‘Do we take her to hospital?’ Hamish asked uncertainly into the sudden silence.
Jemma shook her head, and Charlee replied dully, ‘She’s over the worst of the trip. Let her sleep it off.’
‘Ethan!’ His relief as his mate walked through the back door would be embarrassing if it hadn’t been so short-lived. Ethan looked wrecked.
Charlee’s head jerked around. ‘Where the hell did you get to?’
Though she tried to talk tough, Hamish didn’t miss the wobble in her voice.
Ethan frowned. ‘I was moving the stuff. You know that, Charlee.’
‘Moving what stuff?’ Jemma cut in coldly.
Ethan looked past Hamish. His eyes narrowed on Tara. ‘Jesus. Her too?’ He looked back at Charlee, shook his head. ‘I thought you were smarter, Charls. But to let Tara use, too …’
‘I fucking didn’t!’ Charlee’s cry was anguished. ‘You didn’t even give me a chance to explain, Ethan. Tara was in my bedroom; I’d taken the shit off her because I didn’t want anyone in Settlers to know she’d fucked up. I don’t use anymore, you know I don’t. Bloody hell, if I did, it wouldn’t have been on the table for you to snatch!’
‘Why are you all on my case?’ Tara struggled up from the lounge. ‘You made your own choices, you got to try it. And you’re fine, right? I mean, there’s nothing that can’t be fixed. Why can’t I escape for a while, too?’
Hamish grabbed her as she stumbled.
Jemma moved as far away as she could in the small room and he desperately tried to catch her gaze.
‘Escape?’ Ethan repeated with a harsh laugh. ‘Thisis what escape looks like.’ He unclipped what Hamish hadn’t realised were veneers from his teeth, revealing a jagged row of rotted stumps and inflamed gums.
As Tara reflexively stepped back, Hamish gripped her arms from behind, forcing her to face her future. If they were having an unscheduled, unorthodox intervention, he was totally here for it.
‘You’ve got to do better, Tara,’ Ethan said, his words slurred without the false teeth. ‘Be better. And Charlee, I’m really sorry.’
Tears filled Ethan’s eyes as Charlee shook her head brokenly. ‘You could have trusted me, Ethan,’ she whispered.‘I’ve never lied to you.’ She turned to Tara. ‘This is what escape through drugs looks like. Even if your friends don’t die, you bloody lose them. And we’re the lucky ones.’
Ethan huffed softly. ‘Yeah. Well, maybe not so lucky.’
His words fell into a sudden stillness, then Charlee turned slowly to look at him. ‘What do you mean?’
Ethan’s breath was ragged and Hamish’s heart thumped painfully.
‘I got pulled over on my way back from yours,’ Ethan said slowly.
Charlee shrugged, then she froze. ‘You still had the gear?’
Jemma gave a soft huff.
‘The cops found it?’ Hamish asked. He released Tara and moved to Jemma’s side.
‘They asked to search the vehicle?’ Jemma said with a frown.
‘Didn’t have to. I told them upfront I had it.’ Ethan replied. ‘The way I look, I’m sure they had cause to search.’ He glared at Tara. ‘Because that’s what happens if you use. Guilty regardless.’
Jemma clicked her tongue, lifted one shoulder. Hamish could just about feel the reluctance to get involved rolling off her. ‘I’m going to take a leap and assume you have priors?’
‘Mmm.’
‘But you told them the smartees weren’t yours, right?’ Charlee said anxiously.
‘No!’ Tara gasped, seeming to suddenly grasp the potential personal repercussions. ‘I mean, you’re here now, so it’s all good? There were only two smartees left. And if there’s a fine, I’ll pay it, of course.’
‘I wish it was just a fine,’ Ethan said. ‘It’ll go to court. At the very least, it’s going to cost me my job.’
