Page 52 of The Drowned Woman
“Slow down, Jack. What’s wrong?”
“It’s Risa. She’s been sick all night. I’ve tried everything, I don’t know what else to do. Could you come over? Please?”
Leah blew out her breath. “Is she awake? Can I talk with her?”
“She hasn’t slept at all. Vomiting and nausea. I’ve gotten sips of electrolytes into her, so I don’t think she’s dehydrated—not yet. But I just—” His voice broke. “It just never stops. I can’t—she can’t take much more. She’s in so much pain, she tries to hide it, but I can tell. I just… I don’t know what else to do. I’ve tried everything.” Jack sounded close to tears himself.
“Keep up with the fluids, small sips every few minutes. If she gets worse before I get there, promise me you’ll call an ambulance. I’m on my way.”
Thirty-One
When Leah reached Risa’s apartment she had to show her ID to an uniformed officer before he let her get close enough to knock. It was Jack who opened the door. “She seems better now,” he said as he led her into the living room. “No more vomiting, at least.”
Leah paused, observing her patient. If this was “better” then she wished Jack had called sooner. Risa was pale, shaking so badly that she had to hold her mug with both hands, and sweat stained the T-shirt she wore over a pair of leggings. She raised the mug to her lips but instead of drinking from it, she spat into it, then wiped even more drool from her mouth with a washcloth. Finally, she seemed to notice Leah standing there, holding her knapsack containing her medical gear.
“I told him not to call you.” Risa’s voice was flat with fatigue. She closed her eyes and curled up in the chair. “I’m fine.”
Leah approached her, glancing into the mug Risa clutched, then at her patient. Despite her vomiting, Risa’s lips were moist—in fact, she seemed to be swallowing frequently. “Headache?” Leah asked.
Risa simply nodded, her eyes still closed. She raised the mug and spat again.
“Does that happen often? The spitting?” Leah tapped the mug and Risa looked at Leah wearily. Her eyes were red, her pulse strong but rapid as Leah closed her fingers around Risa’s wrist.
“Sorry.” Risa set the mug on the table beside her. “I know it’s gross, I can’t help it.”
“Excessive salivation, it’s a pretty specific symptom.”
“It’s new, only happened a few times,” Risa mumbled.
“Not yesterday when I saw you,” Leah said. “You weren’t as sweaty then either.”
“Yesterday was more like usual—the medicine works better when it’s like usual.”
“Zofran,” Jack volunteered. “The doctor gave it for her nausea and it usually helps the headaches as well.”
“Not so much this time, but whatever it was, I’m feeling better.”
“Any diarrhea? Or just the nausea and vomiting?”
“No diarrhea. The vomiting stopped, but I’m still nauseated.”
“When did it start?” Leah asked.
“The nausea hit her a little bit after dinner,” Jack answered.
“Later than that,” Risa said. “Dom had already left, right? At least I think so.”
“What did you have for dinner?”
“The pasta you saw me making—we all had it,” Jack said. “Dom and I had wine, Risa just tea.” He stopped. “Risa, I opened the wine and poured it, I remember that. But I didn’t get you your tea.”
“Dom got it for me.” Risa frowned as she saw Jack’s expression close down.
“Of course he did.” He turned to Leah. “You know how I said I thought there was a pattern to Risa’s episodes? She gets worse every time Dom visits.”
Leah blinked. Did he seriously suspect Dom of poisoning Risa? “Risa, is that true?”
“What? No. You’re both crazy. Dom would never—”
