Top of The Edge - Hospital

"I'll call an ambulance" Cherry stated as she started into the dormitory. "No time." Smith said as he cradled and picked her up.

"Where's your car, Ben?"

"It's right around the corner on Liberty Street where it intersects with Saint Phillip Street."

"We need to run"

"Let's go"

Everything was happening so fast that Cherry and Robyn didn't know what to say or do. When Smith and Tuttle started running, they fell in right behind, and soon caught up. Cherry taking note of Tuttle's keys in his right hand said, "I'll take those, Robyn and I can run ahead and open the doors." Acknowledging that the girls could run a great deal faster than him, Tuttle handed over the keys, and both ladies sprinted out ahead. By the time Smith and Tuttle got to the car with Suzy, they had all the doors unlocked and open. Robyn was standing by the left rear door and handed the keys off to Tuttle as he approached. Cherry stood at the right rear of the car so she could help Smith get Suzy into the back seat. Once Suzy was in place, Robyn and Cherry climbed in on the opposite side so Smith could easily get her out of the car when they arrived at the hospital.

At this hour other vehicles on the road were few and far between, which enabled Tuttle to get to the Roper Hospital Emergency entrance in minutes. As soon as they got there, Smith scooped Suzy up from the back seat and ran into the ER as Robyn held the door. Seeing Suzy's unconscious state, the ER staff took her from Smith and immediately whisked her away. Now the four of them - Cherry, Robyn, Smith, and Tuttle just stood there silently and dumbfounded exchanging inquisitive looks at each other. Finally, the ER charge nurse approached and broke the silence, "The young lady you just brought in - what happened to her and who is she?"

"Her name is Suzy Altman, and we don't know what happened to her." Robyn answered, we found her like this on the front porch of our dorm at the CoC (College of Charleston)."

"Does she have family in the area that we can contact?"

"Yes, they live in Summerville. I don't know their phone number, but they live on Laurel Street. I'm sure you'll be able to find them in the phone directory."

"Is she going to be all right?" Cherry asked.

"That's why we need to know what happened to her. She's still unconscious and we don't know from what. So, at this point we don't know exactly what we should be treating her for. Can any of you tell us anything more to go on."

"I can't be certain, but I think she was chloroformed." Smith answered. I smelled the faint fragrance of almonds as I was carrying her, which could be an indication of chloroform."

"If that's the case," the nurse answered, it was a near lethal dose. That will give us something to start with. Thank you." she stated as she hurried back to the treatment area.

Robyn looked at Ben inquisitorially, "I don't know who you are, but obviously Cherry and I will need a ride back to our dorm." "Well... yes, of course."

Smith smiling now, put his arm around Ben's shoulders and addressed Robyn and Cherry, "Ladies, allow me to introduce you to an old friend of mine, Mr. Benjamin J. Tuttle. Ben, meet Miss Cherry Welling and Miss Robyn Kramer."

"Okay... pleased to make your acquaintance." Robyn said looking at Tuttle with a bit of apprehension.

"Great, now that we all know each other's names maybe the two of you could tell us what the heck you were doing snooping around the CoC campus at this hour." Cherry demanded as she looked back and forth glaring at both Mr. Smith and Ben Tuttle. "I'll explain on the ride back over to your dormitory." Smith answered as he and Tuttle both abruptly turned and began making their way toward the exit of the ER. The ladies looked at each other, shrugged shaking their heads, and followed the two gentlemen to the car.

The car ride back over to the CoC campus started out quiet until Cherry broke the silence - "Well... out with it. What the heck were the two of you doing on the CoC campus tonight? Tuttle, who was driving turned to Smith - seated in the front passenger's seat.

"May I?"

"Go for it." Smith responded.

Tuttle was still explaining when he parked the car near where he had parked it before on Liberty Street. Cherry and Robyn sat there in the back seat for another ten minutes or so as Tuttle wrapped things up.

"I don't know whether to thank you or to slap the two of you." Robyn responded angrily.

"I told you we would handle this!" Cherry burst out as she slammed the rear car door after exiting the back seat.

I'm sure your friend Suzy thought she could handle Mr. Michaels as well." Smith answered.

Both ladies were now standing, speaking to Smith through the rolled-down window of Tuttle's car. "You know that's not fair!" Robyn retorted.

"Fair?!..." Smith started to say something else but didn't. Instead, he took a deep breath and exhaled slowly. Then he calmly said as he shook his head, "Let's go, Ben. Then he said to Cherry and Robyn as the car pulled away, "I'll see the two of you in a few hours, try to get some rest."