by Marie Wathen
The tall illuminated Canton Children’s General Hospital building peaks over the dark horizon and is only a half mile away from me now. I floor the gas pedal and jerk the wheel to the right, skirting passed several patrol cars parked against the curb leading toward the emergency room. A marked unit blocks the entrance so I jam down on the brakes and kill the engine before jumping out of my car. A large rowdy group is being kept over a hundred feet away from the building, probably patients and family members. As fast as my body will move I leap over the yellow tape, flashing my badge at the two uniformed officers raising their hands and voices at me, demanding I stop. They shut their mouths instantly recognizing me as one of their own, and I continue on my route directly toward the double glass emergency room doors.
Stopping behind one patrol car with the strobe lights popping intermittently, I spot a familiar face and rush over to ascertain any and all updates since the call was dispatched.
“Sam?” Officer Serrano says noticing me as I approach.
“Hey Spike, what’s the latest?” My eyes are locked on the glass doors standing open fifty feet in front of me, surrounded by several uniform officers.
“One subject armed with a knife. We have one off duty on the inside, but we don’t know his status. There are eight small extractions in addition to the five adult extractions. S.W.A.T is en route and will be assembling in the back parking lot.”
Still scanning the area while Spike gives me the updates I realize that I don’t know the guys guarding the doors, but that’s okay, I can work with this. My priority is getting inside quickly and finding Kris even quicker.
“Do we have an ID on the suspect or the off-duty?”
“Off-duty is Sergeant Daniels…” my hearing distorts while my vision blurs knowing that the only reason Russ is inside that building is because Kris really is one of the hostages. He wouldn’t leave her behind. I glance over at the small group of employees congregating back behind the yellow tape just to confirm if she is among them, but I don’t see her. “…he has a shitload of priors, mainly drugs offenses. We’re just waiting for S.W.A.T and the mobile command to assume the scene before we fall back.”
“Who did you say?” I missed the name of the perpetrator while sorting through the crowd.
“Mark Hatfield,” he shouts before ducking back into his patrol car and answering his ringing cell phone.
Frozen, I stand staring at the front steps completely stupefied while fear courses through my veins at an alarming rate. In my peripheral I spot the mobile command RV speeding toward the back parking lot and know that I only have precious moments before they take over, removing my only chance of getting inside. Spinning away from Spike I dash over toward the front entryway and approach the guy who appears to be in charge.
“Hey guys,” I flash my badge casually and swiftly while keeping my eyes on the doors. “S.W.A.T is moving in so you are authorized to fall back now.” I give my voice a heavy tone of authority and then cut my eyes to the officer closest to me when they don’t move.
“Fuck that,” he snaps glaring suspiciously at me. “Let me see that badge again.”
Grabbing him by the collar, I thrust my badge against his cheek and growl, “I fucking said stand the fuck down and I won’t fucking repeat myself again…” I glance at the name stitched on the front pocket of his dark blue polyester shirt before shoving him away from me, “Officer Seals.”
“Angel?” A deep voice shouts behind me while large hands clamp down on my upper arms. Another man charges passed me and gets in the face of the officer I tossed growling at him to take his men and move away from the doorway. My heart rate spikes even higher when the voice behind me growls out a string of cuss words before spinning me around. My throat constricts, seizing all of the air in my lungs staring into a deep blue set of bloodshot eyes.
Blues
“What the fuck are you doing here?” I yell shoving out of Blues’ unyielding embrace and staggering backwards away from him completely lightheaded because of his proximity.
“I spotted you racing down the highway and–” his words halt as his eyes drift down to my hand. “What the fuck?” he growls incredulously, glancing from my badge to the gun on my side before stabbing me with deadly and wide eyes. “You’re a cop!” From his shouting directly into my face, I smell the woodsy aroma of whiskey on his breath.
“Get the hell away from me,” I spit at him turning my back on his drunken ass and watching the large guy still in the face of the smart ass officer. He’s also flashing some form of identification. With each punch of his words spit flies through his ferocious snarl while his fist pounds against Officer No-Balls bulletproof vest. That shit’s going to hurt. The big guy spins around and stomps over to me pulling a calmer, but still scary face as he approaches. Wow, he looks like Blues.
“What’s the plan?” he growls glaring between me and Blues.
“My plan is getting the fuck inside there and his plan,” I jerk my thumb in the direction of the pain in the ass behind me, “is getting the hell away from me,” I growl just as loudly. I’m so pissed off at him for taking Decks away from me.
He smirks deliberately, lifts his chin glancing over me, and then says to Blues, “Fucking perfect brother.”
Chapter Sixty-Seven
The line of patrol officers swarming around the front steps of the Canton Children’s General Hospital falls back and I glance at the glass double doors before spinning around and facing the big guy who persuaded them to leave.
“Thanks for that,” I gesture with my chin toward the grown ass men sulking as they walk away like dogs with their tails tucked between their legs. “I’m Detective Samantha Walker.” I can feel Blues watching me and something about his presence eases my anxiety. I really fucking hate it too. Because of him my whole damn case is now dumped into the shitter. Don’t fucking think about it now. Keeping my focus away from him I wait expectantly for the guy to respond.
