Chapter 119

Justin was neck deep in work on Tuesday morning when he received a frantic call from Leah, saying that Igor, his stepfather had collapsed. He was in an ambulance and on his way to the community hospital. It took Justin just seconds to shut down his computer and then head out to meet his sister in the emergency room as the EMTs were wheeling his stepdad into triage.

“I stopped by his house this morning,” she explained, distraught and tearful, and he hugged her close. “I found him on the floor in the kitchen. I don’t know what happened or how long he’d been there. I spoke to him yesterday, and he said he still wasn’t feeling well.” She shuddered. “I should have checked on him again last night.”

“You couldn’t know,” Justin said soothingly, trying to hide the panic in his heart.

“I called the medic as soon as I got there and saw him,” she cried. “God, I hope I wasn’t too late.”

“Did the EMTs give you any indication of what could be wrong?” Justin asked and led Leah towards a chair in the