Since Bunny Hopper had been unconscious when found during the fire at her home, and since the furnishings of her room contained elements conducive to the production of hydrogen cyanide when the materials burned, the doctors had decided to treat her conservatively for hydrogen cyanide smoke inhalation. Ryan Starkey read these facts in Miss Hopper’s chart and thought to herself, Bingo, here’s my chance! Just a little too much of the nitrites used to treat Bunny could produce some life threatening but easily combated affects that should keep Miss Hopper in the hospital for a while longer. Just a small change in the numbers in the chart…there, that should do it. What a lucky break that she had intercepted the test results!

A short time later while Ryan was checking on her patient, she noticed rapidly worsening symptoms of anaphylaxis. She hurriedly got the epinephrine which had been brought to Bunny’s room in case it was needed and quickly administered the shot. By that time, other hospital personnel had arrived due to the alarms from the monitors. The slightly higher dose of nitrites had produced exactly the affect for which Ryan had hoped. And she got to be the heroine to boot.

As soon as the patient was comfortable and stable and the excitement was over, Ryan quietly sneaked away and went into the nurses�?lounge. After establishing that she was quite alone, she pulled out her cell phone and dialed the well-known number. When Stephen answered she simply said, "The lady should remain a guest here a while longer. When can I expect to be compensated for her care?"

Across town in her hotel suite, Bonny Hopper hurriedly got herself dressed. The cell phone, at whose private number she had instructed the hospital to call her if there was any change in her sister’s condition, had rung shortly before. Answering its ring with some apprehension, Bonny had been given the terrifying news that Bunny had had an allergic reaction to a treatment for smoke inhalation. Grabbing the phone and her handbag, she ran out of the door.

As she climbed into the cab the doorman had called for her, Bonny thought distraughtly, Bunny just has to get better quickly. She’s always been the stronger of the two of us. I know she needs me, but the more time I spend here the more chance I take of Herman finding me. I am simply not ready to face him. I don’t know what I’m going to do if my disguise as an out-of-town client of Bunny’s fails�?/P>