by R L Dunn
Eric monitored the dialysis machine. "Yes, ma'am. They reconnected when Elizabeth performed emergency surgery on Martin's brother."
Ruth read the chart. "The ER included a suicide attempt in the differential diagnosis. Not possible—if she wanted to die, she would die. She's too smart."
Miles leaned against one of the glass walls. "We thought that too. We think she consumed some type of poison and fell because of a drop in her blood pressure or a seizure. The brain aneurysm was voluminous but had a minimal leak. The neurosurgeon repaired the damage. I don't think that is causing the coma."
Ruth pulled up a chair. "She's trying to revert to the heart block again. How long ago was she found?"
"Twenty-eight hours ago," Eric said.
Jamie directed her to some of their notes. "We’re working with a toxicologist at Mayo. She is worried too. Her symptoms are not abating despite the dialysis and the intestinal decontamination. We washed her down twice."
Ruth fretted her brow. "You ruled out radiation, heavy metals, pesticides as well as illicit drugs. The nicotine level should be falling as well as any other toxin. The search needs to be expanded to long-acting drugs. Tell me what that bastard father of hers is trying while I think."
Judson listened to Austin's lungs. He passed his apnea test, and at Patrick's order, they planned to pull the breathing tube from his throat. "Austin, thumbs up or down. Any chest pain?" He went through the checklist of any issues that would stop them from removing the tube.
"Okay, here we go. I promise, no surprises. Suction… I'm sorry, I know it hurts." Austin tried to turn his head. Jonathan maintained the position of his head with steady pressure and suctioned Austin's mouth. "Once the tube is out, we’re going to put you on a mask. Who wants to hold his hand? Mandy, Livvy?"
Both sisters got up and took a side. The PA gave the nervous sisters something to do and kept Austin from grabbing at either PA or the tube. "Ready? Austin, deep breath in and cough." Jonathan slid the tube from between his lips. Austin choked and sputtered.
Judson wiped his lips and placed a mask on his face to provide him with humidified oxygen, then listened to his lungs. "Deep, easy breaths."
Olivia fussed over him. "How do you feel?"
Austin coughed and held his sore ribs. His voice sounded scratchy. "Hurts like razor blades."
"Don't talk. Open up." Judson peered into his throat and sprayed a numbing medication, cetocaine, on the raw tissue. "Better?"
Exhausted from the activity, he closed his eyes and slept.
Dakka, Dakka, Dakka. Austin sat bolt upright as pain tore through his chest and belly. A hoarse scream fell from his lips, and sweat poured off his brow.
"Austin, you were dreaming." Judson put a bracing hand on each shoulder. "You're safe and in the hospital. I’m Judd. Today is Monday, and it’s four-thirty in the afternoon."
"Find Marty. Need to talk."
Judson helped ease him against the pillows, and Jonathan readjusted his oxygen mask. "First, we need to worry about you. Deep breaths in and out."
Dennis Bailey held his hand. "Austin, I'll find Marty."
"Please, Dad."
"Alright." Dennis pressed the damp hair off his son's forehead.
Ford Cox sat on the commercial couch in the hospital lobby with Martin. “Shaun Murray is going to work with us. He said some, especially the detective division, are stuck in the good old days. Detective Sergeant Danny Logan has an ego the size of the Grand Canyon. Dangerous, cocky, cuts corners. The end justifies the means kind of guy. Not a caring bone in his body unless he receives a benefit.
"SWAT, competent, handles the job. Big egos. Mathias used to be on Talbot Reed’s protection detail. Murray said he’s still whining that you stole his thunder with Satanta.
"Patrol. Lawrence Owen, the sergeant who works opposite Austin and Irvin Lamb, the lieutenant, opposite Murray.
“Beck Ferguson from burglary. Said his name suits him. He's at everyone's beck and call. His head is so far up the chief's behind, he sees everything in beige. When I told him Ferguson was visiting Austin when Satanta took Dr. Reed hostage, Murray did a double-take. He hates Austin. Austin wrote him up for screwing up some evidence at a burglary. Killed any potential case. Beck lost pay for the mistake.
