Page 73 of Within Striking Distance
I have a theory about what could be wrong, but to beon the safe side, I wait for Melissa to check his blood pressure.
“BP’s 168 over 98,” Melissa advises, removing the cuff.
I frown. That’s higher than I expected. If he’d taken Viagra like I suspected, his BP would be low. There has to be something else.
Edward still hasn’t answered my question, so I repeat, “Sir? Any medications or other substances we should be aware of?”
If we give him the wrong drugs, it could set off a whole world of other problems.
Edward averts his gaze.
“It’s important,” I advise him. “It will affect what we can give you.”
“We haven’t taken anything,” the woman by the door says, setting off alarm bells. She saidweand nothe.It makes me think they’re all on something. Most likely a stimulant.
“Shut up,” he hisses, and she flinches.
Clenching my jaw, I glance at Jack, who gives me a subtle shake of his head as he checks Edward’s heart rate.
“134,” he says. “Regular.”
Too high for someone sitting still.
“Any medical history or heart problems?” I ask, struggling to keep my composure.
“No.”
He’s taken something tonight, and the longer he holds out on us, the more dangerous it becomes. I don’t want to risk giving him something that will cause his BP to drop or cause an actual heart attack.
I study the man, noticing his dilated pupils and the wayhis jaw moves, as though he’s grinding his teeth. Fuck, that makes everything so much more complicated.
My gaze flicks to the bedside table. There are no medication boxes, but there is a faint dusting of a substance along the edge of his dark phone screen.
“Let’s start with some oxygen,” I say, taking the mask from Melissa and securing it over his face with a steady hand.
I nod towards the women by the door, and Melissa takes the hint and says, “Let’s give Blake and Jack some space to run some more tests. Can you both step out of the room for a moment?”
Their eyes flit to Edward and back to Melissa before they leave with my adviser in tow.
I turn my focus back to Edward.
“Sir, I need you to be completely honest with me. What have you taken tonight?”
With a grimace, he points to the bedside drawer.
Jack opens it and pulls out a box of Viagra, confirming my suspicions.
“Anything else?” I prod. “Anything… recreational?”
“It’s confidential,” Jack says, stepping in. “We just need to treat you safely. If it’s not a heart attack, we don’t want to risk inadvertently giving you one.”
Fear flashes in his eyes, and he points to a little black purse lying next to the phone.
“Do you give us permission to look inside?” Jack asks.
Edward gives a brusque nod.
My supervisor opens the purse and pulls out a small baggie filled with white powder. I’d bet my inheritance it’s cocaine.
