“A few hours. Mom’s been trying to reach you. One of your friends from your time in the service called her, looking for your number to get in touch with you.”
“Who?”
“I don’t know. But I didn’t tell Mom the reason you weren’t answering your phone is because you’re in the hospital.”
“Thanks.” Tessa was a good sister. “Did they find out who was responsible for that bomb? Do they know what chemicals were used on us?”
Tessa shook her head. “They didn’t catch anyone yet, and they don’t know what was used to drug you, but samples were taken for analysis. In fact, I brought you some clothes because your uniform has to be cleaned before you can wear it again. It’s all covered in that stuff. Your Kevlar vest was okay, though.”
“Thanks.” She looked down at her hospital gown. “What did you bring me to wear?”
“A pair of my yoga pants and a sweatshirt. I didn’t have time to go by your house.”
“Okay. Who’s analyzing the samples?” Jenna sat up a little, but it took some effort, which bothered her. She didn’t like feeling weak, and she was ready to put this whole episode behind her. “Because I’m pretty sure there was magic involved in what happened to us.”
Tessa put the bed’s remote control in Jenna’s hand. “Here, use this to adjust your position. Everyone seems to agree that magic, and probably witchcraft, is a factor. I know one of the samples was sent to Alice Bishop.”
Jenna exhaled. “Good. Alice should be able to figure it out.” Not only was the woman the most powerful witch in town, she was also the oldest, most experienced witch. It was her magic that imbued the local water so that it clouded tourists’ minds to the fact that real supernaturals walked among them.
Alice was the OG of witchcraft in Nocturne Falls.
A knock on the door was followed by a doctor coming in. “Hi there, I’m Dr. Navarro. How are you feeling?”
Jenna shrugged. She knew Dr. Navarro was human but that he’d recently been clued in to the reality of Nocturne Falls. In other words, he probably knew she wasn’t just a sheriff’s deputy. “I have a headache, but that seems to be it.”
“We can get you some heavy-duty Tylenol for that, but with your metabolism, I’m not sure it would be effective.”
“I’ll be all right. When can I get out of here?”
“Whenever you’re ready. All your vitals are normal, so we have no reason to keep you. I would strongly suggest you rest for the next day or two while your system rids itself of the chemicals you inhaled. You might have some short-term memory loss, but we expect that to disappear quickly.”
Rest wasn’t really her thing, but she wasn’t going to tell the doc that. “Short-term memory loss, huh? That’s interesting. Do you know what any of the chemicals were yet?”
He nodded. “We did find trace amounts of pentothal in your blood work. It’ll be a few days before the rest of the labs are back.”
She frowned. “Truth serum?”
“That’s one of its uses. It’s also a powerful sedative. We’re pretty sure that’s what knocked you both out.”
“Wow. Anything else?”
“Nothing yet. We’ll be sure to let you know when the rest of the labs are back.” He smiled. “You’re officially discharged. But remember, a day or two of rest. And if you start feeling unwell again, please come back. I know you’re physically stronger than most of my patients, but I’m serious about the rest.”
She nodded. “Thanks. I will. I’m sure I’ll be fine.”
“All right. Have a safe trip home. An orderly will be in shortly to take you downstairs.”
Jenna held up a finger. “Just a second. Why do I need an orderly to take me downstairs? Are we talking wheelchair?”
Dr. Navarro nodded. “It’s hospital policy.”
“Yeah, that’s not going to happen, so you can save him the trip.”
“Jenna.” Tessa’s voice held all the signs of an imminent scolding. “It’s hospital policy.”
“I heard the man, but I’m a sheriff’s deputy. What are people going to think if I get wheeled out like an invalid? They need to have confidence in me.”
Dr. Navarro crossed his arms and gave Jenna a look that said he wasn’t about to give in. “Maybe those chemicals affected you more than we realized. Maybe an overnight stay for observation is in order after all.”
Jenna sighed. “Bring me the wheelchair.”
Jenna thanked the orderly who’d wheeled her out, then got herself into her sister’s car. Her headache seemed to be lessening. She felt pretty good. Especially because the hospital was now behind her. “Thanks for giving me a lift. Wait. Where are we going?”
“Your house. I guess that short-term memory loss is kicking in,” Tessa said as she climbed behind the wheel and put on her seat belt. “And you’re welcome for the ride. That’s what family is for.”
“Speaking of, how’s Sebastian? Still grumpy?”
“He’s not grumpy.” Tessa started up her Mercedes SUV, a gift from the man himself on their one-year wedding anniversary. But Jenna wasn’t jealous. On the contrary, she was ridiculously happy for her sister. And she really liked Sebastian. After all, he was the reason her sister had stayed in Nocturne Falls. “He’s just a serious man.”
“Which is why you’re so well matched.”
“I’m not that serious.”
“You can be,” Jenna said. “You’ve actually lightened up a bit in the last year or so.”
“Thanks.” Tessa’s sarcasm was thick. “You’re not exactly a barrel of monkeys, you know.”
“Please. I’m a freaking delight.”
Tessa snorted as she drove away from the hospital entrance. “Sure, if you think going to the range or drinking some beers is a good time.”
“Everyone should practice their range skills. And excuse me for not liking fancy drinks.”
Tessa smirked. “Wine is not a fancy drink.”
“It is when it’s five hundred dollars a bottle.”
“Sebastian has good taste. And as far as range time goes…” Tessa shook her head. “We’re valkyries. We have magical swords permanently etched into our backs, ready to
