“You’re a lifesaver,” Dylan said, grabbing the pills.
“I know,” Amanda said. “You can make it up to me later.”
Tara joined them soon after, and she accepted Amanda’s ministrations with equal gratitude. Her hands shook as she swallowed the chalky tablets before sipping her coffee. “Thanks, Amanda.”
“You look like death,” Amanda answered with a wide grin.
“Well, I feel like one of my lab specimens,” Tara said, eyeing her trembling fingers with a grimace. “I’ve even got the shakes.”
“I don’t feel so hot myself,” Dylan said, shooting Amanda a baleful look. “How come you look so perky?”
“I’ve been up for a while, and I’ve had time to get over the worst,” Amanda admitted. “It’s amazing what caffeine, ibuprofen, and a hot shower can do for you.”
“A hot shower sounds heavenly,” Dylan replied.
“There are plenty of towels. Rita won’t mind,” Amanda said.
“Let me finish my coffee first,” Dylan said, massaging her throbbing temples with her fingertips.
“How about you, Tara?” Amanda offered. “Are you up for a quick shower? Or I could make you something to eat if you’re hungry.”
“Not for me, thanks,” Tara said, sliding her empty coffee cup toward Amanda. “I need to get home.”
Amanda shrugged. “If you’re sure.”
“I am. I need to rip Saul a new one,” Tara said.
“Don’t be too hard on him. He just wanted you to have some fun,” Amanda said. “You did have fun, didn’t you?”
“Yeah, I did. Despite myself,” Tara conceded.
“There, see?” Amanda said with a low laugh. “That wasn’t so hard to admit.”
“Yeah, you’re kind of cool when you don’t have that stick up your ass,” Dylan said.
Tara rolled her eyes. “Whatever. At least, I can hold a note.”
Dylan chuckled. “True. I suck at karaoke, but you, my friend, aren’t half bad.”
“Anyway, I’ll see you guys later,” Tara said, gathering her coat and bag.
“Give the lab a skip, will you? It can wait for a day,” Dylan said.
“Oh, don’t you worry. My bed is calling to me,” Tara vowed as she reached the front door. “Tell Rita I said goodbye.”
“Will do,” Dylan said before turning back to Amanda. “Speaking of which. Where is Rita?”
Amanda frowned. “She went to the bathroom.”
“This long?”
“Maybe she passed out again. She was in pretty rough shape this morning.”
“No, kidding. She drank most of the tequila last night,” Dylan said, wrinkling her nose.
Amanda shuddered. “Thank goodness I only had a couple of shots.”
“Let me check up on her,” Dylan said, sliding off her stool. “I need to pee anyway.”
“Good idea.”
Dylan weaved her way down the hall toward the single bathroom and knocked on the door. “Rita? Are you in there?”
At first, nothing but silence met her ears, and she repeated the process. “Rita! Are you there?”
Faint sobs echoed through the cracked wooden door, and Dylan reached for the knob. “Rita, are you okay? Do you need help?”
When Rita didn’t answer, she twisted the handle. “Hold on. I’m coming in.”
The door swung wide, and Dylan froze in the entrance. Bile rushed up her throat as the coppery scent of blood flooded her nostrils. Rita lay on the floor, cradling her injured arm. The bandages were soaked in crimson, and the cream-colored tiles were splattered with the stuff. “Rita, what did you do?”
Rita stared at Dylan with glassy eyes. “What needed to be done.”
“You idiot, how could you?” Dylan cried, taking a step forward. Her boot crunched on something hard, and she looked down. It was a metal screw—one of those that belonged in Rita’s arm.
“Oh, God.” Raising her voice, Dylan shouted, “Amanda come quick. It’s Rita.”
Footsteps sounded as Amanda sprinted down the hall. She appeared in the open doorway and took in the scene with wide eyes. “Holy crap. What did she do?”
“What she’s been threatening to do all along,” Dylan said. “She got rid of her arm for good.”
***
Hours later, Dylan sat on a couch in the waiting room. Her head hung low over her knees, and her headache had yet to abate. She accepted the cup of tepid tea Brenda handed her with a grunt. “How much longer?”
Brenda shrugged. “It should be any moment now.”
Amanda didn’t speak. Instead, she paced the floor of the tiny room with restless strides. Her shirt bore the stains of Rita’s blood, as did Dylan’s. Together, they’d carried their friend across the grounds to the emergency room where a horrified Ethan greeted them. Minutes later, she was rushed into the theater.
Now, they waited.
Finally, the door opened to admit Ethan. He looked tired. Tired and resigned.
Dylan jumped to her feet. “How is she?”
“Could you save her arm?” Amanda added.
Ethan shook his head. “Unfortunately not. I had to amputate.”
Dylan closed her eyes, horrified. “I can’t believe it.”
“I had no choice,” Ethan continued. “She made sure there was nothing left to work with. The bones were shattered, and most of the pins and rods were torn out of place. She mangled the limb.”
“Damn it,” Amanda cried. “Why did she do it? We talked about this last night. I thought she was over it.”
“So did I,” Dylan said, sadness filling her heart.
“She was playing you. All of you,” Ethan continued with a deep sigh. “In the end, she got what she wanted.”
“What now?” Dylan asked.
“Now you go. There is nothing more to be done for Rita, and she needs to rest. You can come back tomorrow,” Ethan said.
“Can’t we see her before we leave?” Dylan asked.
“I’d rather not. She’s heavily sedated,” Ethan replied.
“But—” Amanda protested.
“Go home, both of you. It looks like you could use the rest yourselves,” Ethan said. When Dylan and Amanda hesitated, he added, “She’s not going anywhere, I promise.”
“Fine, I’ll be back tomorrow,” Dylan conceded.
“Me too,” Amanda said.
Together, they left the infirmary in silence, their footsteps echoing through the long corridors. Outside, they found an anxious-looking Nick, his shoulders hunched. “We need to talk.”
“I’ll head on home,” Amanda said, flashing them a look.
“Thanks,” Dylan said. “I’m sorry our night had to end this way. I had fun.”
“Me too. See