“Oh, well uh…” His deep hazel eyes with tiny burning flecks of green shift questioningly to the man behind me. With a touch of humor in his voice says to me, “You’re welcome. Now care to tell me why you want inside a hostage scene so badly?” He peeks back down at me and points at the ER before dropping his hand to his side, propping it on his duty weapon in a nonthreatening way.
“The fucker inside is a nasty rodent who I’ve been dealing with for a while now.” He bobs his head understanding, but clearly doubting that my answer is the only reason why I want inside. Sighing heavily, I dig my fingers into my neck at the hairline and through clenched teeth I hiss, “My best friend is on staff here and I believe she and her brother are his hostages.”
“Right, well let’s do this. From what I heard over the SWAT channel Hatfield is holed up in the C corner,” he shakes his head, reminding himself that not everyone speaks SWAT, “He’s in the southeast corner with thirteen hostages.” Glancing up at the entryway again he continues, “Seeing that you’re so determined to gain access in that way, I’m going around that part of the building and entering through the side door.” He finishes by pointing toward the east side of the hospital.
“Sounds good,” I try to smile, but can’t even fake it. My heart is barely working on a regular beat because of the anxiety and pain due to the unknown lying beyond the glass doors and I need to get in there. Now. He begins to walk away and I shout. “Wait. Who are you?”
“Shit, sorry.” He reaches out a hand, which I take and he grips mine back tightly, “Tac,” is all he offers.
“Tac?” I ask, curious if this is his real name or if he’s telling me that he is on the tactical response team within the department.
“Attacus Sloane,” he clarifies and the air stills in my lungs once again. I whip around to look at Blues who has his eyes locked on me. Attacus is Blues’ brother and he is a Stealth member! Tac jogs around the corner leaving me standing in front of his brother who appears to be swaying a little. Great, what the hell am I supposed to do with an inebriated drug lord?
“Detective?” Blues asks stiffly glancing up and down my body with some unfamiliar look in his eyes. What is that? Loathing? Regret? Anguish?
Utterly frustrated with everything going on and his presence here, I snap, “Yes, Detective, and I don’t have time for your bullshit.”
Jogging away from him I pull my service weapon and climb the four steps leading up to the emergency room. I ease through the door listening for sounds coming from the far back corner, where Tac said Mad Hatter is holding the hostages, but I hear nothing. Tentatively, I take a step inside holding my gun outstretched in front of me pointing down the long corridor while checking my sides. It’s approaching ten o’clock at night and it appears that the responding officers had the power cut inside the building. Continuing to listen for voices, I slide to the left side of the hallway and press my shoulder against the cold tile wall.
Placing one soft footstep in front of the other I skulk down the completely blacked out hall toward the furthest back room. The half wooden, half glass door on the right is partially open and I notice backup lights are illuminating the windowless room somewhat. I cross the hallway and edge closer after hearing several soft sobs coming from inside. Freezing in place when I hear a familiar snarl, I gather my thoughts and still my nerves so I can refocus and come up with a plan quickly.
“I will kill you all. Shut up! Shut up!” Mad Hatter screeches inside the small exam room.
Reaching the room he is holed up in I lower myself down onto my knees while pressing my side against the wall. I glance up at the stairwell door leading out toward the way Tac was heading and wonder if he’ll be able to get in or if he’s locked out, leaving me as the lone rescuer. I sigh inwardly and pray he gets inside. Having a Stealth member assisting me just might get everyone out alive. At that moment a hand wraps over my shoulder pulling my body away from the doorway and pushing my back against the wall.
“Ssh,” Blues whispers too loudly placing his finger over his lips with his eyebrows drawn in. He’s not just drunk, he is pissed off now. What the fuck?
“You better hope your life matters to those motherfucking cops outside!” Mad hisses inciting loud whimpering and pleading from several of the hostages.
“What the fuck? You shouldn’t be here, especially drunk!” I growl under my breath. I can still hear Mad ranting inside the room confirming that he hasn’t heard our exchange. “What are you doing?”
“What the fuck am I doing?” He hisses. “You can’t just go in there alone with that crazy fucker!”
“Get out of here, Blues.” I sigh. “I mean it. This isn’t any of your business.”
“Get up!” Mad bellows each word punctuated with a sound of flesh striking flesh. “Now or I will shoot one of those disgusting kids!”
“Hell no,” Blues’ tone is barely below a growl as he glares savagely at the partially open door. “I’m not leaving you, Doll.” I glance up at him and see determination set in his burning sapphire eyes when they shift back at me. His tender words combined with the sweet endearment causes a familiar zing to hum through my body and I shudder. My body bows instinctively toward him while my skin prickles with desirous goose bumps from his blistering touch, feeling it even through my clothing. My heart screams out to him, but my mind refuses to fall victim to his scams again. Forbidden, the word resonates loudly in my head like an echo in a deep cavernous hole. Get your shit together! Shaking my head, I shrug out from under his hold and pierce him with a glare equivalent to his harsh tone.
