Page 39 of Twilight Tactics

“We’re still discussing,” Sully said.

Maya placed a gentle hand on Ollie’s shoulder. “When did you last take your meds?”

Ollie shrugged her off, then sighed. “Sorry. I’m just annoyed at myself. I took my meds last night, but I...” She hesitated. “I don’t think I did this morning.” She pinched the bridge of her nose, looking about twenty years older than her fourteen years. “I’ll go do that now.”

“Good idea.”

“Tomorrow,” Ollie said to Elena. “If we’re here.”

“Sure,” Elena said. “Get some rest.”

Ollie disappeared in the direction of her room, and Maya frowned, then shook her head. Elena glanced at him, then Maya. “Want me to talk to her?”

Sully nodded. “Yeah. Just reassure her if you can.” Reassure her that he would do whatever it took to keep her safe. Even if it meant making her mad.

Elena stood outside the closeddoor, wondering if the timing was right to talk to Ollie. Then again, it didn’t seem time was their friend, so...

She knocked.

Nothing.

She knocked again.

Heard rummaging and a thump. Then a low groan. “Ollie? You okay? It’s Elena.”

Silence, then the door cracked. The girl’s pale face had lightened another shade. Ollie stepped back. “Might as well get this over with.”

“I’m sorry. I don’t mean to intrude. I just wanted to make sure you were all right.” While the words were true, they were still an excuse to lay eyes on the teen without coming across as being suffocating or overprotective. Because she clearly didnotappreciate that.

“It’s not that.” She swung the door open and stomped to the bed where she’d dumped the contents of her backpack. “I can’t find my medication.” She turned and met Elena’s gaze. Tears welled and she swiped them away with one hand and took a deep breath. “I had them in the side pocket of my pack. That’s where I keep them. They’re always there.” She flung a hand at the offending pocket. “And now they’re not.”

“Could they have fallen out?”

“Of a zipped pocket?”

“Maybe you forgot to zip it?”

Ollie scowled. “I know I’m fourteen so I’m supposed to be dumb and make stupid mistakes. And I’m not completely innocent of those things. But my meds are one thing I don’t make mistakes with.”

Except she couldn’t remember if she’d taken her meds that morning.

Ollie cut her a sideways glance. “And before you go thinking I forgot whether I took them this morning or not, I took them.”

Okay, that was a little disconcerting. “Mind read a lot?”

“No, but it’s what I’d think if I were you.”

“If you didn’t forget, why did you say you couldn’t remember?”

“I just wanted out of the kitchen. I said the first thing that popped in my head.”

At least that tracked with her age.

“When did you last see them? This morning’s dose?”

“Yeah.” Her voice dropped to a whisper. “And I put the pack right back in my bag, I swear.”

“Then let’s search your room.”