When they left church the Durin’s and the Seneft’s ate at a McDonalds together. They headed home, picked up their things and headed to the airport. Kathy picked up Patti so she would not have a car at the airport. Charlie would have taken her but he was out of town at a conference.

After they checked in at the hotel they had dinner together. Kathy saw two other women come in and waved to them. They were seated with the group.

Kathy introduced them as Ruth and Zoe, two other models who would be working with them. Zoe was about Leah’s age, Ruth was older. When their food came Zoe picked at it. “I must have a case of the nerves. I am not feeling good.”

Leah watched as she tensed and her hand went down to her right side. “Ow. That was bad.”

Patti looked at her. “That looks like more than the nerves. I’m a nurse. How long have you been feeling bad?”

“It started Friday. It must be a stomach flu.”

“Is it in any one place?”

“My right side.”

“Near your waist or lower?”

Her hand went down and she held the lower part of her side. “Here.”

“Are you running a temp?”

“I think a little.”

Patti got up. “Come to the restroom with me.” Leah followed.

Five minutes later Patti, the nurse was showing her the thermometer. “One hundred one point six. That’s hot.” Leah put her first two fingers on the lower side of her own abdomen. “Put you fingers like I have them and then press.”

Zoe started to press and groaned. “Oh. That hurts bad.”

Patti nodded. “You need to see a doctor, now. Best guess, it is your appendix.”

“I can’t. I have to work this week.”

“If it is your appendix and you don’t see a doctor, you may not be alive to work the rest of the week. It can kill you.”

“Let me think about it.” She started toward the door, stopped and nearly doubled over. She flopped on the sofa in the restroom. “Can you get me a doctor?”

“Be right back.”

Within a half hour Zoe was in the ER and the doctor was telling her she needed surgery. By ten she was in a hospital bed minus a very inflamed appendix.

Kathy called the agent from the hospital as soon as they knew Zoe was going to need surgery and had a long discussion with him. When she hung up the phone she pulled Leah aside.