Rachel Alexander 03 - A Hell of a Dog

placed, just behind the chair he’d been sitting on, the remains of his breakfast still on the table, the cereal spoon still in his hand.
    “He’s gone,” Martyn said. “I couldn’t save him.”
    I looked for Sam, but she was no longer in the room. When I walked out, she was coming toward me, down the hall.
    “I don’t understand,” she said. “Why is this happening? Two of my speakers are dead in two days. This is a nightmare.” She opened her purse and took out a pillbox.
    “What’s that?”
    “Generic aspirin. Why?”
    “Never mind,” I said, noting that the two pills she shook into her hand were tamperproof caplets. “I just wanted to be sure—” Sam stopped, her hand holding the pills cupped beneath her mouth. Then she dumped them back into the pillbox, turned on her heel, and walked toward the lobby. I followed behind her and caught up.
    “I don’t want you even near the EMS or the police, Rachel. If this is something more than another ghastly accident, they’ll tell us. I’m sure they’ll autopsy, especially considering how quickly my speakers are dropping dead. But for God’s sake, don’t you put any ideas into their heads.” She looked at her watch. “It’s thirty-five minutes to show time,” she said. “I hope Cathy can pull herself together.”
    “What are you going to say when the ambulance arrives?“
    „That it’s their fault Dr. Shelbert is dead. It’s twelve minutes since they were called.”
    “More like fifteen,” I said. “I think Woody called them on his cell phone.”
    “Rachel, help me out here.”
    “I’ll talk to Cathy, make sure she’s up to her talk.”
    “Tell her she’s got to be.”
    The ambulance had arrived. I could hear the techs in the lobby, joking around and taking their time. Sam headed in that direction. I hurried back to the breakfast room.
    Cathy was sitting at her place with her head between her knees. The persons who sat on either side of her for meals were both dead. Tracy stood behind her, holding a napkin against Cathy’s neck. I watched as she took it away, dipped it into a water glass, and then put it back on Cathy’s neck, her other hand holding Cathy’s forehead.
    I called Beryl over to the doorway. “Would you help me out?”
    She nodded without asking what it was I wanted.
    “See if you can get everyone out of here, but keep them together. See if the café is open, and take them in there. Sam asked me to get Cathy out of here and help her to pull herself together. She’s on in thirty minutes.”
    “Right you are, dear. The show must go on, and it’s not doing anyone any good to sit here staring at poor Dr. Shelbert lying there dead.”
    As I walked over to Cathy, I heard Beryl clearing her throat to get everyone’s attention.
    “You’re speaking this morning.” I took the napkin from Tracy and dropped it onto the table. “In thirty minutes, to be precise. You need to get out of here, get a little air, and get your thoughts together.”
    “I don’t think I can—”
    “Look, Cathy, there are people out there who know nothing about what just happened. They’ve come from a great distance to hear you, to hear all of us. As tragic as this is, it would be a disaster to cancel the symposium and send them home. In fact, we can’t do that. The hotel has been paid for the week. Speakers and students alike have nonrefundable tickets. And we all owe Sam. If for no other reason, we have to come through for her. Now, can you do this?”
    “But Rick—”
    “Not doing your talk won’t help Rick one bit, now will it?“
    „No. I see what you’re saying, but—”
    “Let’s go up to your room for a few minutes, okay?”
    Cathy nodded.
    “Let me see your key.” She reached into the small purse she wore hooked onto her belt and took it out.
    “Fourth floor. Good. Let’s walk,” I suggested, thinking it would be good for her to move. “I’ve heard such good things about your puppy seminars, Cathy. I’ve always wanted to see you in action. How many pups are being brought in for your demonstrations?”
    “A dozen. Half are coming from a shelter, and the other half from breeders.” Her color improved as we climbed the stairs and talked about her work. She was still holding the key. I took it from her when we reached her room, unlocked the door, and stepped aside so that she could go in first. Sky was lying on the neatly made bed, a scented tennis ball between his white paws. I could smell the mint the moment