Most days, I kept my phone in my locker because I just didn’t have enough time in the day to answer any calls or messages. Today was different, though.

When there’s a chance you’ll have to grab your bags and drive to the airport at a moment’s notice, you have to stay informed. During my break between shifts, I wrote a letter to Felicity, explaining as much as I could.

In the letter, I told her that if I suddenly disappeared with my mom, not to go looking for me. Once I was safe, I’d send word back to her. But, for my own protection, no one could know where I was going. I gave her instructions for telling the hospital about my resignation and if anyone asked, I took some time off to travel the world.

I was devastated that I had to leave Felicity behind without a proper explanation. She had always been such a good friend to me, and I was leaving her in the city with Kara. I had a lot of good times with Kara, but once I started to suspect her working for my father, we weren’t as close as we used to be.

Silence from my phone was good, as far as I was concerned. If Apollo called, it was because something terrible happened and we’d have to leave as soon as possible. Otherwise, I could just focus on my work and count down the days until we were out of this place.

“Forty-four-year-old woman suspected alcohol poisoning,” a nurse called to the front desk. I rushed to the door to assist the paramedics.

“We found her alone in her home. Someone called it in, but there was no one else there by the time we arrived,” the paramedic said. “Her heart rate is stable, but we’re having a hard time getting her to wake up.”

It took me a moment to realize whose eyes I was shining a light into.

“Oh my God,” I gasped. “That’s my mom.”

“Do you want me to handle this?” another nurse said, stepping forward.

I nodded, feeling weak at the knees.

“You better come along anyway,” the older nurse said. “If it gets to be too much for you, you can sit outside. It’s a slow night tonight anyway.”

I dragged my feet behind the stretcher, following them back into the examination room.

“Does your mother have a history of alcohol abuse?” the physician asked.

“I guess,” I cried. “I just found out about it recently. I thought she would stop.”

“We’re going to need to pump her stomach,” the physician said to the other nurse.

I had performed these procedures before, but it was so much worse when someone you knew was the patient. Usually, these things never fazed me, but I was starting to feel a little queasy.

I left the examination room to get a little air. My phone buzzed in my pocket.

“Hello?”

“Sierra?” Apollo’s voice said. “Is your mom there?”

“She’s having her stomach pumped as we speak,” I cried. “Did you know about this?”

“Who did you think called it in? It’s all part of the plan.”

“What the hell are you talking about?” I shrieked, running toward the nearest empty closet to have a little privacy. “She’s really sick.”

“Your mother and I discussed this earlier today. “We needed her to be in a safe place to get the heat off of her. If your dad gets a tip tomorrow that someone came into the police station and ratted him out, he’s not going to suspect your mom if she’s been in the hospital, will he? Also, under the careful cover of doctors and nurses, it’s not like someone can just come in and shoot her without causing a scene. That’s not your dad’s style. He waits until his subject is alone, every time.”

“My mother agreed to poison herself in order to advance your cause?” I was mad. They both knew how seriously ill she could get.

“Our cause, Sierra. She’ll be fine. She’s going to feel pretty bad for a day or two, but then we’ll be getting on a plane to go to Greece.”

“I don’t know if she should be flying so soon after an overdose.”

“She’ll be with a nurse. It will be fine. I’m sure her case is pretty mild as far as hospitalizations for this sort of thing go. But, we’re going to need your assistance.”

“What could I possibly do?” I hissed. “You want me to drug her or something?”

“Just make sure she isn’t discharged too soon. Your mom is pretty healthy, but she needs to stay in the hospital long enough to be safe. If she can be discharged shortly before we leave, that would be good.”

“I’ll see what I can do.”

“Good. Things are going according to plan,” he said, sounding way too cheery for my liking.

“I’m glad we’re closer to getting out of here, but I’m mad at both of you right now,” I said.

“I’m sorry,” he said. “I promise to make it up to you.”

“Is that what the flowers were for?”

“What?” he asked, sounding confused. “Oh, no, that was just because I wanted you to have something nice.”

My scowl subsided. “Please tell me that your plan doesn’t have any more dangerous stunts.”

“I have a meeting with the police tomorrow. Then we’re out of here.”

“Promise?”

“Promise.”

I hung up the phone and walked back toward my mother’s room. By now, I assumed she was on IV fluids, being monitored closely.

“What’s going on?” Kara asked me as I jogged down the hall. She must have seen me exit the closet empty handed. I thought about telling her a lie, but I was too annoyed at everyone to fib.

“My mom drank too much and now she’s having her stomach pumped,” I said flatly.

“Holy shit,” she gasped. “Are you okay?”

“No, Kara, I’m really not. But, if you want to help out, you can go ahead and let my dad know that his wife is in the hospital. How much will he pay you for that information, Kara?”

Her face turned white. In contrast, mine was red hot.

“How—” she squeaked.

“I had my suspicions for a while now. It was just too coincidental that he knew things that only you and Felicity would know.”

“I’m so sorry, Sierra,” she cried. “I needed the money so badly. I had so much debt from school and I never thought I’d get out of it. When he came to me, I was so desperate. I had no choice.”

“I get it,” I sighed. “It just sucks that you could only be my friend because my dad was paying you to. I hope it was worth it.”

“I don’t know if it was.”

“It doesn’t even matter now,” I said, feeling exhausted. “But if Felicity asks you why things are weird, I want you to tell her.”

She nodded sulkily. “Okay.”

Kara walked in the opposite direction, probably to report to my father while I ran back to my mom. Even though neither my mom nor Apollo seemed very concerned about overdosing to become hospitalized, I was. I had seen first-hand what too much alcohol could do to a person. I needed my mom to be there for me—not in a self-induced coma.