Read Live and Lime Die: A Key West Culinary Cozy - Book 8 for Free Online Page A

eye roll.
“Please give me a little credit, Mom. I told him no. In no uncertain terms. I
learned my lesson the first time, I don’t need to repeat the class,” she
sighed.
    “That’s
fair,” Marilyn nodded. “So what happened after you told him no?” she probed.
    “He
asked for a glass of wine so that we could toast his new start, so I went to
the kitchen to get the bottle and a glass for him…”
    Marilyn
dropped her head into her hands.
    “What?”
Tiara asked, wondering at her mother’s reaction.
    “Did
you leave your glass out there with Sam when you went in the house?” she asked.
    Light
dawned, and her daughter closed her eyes. “He drugged my wine when I went in
the house,” she whispered, embarrassed again. “I even made a comment that I
thought it tasted funny when I came back,” she shook her head.
    “Do
you remember anything after that?” Marilyn asked gently.
    “Umm…I
was getting really sleepy, and then Tim came over with a pie. I went into the
house again to get plates and stuff for the pie…” she trailed off.
    “What
were Tim and Sam doing when you came back out?”
    “I can’t
remember…I don’t even know if they were there. The next thing I knew, I was
here, and there was a giant tube in my throat,” she grimaced.
    “That’s
gotta hurt,” her mother frowned. “I’ll get some ice cream and soup after I drop
you off in the guest room. Let me go talk to the doctors and see if I can get
you sprung from here,” she kissed Tiara on the forehead. “I’ll be right back,”
she promised.
    **
    Fortunately,
Tiara drifted off to sleep when her mother left, her body worn out from the
trauma that it had endured, and she didn’t hear the raised voices outside her
door as her mother argued with the attending physician.
    “What
do you mean she “has” to stay overnight? Whatever happened to patient choice?”
Marilyn demanded, hands on hips. She’d had a rough evening and was in no mood
to be diplomatic.
    “I’m
sorry, I can’t even talk with you about the reasons why she has to stay
overnight. Your daughter is an adult, and I can only share medical information
with her,” the doctor explained patiently.
    “My
daughter did not try to harm herself. Her wine was drugged by a psychotic
ex-boyfriend. There is absolutely no reason to keep her here,” she insisted.
    The
doctor considered his next words carefully. “While I’m not saying that this is
the case with your daughter…whenever the human body goes through an experience
that shuts it down almost entirely, there is need for further observation, just
to ensure that all systems are functioning properly, before sending the patient
home, where medical intervention equipment is not accessible,” he stared at the
nervous mother pointedly, trying to drive his point home without being overt.
    Marilyn
sighed, realizing that she wasn’t going to get anywhere with her demands,
cajoling and wheedling.
    “Fine,”
she groused. “But can we at least make certain that her room is in a secured
area? I have no idea where the ex-boyfriend is, or if he’ll try anything else,”
she confided in a low voice.
    “I
assure you, she’ll be in a very secure area,” the doctor nodded.
    **
    “Seriously?
The psych ward?” Tiara was irate. “I didn’t do this, and I don’t need to be on
suicide watch! This is ridiculous,” she started to try to get out of bed, and a
nurse gently restrained her.
    “Mom!”
she pleaded, looking at her mother for support.
    The
doctor intervened, speaking softly so that the agitated young woman would have
to calm down enough to listen. “Miss Hayes, the reason that your room is on
this floor is because it is the most secure area of the hospital. There are
security guards and several locked and reinforced doors protecting you. Whoever
did this to you will not be allowed access to this floor, I can assure you of
that,” he soothed. Tiara quieted, but was still visibly upset.
    “Get
some rest tonight,” he