Dr. Greenberg’s fingers quickly stitched me up, and she wiped the blood off my shoulder.
I swallowed as the light above me clicked off, and I could see Dr. Greenberg’s face. I was lucky she was in today. She usually only came in for very select PIB cases, and she didn’t work with local enforcement.
“Next time I see you on my table Abigail, you better be dead.”
Seeing as her table was a morgue table, I couldn’t help but smile. “Sorry, the person trying to kill me failed.”
She chuckled. “You’re all stitched up. Let Liz get some gauze on it. Keep it clean. I know you heal quickly because of magic, but this seemed different.” She held the tray out to Liz. “Your secret is safe with me. Do you want me to get this tested?”
“Off the record.”
“Of course.” Dr. Greenberg smiled. “Anything for my two favorite agents.”
I wasn’t sure how we became her favorite agents, but I wasn’t going to ask right now. I slowly sat up and got off the table. Liz jerked her head to the door. “Let’s go before O’Donald gets back.”
I nodded and followed her into the hall. “My legs are less shaky.”
“Your color is better too.” She gave me another worried look. “Do you feel okay, though?”
“I feel a little lightheaded, but nothing like before.” I walked toward the stairs and paused. “Maybe I should take the elevator.”
“Hm, that’s what worries me. You’re willing to take the elevator.” She motioned to the stairs. “We need to prove to O’Donald that you’re okay.”
I nodded and started up the stairs. Part of me felt like I was floating, while the logical part of my brain was trying to keep me grounded. “Doc didn’t give me any pain killers, did she?”
“No, we didn’t want to risk it because we didn’t know what the poison was. Why?”
“Because I’m starting to feel a little bit like I’m drugged.” I’d been drugged a couple times, mostly so people could keep me docile. None of them felt exactly like this.
“Come on, keep going,” she urged and pulled her phone out. “I’m going to give Merick that little update.”
An image of Merick in his cat form pawing at the phone came up in my mind. I giggled. Full-on giggled.
“Abby?”
I shook my head, causing the world to spin like a tilt-a-whirl. “Nothing, nothing. Just silly things.”
“Maybe I should text Levi too.”
“No!” I shouted and then took a deep breath. “No. He doesn’t need that update. This was a random act of violence. I just need to sit down and let whatever it is get out of my system.” I put my hand against the wall. “I need a lot of water and some coffee.” Because I never got mine before being shot.
I shook the selfish thought away. There were others out there hurt, and if their bullet was laced with the same thing mine was, there would be a body count.
We finally made it to my office to find O’Donald standing outside the door with his arms crossed. An officer was with him, who looked a bit more pleasant and sympathetic.
“Agent O’Donald, sorry it took me so long to get up here.” I went and unlocked the door to my office. Liz and the officer walked in, but O’Donald stayed on the outside.
“Are you going to join us for the statement?” I tried to keep my voice even and give no sign that I felt like I was three feet off the ground and being tumble dried.
He eyed the office and then shook his head. “You’re a big agent, Agent Collins. I expect you to get your statement done and go back to your paperwork.”
I had actually been planning on going home, but I guess I should probably complete the facade of feeling okay.
I watched him walk down the hallway toward the elevator before shutting the door. It was interesting that he didn’t want to enter my office. Maybe he had other things to do than babysit me. I glanced at the doll on my desk.
Or maybe he couldn’t enter.
“Special Agent Collins?” The officer asked, and I went to sit down at my desk. I frowned because something seemed off about him now.
His face started to roll with waves as if the ocean lived under his skin. I tried to keep any reaction off my face but apparently failed because he tilted his head to the side.
Liz made sure the door was shut before coming over and sitting in the chair in front of my desk.
“Special Agent Collins, I’m here because of the shooting that happened down the street. I’m sure you’re aware of that?”
His face started to swirl, but I nodded. “I am.” I was going to throw up.
“Abigail, I also have to make you aware that I work for the King’s Guard as an ambassador with the human police force.”
Oh, that was really good to know. “Oh, good. So you’ll report all this to Levi.” His whole body started to swirl. “You know, fuck it. I’m pretty sure I’ve been drugged somehow, and you’re a rainbow ball of swirls right now.”
He glanced at Liz, who came to my side. Her hair started shimmering, and I blinked a few times. She wasn’t swirling, but she was glowing with a silver aura.
Yep. This was weird.
She put her hands on my face. “Pupils dilated.” Her fingers went to the pulse point on my neck. “Pulse erratic.”
“Others down the road are acting the same way.” The officer reached for his phone.
I jumped out of my chair as his skin turned red. “Liz…Liz!”
She came back to my side. “Abby, I need you to take a few deep breaths. We don’t want O’Donald coming in here.”
That was true. I took a few deep breaths