“Get this, the case was a break-in, here in the tech park—a data server. Ferguson stopped to take a piss before he dropped off the evidence at the crime lab. He forgot the pouch on the back of the toilet. Once he realized, he found the seal broken. They tried to go back and repeat everything, but the cleaning service was efficient. They cleaned the place. No way to solve the crime. No video feed either—it was down for maintenance. They downloaded files, no idea what was in them. Our Undersecretary Brynn Hackman came in to investigate the cybercrime.
“The chief is a political hack, a yes man to the mayor and city council. They brought him in from a small Nebraska department. Perfect paper pedigree, but no real street experience.
“Shaun’s having nightmares. The little girl, Austin—the shots. Someone wanted him to die. They aimed for the vest voids. The investigations, no one is hustling. He said Lamb gave the two cops who left their post watching Tonette a training ledger warning—a slap on the wrist.
"As far as the homicide investigation, Logan used his toy hammer and made the pieces fit. ADA Krebs, another puzzle builder, gave him a warrant. Even the chief recognized the political football, he told Logan to be sure. Chief Sharpe also gave the governor a heads up.
"Things are starting to making sense, Martin. I’m worried for Troy.”
“Thanks, Ford, I’m worried too. Pass this on to Mike. He’ll need to bring in more help to put eyes on all these people.”
Martin stepped off the elevator and ran into his anxious father. "Dad, what's wrong?"
"Austin. He's all upset and wants to talk to you. He's gonna hurt himself." Dennis rocked on his heels.
"I'll talk to him." He took deep breaths as they walked to Austin's room.
The PA sighed. "I am about to sedate him. He needs to calm down."
Austin was struggling to breathe. "Dad...Livvy, I need to talk to Marty." His face was a pasty gray.
"Austin Bailey, listen to these PAs." Dennis left with Olivia.
Martin sat beside him. "You sound like a frog and look like a toad. I'm here. Breathe easy and slow." When Austin started to speak, Martin held up a finger until his breathing effort eased. "Go slow."
Austin thudded his head against the pillows. "I had a dream or a memory, not sure."
"Tell me." Martin took his hand and squeezed. "Easy."
Austin choked on his saliva, and the monitor flashed red. "I was walking along the drainage ditch and heard a sound, maybe a cry. A man lay on a black piece of plastic, beaten to a pulp, naked, and almost castrated."
Martin helped him take a sip of water. "I'm here." His own heart rate was climbing.
Austin closed his eyes; "I thought he was dead. I asked his name...Hank. A dust cloud. Two in black. M-16s. I held my hands up." Sweat dripped from his brow.
"Shh," Martin soothed.
"What did he say?" Austin pleaded.
"You were alone by the time the ambulance came." He grabbed a cloth and wiped the sweat from his brother’s brow.
Austin continued to struggle and cough. "There was a man, Marty. I swear."
Martin hated to ask, "Is that why you called me? I think there was a man. I think he and the little girl are related to a violent pornography ring." He held Austin’s hand.
Austin ran a hand through his hair. "I called you? Yeah, I called you. I wanted to ask your opinion... The guards, he said the guards beat him." He rolled his head from side to side.
"Aus, you’re making yourself sick. Count to ten with me." Martin sagged in the chair.
Austin continued to fight. "Who is investigating my shooting?"
"Logan."
"Don't trust Logan. Can you..."
"I won't let you down. Whoever shot you will be brought to justice.
Please, your only job now is to heal." Martin managed to get Austin to breathe a little slower.
"Is Elizabeth coming? I want to thank her." Austin’s heart rate was slowing.
He closed his eyes and sighed, reopening them with an empty gaze. "Elizabeth's in the bed next door. She collapsed. The doctors think someone poisoned her. She's very sick."
"Why? Is anyone investigating?" Any effort to calm him dissipated.
"Blake."
"Blake is an idiot. I'll ask Shaun to reach out to you. He's a good guy." Austin used the bed control to sit up. "He can help find out who hurt her. Shit, Marty, she's gonna be alright. She has to be. God, I wish I handled things another way the day you sent me over to find out why Elizabeth didn’t answer your letters from boot camp and Talbot stopped me. I didn't try as hard as I could. After Talbot threatened me, I got scared. I'm so sorry," he panted.
