Tears blurred my vision, streaking hot down my face. "Let me go to the hospital! You'll see for yourself when we get there! If Hal's fine, you can drag me back and do whatever you want to me!"
A few bystanders nearby started whispering among themselves.
"That girl's crying for real..."
"What if it actually is her brother?"
My mother's expression shifted. She whipped around and pointed at them. "What do you people know? This girl's been a liar since she was little!"
"Now she's cursing her own brother just to get away! I've been too soft on her!"
She turned and glared at the guards.
"What are you standing around for? Take her to drink the medicine! If the gold doesn't come out, that's on you!"
Captain Paulson waved his hand.
"Take her."
Two guards hauled me up off the floor.
I twisted around, straining against them.
"Mom! I'm begging you! You're going to get him killed!"
My mother stood where she was, arms folded across her chest, eyes cold as glass.
"Go on. Keep acting. Let's see how long you can keep this up."
The guards shoved me into a chair and pushed the cup in front of me.
"Quit stalling. You drinking it yourself, or are we pouring it down your throat?"
I drew a long breath.