Renie was on her hands and knees, searching under the
sofas, chairs, and coffee table. “I don’t see anything. Maybe
we should get that flashlight.” She started to stand up and
accidentally knocked over Judith’s shoulder bag. Some of
the contents spilled out onto the floor. Renie let
out a little yip. “It’s your pager, you moron! Somebody’s
trying to reach you!”
At that moment, the elevator opened, and Max, Gene, and
Ward entered the lobby. Between them, they were awkwardly
carrying an unconscious Frank Killegrew.
TEN
“HE PASSED OUT upstairs,” Max announced in a tense voice.
“We think he may have had a heart attack.”
Russell, Nadia, Ava, and Margo emerged from the library.
Nadia in particular looked stricken, a thin hand at her throat
and her skin suddenly turning ash-gray. “Not Frank!” she
gasped.
Ava, however, seemed less affected. “Is he dead?” she asked
in a manner that suggested her CEO’s demise wasn’t unappealing.
“No,” Ward responded, as they carefully placed Killegrew
on one of the sofas. “Frank’s going to be just fine. He’s one
tough customer.”
“Really,” Russell squeaked, “if he isn’t, I’d rather be
somewhere else. Terminally ill people upset me.”
“Buck up, Russell,” said Ward. “I’ve seen Helen through
worse crises than this. My wife once had three heart attacks
in one day.”
“I’ll bet,” murmured Margo.
Nadia had rushed to Frank’s side. “Frank! Frank! Wake
up! I’m here, I’ll help, I’ll do anything! Just say something!”
Frank’s eyes remained shut. Nadia started to shake him,
gently at first, then with more vigor. “Frank!
Please, please, tell me you’re all right! What would I—what
would we—do without you?”
Gene put a hand on Nadia’s shoulder and firmly pulled
her away. “Does anyone know CPR?” he inquired.
“Isn’t that for people who are drowning?” Russell said in
his usual vague tone.
“I’m not certain,” Gene admitted. “We wouldn’t want to
do the wrong thing and have Frank’s heirs sue us.”
“Andrea’d know if she weren’t dead,” Ward murmured.
“Her human resources folks are the ones who handle firstaid classes.”
Judith, who had learned emergency measures to treat
guests, started to speak up just as Killegrew appeared to
come around. “Am I all right?” he demanded, blinking rapidly. “Did someone hit me on the head with an Eskimo?”
“No, Frank, certainly not,” Nadia responded, her slim