Martin leaned down and hugged him. "What a mess we are. Not your fault. You listen to me: I need you. Listen to your medical team."
"I’ll try. I need you too, Marty. Now go be with Elizabeth." Austin's eyes closed under the strain.
The soft Irish brogue floated toward him from the man leaning over Elizabeth. "Love, I'll roll you back in a moment. Just need to annoy you first." Across the bed from Jamie O'Reilly stood Eric Seton. Two women sat near her.
"Dr. Weiss and Dr. Bey, this is Martin Bailey. Martin, give us a minute," Eric said.
The two women rose, and Joyce Bey wrapped her arms around him. "I'm Joyce. I'm so happy to meet you. Beth always tells me I’m crazy to believe in fairy tales. Here you are."
As he continued to process Austin's memories, irrational guilt stabbed at him for failing to protect Elizabeth. "Um, Dr. Bey, I'm pleased to meet you. You too, Dr. Weiss."
"Joyce, you’re scaring the man. She's a pediatric surgeon for that reason. She does better with kids. I’m happy you found us," Ruth said.
Jamie covered Elizabeth. "All right, all done. You should be more comfortable. We’re trying to flush the poison from her. Doctors Bey and Weiss and Eric and I were just discussing the case. Her cardiac symptoms should be abating, but they’re as strong if not stronger than when she was admitted."
Martin kissed Elizabeth and weaved his fingers with hers. "I'm here, Sunshine. Joyce and Ruth, I want to thank you for coming."
Joyce spoke at ninety miles per hour. "Like Ruth said, I'm glad you found us. Beth and I did our residency together, the only women in the surgical program. Ruth was our internship director. Marty, she's so in love with you. Every guy she's dated, if you could call it that, was never you. I almost tried to find you myself. She can be so stubborn."
He had trouble processing Joyce’s words. Martin sat in the chair beside her bed, never releasing Elizabeth's cold fingers. "Are the poisons long-acting?"
Jamie opened up the computer. "We were discussing the issue and ruled out a lot. We believe Elizabeth ingested whatever this is. Martin, did she have any symptoms before she collapsed? Anything unusual? Anything you would attribute to something else?"
He rubbed his brows. "Elizabeth doesn't eat a lot. She said she wanted to go to sleep, and she complained of a headache. With the hours she keeps, I didn't overthink it."
"Martin, that face. What?" Eric asked.
"The hostage thing." Martin lifted his chin.
"What hostage thing?" Ruth's brows fretted.
"The day before Elizabeth got sick, a patient's boyfriend took her hostage. The animal dislocated her left shoulder. Inside the treatment room, Vi...Patrick took her vitals. She was shaking, but her pulse was 72, and her blood pressure was low. It didn't make sense to me. I figured she controlled her vitals as a surgeon, like I can as a...um, working in security." He avoided the word sniper, not wanting to frighten her friends.
"I'm paging Hedges." Eric pulled out his phone.
"What?" Martin’s eyes narrowed.
Ruth explained to Martin how head injuries affected vital signs. "A bunch of drugs slow a patient's heart. Common side effects are headache and fatigue. I'm sure the aneurysm contributed to the headache, but not the combination of low pulse and BP."
"So how do we find out and flush out her system?" Martin asked.
"We can run blood and urine to hunt. Not much more can be done than we’re currently doing without knowing specifics," Jamie said what Martin feared.
After Joyce and Ruth left for the hotel, Martin collapsed in the chair beside Elizabeth. "Sunshine, you need to tell me about Joyce. She must be fun at parties. She loves you. Ruth does too.
"What you did for Austin is a miracle, Sunshine. I hate to ask, but I want a second one. I need you to come back to me. I want you to meet my new friend; she's a real looker. She's tiny with wavy blonde hair, huge blue eyes, a little nose, and pouty lips. She stole a piece of my heart. Her name is Lola. She's about five pounds. Her momma died.”
Martin told her Lola's story. "She's not Grace's replacement. But together, we could give her a second chance." His voice cracked.
Chapter Eighteen
Martin looked up in time to see Zach walk down the hall toward Elizabeth’s room. Because Zach was part of her legal team, no one would question them speaking. “How is she doing?”
“She seems to be getting worse.” Martin sighed. “Talk to me.”
