Star Struck(65)
~ 38 ~
“This must be from your new man,” Jackie said, as she walked in Hailey’s office with a bouquet of red roses and a box of candy.
“They are beautiful,” Hailey said, anxious to read the card.
Jackie handed both to her. Hailey looked but didn’t see a card. “Where’s the card?” Hailey asked.
Jackie responded, “There wasn’t any.”
Disappointed, Hailey said, “You can eat some of the candy. Just save me a piece for later.”
“You sure. This is the expensive chocolate.”
“And that means what to me?” Hailey asked.
Jackie said, “Well, you don’t have to tell me twice.” Jackie removed a round thick piece of chocolate that looked like turtles and ate it. In between bites, “It’s good but it has a funny taste to it.”
“Let me taste one,” Hailey said.
Jackie reached out to hand her the box of candy but before Hailey could take it, Jackie started panting hard and fell to the floor barely missing the edge of the desk.
Hailey screamed, “Oh my God. Somebody help me please.” She rushed from around her desk. Bach happened to be walking down the hall and heard her. “What’s going on?” he asked as soon as he entered the room.
“Hurry, call 9-1-1,” Hailey yelled.
Bach retrieved his phone and made the call. “I’m not sure what happened.”
Hailey said, “She was eating candy and then she passed out. Oh my God, the candy could be poisoned.”
Bach attempted CPR on Jackie, but she remained passed out. It didn’t take long for the paramedics to arrive. She moved out of the way as she listened to Bach explain to them what happened. One of the paramedics said, “She could have had an allergic reaction, but we won’t know that for sure until we get her to the hospital.”
Hailey rocked back and forth as the paramedics tried to revive Jackie. Bach and John tried to calm her. “Where’s Garrett?” she asked.
Bach responded, “His secretary said he was on his way.”
The paramedic said, “She’s coming around.”
“Thank God,” Hailey said.
One of the officers walked up to her. “Has her next of kin been notified?”
John responded, “I’ve contacted her parents. They will be meeting us at the hospital.”
Hailey by now was standing by Jackie’s side. She said, as Jackie’s eyes flittered open and close. “You got to get better. Who else can put up with my mood swings?”
She thought she saw a slight smile on Jackie’s face, but wasn’t sure. The paramedic said, “Ma’am, we got to get her in the ambulance now.”
Hailey released Jackie’s hand so they could do their job. Mo wrapped his arms around her. “I’ll ride in the ambulance with her. You don’t need to be there. The media is going to be all over this.”
“I don’t care. Jackie has to be okay.”
Mo said to John. “Take care of her. Let me go before they leave me.”
He placed Hailey’s hand in John’s and left to enter the back of the ambulance. “Hailey, I got here as soon as I could,” Garrett said, making his way through the small crowd that had gathered from other parts of the studio.
She ran into Garrett’s arms not caring what anyone said. “Someone tried to kill me, but instead they almost got her. I had received a bouquet of flowers and candy. I thought they were from you. She asked for a piece of candy so I was like sure—take the whole box.”
“Where’s the package now?” Garrett asked.
“You’ll have to ask one of them,” Hailey said, pointing in the direction of the police officers.
“John, stay with her.”
“I’m coming with you,” Hailey protested.
“Fine.” Garrett made his way through the small crowd.
Hailey followed behind Garrett and listened in as he asked the detective questions about the contents of the box.
Detective Thomas said, “Until we get our lab to confirm, I can’t say for sure what was in the candy. Ms. Barnes here says after she ate the candy, she started heaving and passed out. It’ll be two days before we learn of anything.”
“I have connections that can get it back sooner,” Garrett stated.
“Sir, that might be the case, but this is my investigation.”
Garrett pulled out his card. “I’ve been working with Special Agent Morrison and he has assured me that…”
Detective Thomas interrupted him. “Why didn’t you say so?” He got the attention of another detective. “Have this rushed. We need to know what was in the candy no later than this time tomorrow.”