“That’s what I thought you’d say.” Doc chuckled, moving a stethoscope to my chest. “Give me a few deep breaths.”

I did as he asked, but as soon as he moved away, I grabbed Dave’s arm and pulled myself into a sitting position. My head spun a few times, but my vision settled after a few seconds. I reached a hand out to Renato for him to help me stand. “Where’s Tyler?”

Renato grasped my hand and extended his other arm behind my back as he helped to lift me. Once I was upright, the ground tilted. He held me steady.

“Tyler’s with Steve,” Dave answered. “They’re watching the security footage.”

“Take me to them.”

Dave walked beside me holding one arm as Renato held the other and braced my back. The distance from the front of the store to the backroom seemed never ending.

“Hurry up!” Steve barked at someone as I walked into a small office.

Tyler saw me and reached out a hand to guide me into a chair. “What can you tell us?”

“I wasn’t paying attention. Hattie—” I looked over at Doc, “—damn it. Where did Hattie’s pills go?”

“They were scattered in the parking lot. The pharmacist is filling another order. We’ll get her pills to her.”

“They’ll worry.” I shook my head. “If I’m not back with the pills, they’ll worry something happened.”

“Something did happen,” Steve said, glaring over at me.

“She’s right,” Tyler said, digging into my handbag which was strapped over his shoulder. “Hattie and the kids can’t take any more stress.” He pulled out one of my cash envelopes. “Doc? Can you take the new order of pills to Hattie? Tell her there was a mess up at the pharmacy and you offered to bring them back while Kelsey runs an errand for Father Eric at the mission. Hattie and the kids know Father Eric ropes Kelsey into doing favors all the time. They won’t think anything of it.”

“I’ll handle it, but only if you promise to make sure Kelsey doesn’t drive for the next twenty-four hours and will be closely monitored.”

“Deal,” Tyler agreed. “What should we be watching for?”

“She’ll likely be dizzy for a while, maybe nauseous too. I’m most concerned about her heart, though. If she loses consciousness or starts having heart palpitations, call an ambulance, then call me.”

Renato nodded. “We’ll keep a close eye on her.”

Doc shook Renato’s hand and left. I tried to roll my eyes, but I think they went more cross-eyed than anything.

“How in the hell did someone get the jump on you?” Steve yelled at me.

“I wasn’t paying attention,” I admitted with a shrug. “I was thinking about getting home and getting the pills to Hattie. She’s been sick, and I’m worried about her. I was digging my keys out when someone came up behind me.”

“Did you get a look at him?” Tyler asked.

“Not really. About your height. Good muscle strength, but lean. The rest is a blur.”

“I have the footage,” the store employee who was sitting in front of the computer said.

Tyler reached over and turned the