The Rachel Scott Adventures, Volume 1 by Traci Hohenstein Read Free Book Online Page A

desperately to remember what happened. If only her head didn’t hurt so badly.
    Then she starts to remember.
    The cruise ship. She was on a trip with her friends. Key West. Shopping. Drinking margaritas. Getting back on the boat. Going to dinner and then dancing at the nightclub. Maybe I have alcohol poisoning or passed out and hurt myself. God, my parents will be so pissed.
    If only she could get something cold to drink and something for her head. It hurts so much to think.
    Her mind flutters with more images.
    Josh. The cute guy that worked at the club. He walked her back to her room. She hadn’t felt well. What else? She has a feeling something is eluding her.
    She tries again to call for help, but her throat is so hoarse. Looking under the sheets, she sees that someone has put a long white T-shirt on her.
    The door creaks open. She slowly turns her head toward the door.
    “Ah, I see you’re awake. How are you feeling?” A woman with a thick accent walks with purpose into the room. She wears dark-green medical scrubs and carries a clipboard in her hand.
    “I need some water. Where am I?” Her voice just above a whisper.
    “You’re in a clinic. We found you unconscious on the beach. I’ll be right back with some water,” the woman says.
    “Wait. Can I call my parents?”
    “They’ve already been contacted, honey. Just rest now and I’ll be right back.” The woman leaves the room as quickly as she came in.
    Something doesn’t feel right about this. But she is too tired to think about it more.
    The nurse returns and gives her a sip of water before pulling a syringe out of her pocket.
    “What’s that for?”
    “It’s okay. Just something to help you relax a little.” The nurse puts the medicine in the IV.
    Just as she mumbles a protest, her eyes get heavy and she slips into a deep sleep.

CHAPTER 13
     
    “W e ran Josh McCain’s name through our database, and he’s red-flagged,” Drake said.
    Rachel and Drake had finished interviewing Governor Knowles, his wife, and some of the ship’s crew and then returned to the hotel to examine their notes. Cyndy had arranged for the hotel to provide a conference room for their use while staying there. She stayed behind on the ship with Phipps to review the rest of the security tapes.
    “What does that mean?” Rachel asked as she took another sip of coffee.
    “There are several reasons why someone’s name would be flagged in the system,” Drake explained. “Witness protection. Protected informant. The higher-ups at the FBI are trying to find out why McCain is flagged.”
    “So Josh is hiding from someone?” Rachel said.
    “More like Josh is not who we think he is. My guess is that Amber got caught up in something that he was involved in.”
    Rachel twirled her long auburn hair around her fingers and thought about this for a minute.
    “So let’s think about the possibilities. Amber meets Josh at the nightclub. Her friends said she was fine after dinner. She didn’t get sick until they got to the club. Maybe Josh slipped her something? Like a…What do they call it? Date rape drug?”
    “A roofie?”
    “Yeah. Maybe he drugged her?”
    “So she started feeling ill, and he offers to walk her back. Then he rapes her and throws her body overboard?” Drake continued for her. “No, I don’t think so. She had roommates. He couldn’t know when they’d come looking for her. And Josh’s coworker Andy said there was never a problem with Josh. His supervisor said the same thing. He has an exemplary employment record on file.”
    Rachel contemplated that for a minute. “Or maybe she had too much to drink. Her parents said she was taking medicine for headaches. Alcohol and medicine don’t mix well. She got sick and Josh was being a nice guy and offered to walk her back.”
    “She could have had a seizure or something and had an accident. Josh got scared and tried to cover it up,” Drake added. “But where is Josh?” His cell phone buzzed. He answered