Nancy was also positive of something else: Frank had been instructed to do the same to her! As soon as she could walk, no doubt, Frank would take her to his black Camaro and drive her away. Then he would dispose of her.
But would he really do it? Nancy thought about it and decided that he would. After all, he had a big stake in the gambling operation: He was the one who picked up payments, dropped off winnings, and punished those who couldn’t cover their losses. Dr. Riggs was probably giving him a major share of the loot.
She had to stall, she knew. She needed time to think of a plan!
“How is Dr. Riggs going to get rid of Mike?” she asked.
Frank eyed her suspiciously. “Now why would a nice girl like you want to know something like that?” he demanded.
“I . . . uh . . . just curious, that’s all.”
“Well, I suppose I can tell you, seeing as you won’t be around to repeat it. Riggs said Mike would die of an embolism.”
Air injected into the bloodstream! Nancy winced. How horrible. Once the bubbles got into Mike’s heart, he would die within minutes. Was there any chance she could save him, too?
She continued to stall. “And how did you get involved with Dr. Riggs?” she asked.
“Nosy, aren’t you? Riggs recruited me from the county hospital.”
“What did you do there?”
“I was a male nurse. Funny, huh? Before, I made people feel better. Now I make them feel worse!” He chuckled at the witticism.
Nancy was revolted.
“Hey, don’t look so uptight. If Riggs promised you as much money as he promised me, you’d be working for him, too.”
“I doubt that.” Nancy was getting impatient. She had to get free soon—but how?
Frank seemed to sense the new urgency she was feeling. “You’re looking awfully perky,” he said. “I think it’s time to take you for a nice, long ride, Nancy Drew.”
Bending over, he reached for a piece of rope that was lying by his feet. Nancy saw her chance. Bracing herself with her hands, she pushed herself off the examination table and at the same time kicked upward with her foot.
The kick wasn’t strong enough to knock Frank out, but it did catch him squarely in the face. Howling, he fell backward onto the desk. Blood gushed from his shattered nose, but Nancy didn’t hang around to see more. Heart pounding, she ran to the door and opened it.
Running was difficult. Nancy was still groggy from the chloroform. She felt herself weaving back and forth, pushing off walls, tripping and getting up. No matter what, though, she kept going. She would only get one chance!
How long had she delayed Frank with that kick? Not very long, she was sure. He was probably after her already. He had the revolver, too. Somehow she had to get out of the building—she’d have a better chance in the open. A car might come by. Someone might hear her scream.
On and on she ran. Why had they made the halls so long? Finally, she reached a stairway and staggered up it. Another long hall and she was in the main lobby.
It was empty, of course. The game was long over, and everyone had gone home. Even the security guard wasn’t around. Anxiously, she raced to the glass front doors and pushed. They were locked! She glanced around wildly for another way out—and spotted it. Off to her right, another set of doors!
Sprinting, she burst through them—and stopped dead. She was in the gym! This wasn’t any good—she was a sitting duck in the middle of all this space.
What next?
Nancy was almost ready to give up when she spotted the floats. Ever since the pep rally that afternoon two of them had been parked on one side of the gym, next to some bleachers. She ran for the nearest one as fast as she could.
The float was a high platform, below which hung a pleated curtain. Ducking under this, she saw that the whole thing rested on the roof of a Jeep! What luck! If she could only get it started, then maybe, just maybe—