“You are the reason that son of a bitch is in there doing this shit,” I snarl twisting my body away from him, assuming my position against the wall like I was before he interrupted me. Spotting movement in the window on the door of the partially lit stairwell, I glance up and see Tac narrowing his eyes on me while shaking his head and waving his hand in a way to shoo me away. Great another man telling me what I can’t do!
“You’re right,” Blues whispers remorsefully behind me, his voice weighted with guilt. I nod in agreement while giving a one-finger hand signal to Tac, letting him know exactly what I think about his idea of me backing away from the door. His eyes grow wide just as I spot movement beside me. Before I have a chance to react I hear and see enough to shock the hell out of me and I am left momentarily stock-still with an array of emotions. First wrath floods my mind, followed by fear soaring through my veins, next an unexplainable sadness blindsides me and then finally disappointment sinks deep into my soul as I watch Blues, hands raised high, palms facing outward, stroll into the emergency room with the crazed gunman, becoming hostage number fourteen. No, my heart cries out.
“Fuck,” I breathe raggedly while my gut twists wildly and hot tears sting behind my lowered eyelids after watching the man who stole my heart offer himself up as the sacrificial lamb to one of Satan’s vilest minions.
“Mad Hatter, I’m unarmed,” Blues announces abruptly entering the exam room following up quickly with a jovially greeting typically reserved for great friends, “Hey buddy, I’m here to get you out.” My nerves of steel fall into a heap of discarded and worthless fragments leftover after a welding. Why? How could I ever trust this bastard? How did I let myself fall in love with him? I glance up again catching the fear flashing in Tac’s eyes before lowering my gun, dropping my head down somewhat, and praying that I have the nerve to kill Blues if he gets in the way of us rescuing the hostages.
“Dude, what the fuck?” Mad shouts viciously at Blues. I stay hidden behind the wall preparing myself for his betrayal. “You know as well as I do that those fuckers ain’t gonna let me walk up out of this damn place.”
“Have a little faith my friend,” Blues says smugly continuing to saunter deeper into the room. “I am the man to make all of your wishes come true. So rub the fucking genie lamp and let’s get up out of this place, brother.”
Mad cackles riotously like the demented freak he is before snorting, “You don’t have that much power, Blues.”
“Don’t I?” Blues counters chuckling at himself. “Tell me what you want, you have my guarantee that it will happen.”
“You’re shitfaced!” Mad exclaims. Blues scoffs offended by being calling out on his drunkenness. “Okay, I’ll play along.” I hear a strangled grunt and my guts twists fearfully wondering who he’s torturing. “They won’t let me walk out of here alive so I’ll need a helicopter to escape.”
“That’s your plan A?” Pause. “Done,” Blues says sharply. “But really man no one has died yet so you have a great chance of getting out completely unscathed with us walking right out the front door.” Mad’s only response is another snort. “Don’t believe me? Okay, let’s buy us some insurance. I know you don’t want to harm the rug-rats so let them scamper along while we sort out escape plan B.” He laughs at himself and it sounds like he banged into something.
My heart lodges in my throat. Oh god. Blues is actually trying to save the hostages.
Chapter Sixty-Eight
Tac waves his hand in front of the small pane of glass in the heavy metal door catching my attention again. He mouths, “I can’t get in,” He points down and adds, “It’s locked. You’ll have to let me in.” Ignoring him, my eyes stray toward the doorway where Blues stands only five feet away from me.
Blues clears his throat. “What do you say Mad? Are we cutting the kids loose or what?”
“Whatever,” Mad Hatter growls, “I need to think.”
“Sure. Hey, want a smoke?” Blues offers. “I could use one.”
“No, I don’t fucking smoke anything except weed.”
“A joint then?” Blues asks with a happy clip in his tone.
“Yeah!” Mad sounds giddy with this offer.
“Got some good shit in my wallet,” Blues giggles. “I need to roll it up. Want to send the kiddos out first?”
“I don’t give a fuck,” Mad roars. “Just hurry the hell up. I need the shit now.”
“Alrighty kids,” Blues announces with a clapping of his hands, “Uncle Mad is letting y
ou go. Come on.” I hear rustling deep within the room. “Run, do not walk down the hallway and head straight out the front door. The Po-Po is waiting for you.” A couple of kids rush passed me and I place my finger over my lips while pointing another down the hall toward the front door. The other children move a little slower, crying for their mothers that they are leaving behind. Blues follows the last little ones out and my eyes lock with his as he shoos a precious strawberry blonde girl wearing a hospital gown toward safety.
He mouths to me, “Get out!”
“Please don’t do this,” I beg with a whisper, “I can take him out.”
He shakes his head and says to the girl, “Go on now, Doll. Get to safety.” Using the nickname he calls me, he’s trying to encourage me to go too, but there’s no way I’m leaving. I shake my head and he rolls his eyes. He gestures toward his head and mouths, “He has a gun pointed at Rad’s head.”
My heart flips, but my determination pole-vaults and I whisper, “Stand clear and let me take the shot.” His eyebrows pinch in, but the resignation settles into his deep blue eyes. He knows I must do this. He offers me a slight curt nod.
“Let’s get high.” Blues singsongs, turning around and walking back inside the room toward Mad Hatter. Fuck! Blues really sucks at hostage negotiations.
