Sam asks if he can see Dr. Abernathy, only to find she's not there. Raleigh tells him that Dr. McNulty is there, and he can speak to him.
"He's in, but busy with discharges," Molly replied. "Cybil certainly picked a bad day to get sick."
"Not like you can predict that, honey," Raleigh replied.
"She sounded fit and fine to me," Molly replied with a sniff. "Food poisoning my Aunt Fannie!" She got up and bustled into the kitchen.
Sam and Emma exchanged a quick glance. Sam changed the subject.
"No, it's cool. Thanks."
"No problem. If you change your mind, just say the word."
"Will do."
No one felt like being alone. Once Glenn and Carlos returned from talking to Detective Tan, they settled in the common room. Sam made a point of telling the detective, on the sly, that Dr. Abernathy wasn't in. He nodded, not saying much. Instead, he said goodbye, but made sure that there were officers guarding the entrance to their wing of the building. The pool and weight room were locked up. No one went anywhere near the lock down wing.
They were just sitting down to dinner when Dr. McNulty walked in. Molly invited him to join them. He nodded his thanks, sitting not far from Sam and Emma. He said very little during the meal, but thanked them graciously as he took his dishes to the kitchen.
"I wonder if I might speak with Sam and Emma," he said quietly when the clean up was done.
"If I'm with you," Raleigh said.
"Sure. Of course. If the children don't mind?"
"We don't mind," Sam replied. "We don't mind if you talk to us out here." He gestured to the common room.
"I'd rather not." McNulty cleared his throat. "Please."
"Of course," Emma replied. She led the way to the library.
Raleigh went with them, closing the door behind them. Dr. McNulty had his hands shoved in the pockets of his lab coat. He walked to the center of the room, head lowered, shoulders slumped.
"You okay, Doc?" Raleigh asked, taking a step toward him.
"I really wish you hadn't come with us," Dr. McNulty said quietly. "It makes this so much more difficult."
Sam stiffened. Emma, who was about to sit, stopped. Raleigh didn't pick up on the clues quite as fast and moved a little closer. McNulty spun around, grabbing him. A syringe hovered near Raleigh's throat.
"You're going to tell me everything," he said through gritted teeth. "Or he's a dead man."
"Anton, what the f**k?" Raleigh struggled.
The needle pressed against his throat, not quite pricking the skin. "You really don't want to struggle," he replied. "The medication in this syringe is rather awful, I'm afraid. It won't be pretty. But the effects closely mimic a heroin overdose."
Raleigh stopped moving, his eyes latched desperately on Sam. Emma hadn't moved. She was still partially crouched by her chair. Sam examined the situation. There were few options open to him. If Raleigh got even a partial dose of the medication, it could kill him. He wouldn't take that chance. However, they would all die if he didn't do something rather quickly.
"What do you want to know?" Sam asked.
"Where is it?"
Sam pursed his lips, raising his eyebrows. "Not sure I should tell you. Not exactly something we want to share."
Emma cut her eyes at him. She knew he was up to something, but wasn't sure what. Sam had no information, but he seemed to be improvising.
"Your search of Dr. Stewart's office didn't get you anywhere, did it?" Sam looked smug. "Too bad. Beat ya to it." He flashed a cocky grin.
"Give it to me!" McNulty held out his hand, letting go of Raleigh.
©2020 Dellani Oakes
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