“They served the warrant. Reed was notified. Beth changed her health proxy but did not change her financial trust, so Reed has control of that.” Zach looked down. “I’m sorry. The cleaning crew found it and left it on the dresser. Logan has the letter from Beth’s mom.”
“Not your fault.” Martin looked at Elizabeth.
“The note gives Beth a motive to kill her dad, no one else. Reed is doing his best to maintain her illness as a suicide attempt from depression. You blew that theory out of the water. Coop supervised the search of Beth’s locker with Cleo Nolan and is on his way to pick up Detective Young. There’s a fundraiser for CO Locke. It will be interesting to see the dynamics.”
“Thanks, Zach.” Martin blew out a wistful breath.
“Get some rest.” Zach patted his arm.
Tuesday, July 15th
Jamie shook his mumbling and tossing friend. "Martin, you need to go sleep in a real bed. We’ll call if something changes."
Martin didn't protest the PA's request. Keys jangled in his pocket—Elizabeth’s keys. His truck was in her driveway. The thought of a warm shower and sleeping in Elizabeth's bed soothed him.
The Horizon garage rose ten floors beside the hospital. The elevator transported him to physician parking, where the key fob would locate her white Audi. Headlights flashed on his third press of the fob.
When Martin sat halfway in the driver's seat and reached below to press the electric seat button, a familiar metallic sound shifted his brain to alert. A pressure plate tripped beneath him. He held and released a deep cleansing breath. Any movement could trigger the explosive.
He slid his hand along his belt and tapped a button on his phone. The unobstructed view of the hypnotic starry sky from the roofless tenth floor would be beautiful if the device beneath him didn't threaten to blow him to dust if his team couldn't render it harmless.
Ford, Mike, Noah, and Tighe were sorting through evidence in the hotel conference room. Suddenly, the place sounded like a hive of bees were invading as their phones vibrated and flashed. Mike read the screen in disbelief. ALERT: MARTIN BAILEY IN NEED OF ASSISTANCE. The next line gave a set of coordinates.
The group rose in unison and joined the rest of the team in the hotel lobby. Mike held his phone to his ear while he delegated orders. "Archie came off the ICU detail and grabbed Seth Brady as backup; they’re headed to the coordinates. The signal is coming from the garage."
Mike instructed, "Julian, Ford, and Noah, start heading there. The rest of us will hold our position until we receive more information from you."
Archie shined the beam of his flashlight in an arc. "Martin left the ICU ten minutes ago. We’ll start on the top floor and move down
one level at a time. Whatever you do, keep your eyes out for anything unusual and don't touch anything." Ambulance sirens rang in the distance.
Seth opened the flashlight application on his phone. Rows of cars and trucks were parked within white lines, with oil stains marking the pavement. Three rows down, he spotted him.
The space beside him was empty. The door was open, and his left foot was planted on the pavement. His black briefcase contrasted against the door. "Stop. I triggered a pressure plate. Notify base," Martin spoke in a level, determined voice.
Archie called back before tapping his com. "Boss, help is on the way. Raptor, he’s on the tenth floor, north side, third row of the garage. He's in the driver's seat of a white Audi A4. Beneath him is a pressure plate."
"Son of a bitch. All right, I'll notify all necessary law enforcement. Don't let anyone on that floor who isn't rescue personnel. Smooth is two minutes out."
Julian, Ford, and Noah pulled up to the garage as Mike's emergency page came over. "Noah, come with me. Ford set up incident command. Tell hospital security to seal off every exit and entry into the garage. They also need to secure all entries and exits into the hospital except through the ER. All incoming need to be checked. Anyone exiting needs to be held."
Julian had the most bomb disposal experience. With Noah, he hit the stairs at a run. "Martin, speak to me?"
"Tapped the key fob, opened the door, sat and click. No movement since."
"Seth, Archie clear the area. Noah, get Zach up here fast with our bomb kit. Mon frère, I'm coming. You hurt?" Julian began a slow crawl to the car.
"Not yet. What do you see?" His tone was flat and calm.
The beam of Julian’s flashlight illuminated the area under the seat. "Hmm. We've got a pressure release device. Probable C-4. Aluminum casing, wrapped up tight. I need to open it up."