4.

Lisa and Jason materialized in the tree line at the edge of the Moondance clan's camp. Lisa wanted to talk to Rafael before they went to investigate Morton Snacks. She was hoping that Rafael might be able to shed some light on what could be in the Blue Ice soda that was causing these weird side-effects.

It was about 11am when they arrived.

"Come on," said Lisa grabbing Jason's arm and pulling him along, "This time-of-day Rafael will be in the big top practicing his act!"

A couple minutes later, Jason and Lisa arrived at the big-top's main entrance. They walked through the curtain that hung over the big top's main entrance and came face to face with Gertie De Luca. The clan's resident busybody and gossip.

"Well, Well, what have we here," she said, with a sly smile, her eyes darting back and forth between Lisa and Jason.

"Not what you're thinking, Gertie!" snapped Lisa glaring

Gertie just smirked and walked off.

"I ought to deck her!" growled Lisa only slightly under her breath

"Simmer down, Lisa," said Jason trying to defuse Lisa's temper, "What was that all about anyway?"

"That was Gertie De Luca, she's a busybody and a gossip. We have a history." Replied Lisa

"Oh really, how so?" asked Jason

"She spread rumors all through the clan that you and I were going out behind Rafael's back!" explained Lisa

"What?!" snapped Jason, "Why didn't you tell me about it?!"

"Because Rafael and I were able to quash the rumor as soon as we found out about it," replied Lisa, "and we worried that if we let it get out of the camp at all, it could damage the reputation of Whyte investigations!"

Jason smiled at this.

"Thanks Lisa," he said, "I appreciate that very much."

"No problem," said Lisa, "That's what friends are for!"

"I'm glad the rumors didn't cause a problem for you and Rafael," said Jason

Lisa smiled

"Fortunately, Rafael had already met you and was too smart to believe a word that came out of Gertie's mouth!" she replied

Lisa turned and scanned the room until she spotted Rafael, he was over in the far ring practicing his trick riding act. He was doing a handstand on his horse as it trotted around the ring.

Just as Lisa and Jason arrived at the ring, Rafael came down from his handstand and saw Lisa.

"Hello my beautiful one." He grinned

Lisa smiled back and blushed a little, gazing at Rafael until Jason, who suddenly felt very awkward, cleared his throat just loud enough to remind Lisa of his presence and snap her out of it!

"Right," she said, shaking her head to clear it, "Rafael, we need your help."

"What's up?" said Rafael pulling a sugar cube out of his pocket and treating his horse with it.

Lisa filled him in on what had happened to Ashley Lake.

"Do you know of anything that could cause symptoms like that?" asked Lisa

"There are several possibilities that come to mind," said Rafael, "But if we want to narrow it down, we need to talk to Cassandra the Clan apothecary. She's forgotten more about this stuff than I'll ever know."

Rafael asked his cousin Gemma, who was passing by right then, to look after his horse for him. she graciously agreed and he handed her the lead telling her he owed her a big one, then he led the way to Cassandra's trailer.

Rafael knocked on the door of the trailer and a few seconds later it opened. There stood a pretty woman with long straight black hair, coal-colored eyes and a warm smile.

"Hello Rafael," she said, "Did you pull a tendon rehearsing again?"

"No, no, Miss Cassie," he smiled, "I learned my lesson after that last time, now I always stretch out first!"

"Good," nodded Cassandra, "I'm glad to hear it." Then she saw the others.

"Um who are your friends?" asked Cassandra

"Oh yes," said Rafael, he motioned to Lisa, "This is Lisa Atwood."

"Ah I see," said Cassandra, "Shaking hands with Lisa, "The famous Lisa Atwood, it's nice to officially meet you."

"Nice to meet you too," replied Lisa with a smile

Rafael turned to Jason.

"This is Jason Whyte a friend of mine and Lisa's," said Rafael

Jason and Cassandra shook hands.

"Miss Cassie," said Rafael, "We need to pick you brain."

"Well Come on it," said Cassandra stepping aside and motioning them to enter, "Let's talk."

They all walked in and saw that Cassandra's trailer was a cross between living quarters and a laboratory. There were three shelves in the main sitting area filled with all manner of healing herbs, plants and oils.

Cassandra half-leaned half-sat on the edge of the sturdy workbench that was there as Rafael explained to everything that Lisa had told him. and how she had described Ashley's symptoms.

Cassandra folded her arms across her chest and began to pace in front of her workbench as the wheels in her mind turned.

Finally, after several seconds, she spoke.

"There is only one thing that I can think of that does all the things you mentioned," she said, "It's a rare flower called the blue heart it's a cousin, if you will, to the Wanderer's heart. In a proper and safe small dose, it was and is an excellent pain killer."

"I hear a 'but' in there," said Jason

Cassandra nodded.

"But, in a higher dose, it can cause a euphoric tingling sensation," she explained, "and if you go even higher with the dose it will cause everything you described!"

"Is it addictive?" asked Lisa looking grave and worried

"In those higher doses, it can be." Cassandra replied nodding.

A few minutes later, after thanking Cassandra for her help, Lisa, Jason and Rafael headed back over to Rafael's family Caravan. While Rafael went inside to change clothes, Lisa and Jason sat down at the picnic table to talk.

"I think we now know the what and why of this case," said Jason

"Yeah," said Lisa, "Morton snacks wanted to increase sales, so they add a potentially addictive chemical to their new soda!"

"Right," said Jason, "But in one batch, so far, it sounds like they got the dose a little too high!"

Lisa nodded

"The batch that bottle Ashley got was from!" she said, "We need to call the others!"

To Be continued…Please Review