Chapter 34

CHAPTER THIRTY-FOUR

Liza

What is going on? Who are these people? How am I outside? Where's Eli?

I dry-heave again, having nothing left in my system to throw up, but still having the strongest urge to do so.

"I'm out of here. She's been nothing but drama since the moment I met her anyway," I hear a guy standing next to me say, but I have no clue who he is.

I look up and see a cop placing his hand on my back. "Are you okay?"

I shake my head as I convulse forward, trying to get whatever is inside of me out.

"Where's Eli?" I'm barely able to ask.

His voice catches my attention, and when I turn my head toward where I hear it, I throw up again when I see him sitting in a cop car, kicking and screaming.

"What's going on?" I ask, not having a clue how I got outside or what happened to Eli.

The cop squats down to my level. "Are you here with that guy?"

I nod, not able to get out any words, for fear of throwing up my actual insides because there's nothing left in there to throw up.

He stands, and I hear him call in on his radio, "Can we get an ambulance to the Knights Lodge?"

"An ambulance?" I dry-heave once more.

"Let's get you up off the floor." He helps me to my feet and walks me to lean against the building before saying to the other cop, "Go get her a glass of water." He turns his attention back to me. "Do you know where you are?"

I shake my head.

"Who did you come here with?"

"Eli."

"Who's Eli? Is he your boyfriend?"

I nod.

He inhales and looks around, like he's trying to think of what to ask next.

His partner brings me a glass of water, and I take it from him, sipping a small sip, only to throw it up again seconds later.

"Can you explain why you were telling us inside that he's your student who's been stalking you?"

My eyes open wide in shock.

What? Did I really tell them that?

When I don't answer, they continue, "Do you remember telling us that?"

I shake my head, then squint my eyes when the lights of an ambulance sting them in a way I've never felt before.

The cop who brought me my water slaps the other guy's arm, motioning for him to follow him to talk to the paramedics, who jump out in a hurry.

I close my eyes as waves of nausea and tiredness wash over me.

I look over to Eli, who's sitting with his head against the headrest in the back of a cop car, so I push myself off the wall and start to head his way. One step, and I'm falling over my own feet, making the cops and paramedics rush toward me.

"Hey now. Let's stay here and let me get a look at you," the paramedic says as he reaches out to me.

"I need to get to Eli. Why is he in the back of a cop car? What's going on?" I stumble over my words, fighting whatever is happening in my body.

"We'll figure all of that out. Let me get a look at you first. Did you eat dinner tonight?"

"Yes. Here," I state and don't miss the way the cops eye each other.

"Did you drink anything?"

I look around, wondering what the hell is going on, and try to think back, then nod. "Yeah. I ordered a drink."

"Did you get the drink, or did the waitress bring it to you?"

"I got it. From the bar. The waitress brought me a second one, but I didn't finish it."

"Where did you drink it?"

"What is going on?" I ask, getting frustrated with these silly questions. "Why is Eli in a back of a cop car?"

One of the police officers narrows his eyes at me. "You don't remember?"

A wave of nausea rolls over me as I shake my head and dry-heave some more, then respond when I get control over my stomach. "Can someone please tell me what is going on?" My voice rises.

"I'm thinking someone drugged you," the paramedic says, "so I need you to answer these questions."

"You what?" I barely get out.

"Just answer the question. Where did you drink the drink?"

I take a deep breath as what he said really sinks in, so I try to think back. "I got it from the bar. Then, I took it back to our table."

"Did you have just one? When did you end up back in the bar?"

I try to remember, but everything is coming up blank, so I start walking through the events out loud. "I drank the drink and then had to pee again. So, I got up, and I don't remember anything after that."

"Did you go to the restroom?"

I slowly shake my head. "I don't know."

"And you don't remember anything after that?"

"No. Not until I started throwing up."

"I think we need to get you to the hospital to get checked out. Is there a possibility you were with anyone alone? Did you go to a back room? To the restroom? Anything like that?"

Panic washes over me, and I suddenly can't breathe. "I have no clue."

He places his hand on my arm. "Don't worry. You're safe now. Let's get you loaded up."

"But what about Eli?"

"Eli is under arrest for the bar fight," one of the officers says.

"The what?" I go to rush to his side, but lose my footing again, and the paramedic catches me before I fall to the floor.

"Is there anyone you can call?" the paramedic asks.

I shake my head.

"No one?"

"No one knows I'm here but him. We live a few hours away."

The officers look at each other again, and I close my eyes, knowing getting drugged tonight is going to be the least of my worries when all of this comes to light.