“They’re ready for us at Emergency. Let’s brace that knee and put a neck collar and oxygen on him.”
“Careful. Good. Let’s get out of here,” the EMT said.
Sharkey made his way across the street followed by Jenny and stopped by the medics.
“Get him out of here. Tell the hospital that he’s to have an armed guard at all times. I’ll have a car follow you.”
Cruz bent down at the edge of the curb. “Look over here. There was a syringe laying in the gutter. I bet she used it on him.”
“It was a woman?” Jenny said.
“Yeah. He said extraordinarily strong and big teeth,” Cruz replied.
Sharkey’s face twisted into a questioning look.
“That’s what Alex said before he passed out.”
Sharkey put on gloves and picked up the syringe carefully and put it in an evidence bag.
“I need to drop this at evidence.”
“Okay, we know that they have Carl. That suggests we’re dealing with an organized crime group,” Sharkey said.
“Cruz, head to the hospital and cover Alex.”
Sharkey turned to Jenny. “I need to call Stephanie Williams and find out what she knows. Jerry’s at the hotel waiting to hear from me. Give him a call and tell him to come to my office in the morning.”
Jenny called Jerry and explained what happened.
“Okay. Chichi and I are in Stephanie’s room. She left for another hotel after the altercation with Carl. Not pretty. Don’t know where she went yet.”
“I’ll relay that to Sharkey. See you in the morning,” Jenny said. “Sloan should be notified, and Alex’s wife,” Jenny said.
“She’s most likely on duty at the hospital,” Chichi said.
“Okay. Sharkey has an officer on duty to cover him,” Jenny said.
Sharkey called Stephanie’s cell phone.
A sleepy voice answered. “Yes?”
“Mrs. Williams, it’s Detective David Sharkey.”
“What now?” Her curiosity had changed to anger.
“We’re looking for Carl Abbott. He was last seen being abducted by someone in a black SUV.”
“That stupid numbskull.”
“Do you know where he was going tonight?”
“No. He put an ad in the paper to try to get the kidnapper of Tyler to give him information.”
“When was the last time you saw or spoke to him?”
“We were having dinner, but he was such an ass that I left and went to find a new place to stay.”
“You moved?”
“I didn’t want to be near anyone determined to do really stupid things. Sounds like that was a good idea. That dumb ass.”
* * *
Sharkey’s cell phone rang. “Hey it’s me. Don’t say anything. I’m okay, just under the radar. I’ll call you later.” The phone went dead.
Sharkey breathed a sigh of relief. Harris. This should be good. He’s either being brilliant or just stepped in a really big pile of …
Nurse Cynthia walked quickly to the back of the EMT truck and was intercepted by Nurse Amy.
“Cynthia, let me do this. I just got word that it’s Alex.”
“What?”
“You need to let us help him.” Two other nurses ran past her and out to the vehicle. Cynthia frowned and kept walking. Amy ran ahead.
The doors opened and the medics lowered the gurney and rushed it into the hospital.
“Exam three,” Amy shouted.
Cynthia pushed her way into the room.
“Alex…Alex…” he tried to turn his head.
“Cynthia…”
Amy took ahold of Cynthia’s arm. “The doctor is here. Step out for a moment.”
Cynthia nodded and stood close to the curtain listening to what the doctor said.
“He had a total knee replacement about a year ago,” Amy said. The doctor examined his other leg. Another doctor stepped in and was checking his vitals.
“Alex, can you hear me?”
“Yeah.”
“Good. We’re going to do some X-Rays and make sure nothing is broken.”
“Check the ribs, too.”
“I’ll talk to Cynthia while you’re gone.
“Okay,” Alex said.
The doctor stepped out and saw Cynthia standing next to the side curtain.
“Cynthia, he appears to be stable.” The doctor who had worked with Cynthia for years saw tears in her eyes. He took her hand and held it tightly. “He’s going to be okay, trust me. Well, he might be a little ornery for a while, but he’ll be okay.”
“I know, I just…” she leaned against him and cried. He put his arms around her and held her tightly. “Come on, let’s get you something to drink.”
She pulled away. “Thanks, Dr. Olson. I’m fine. Sorry, I lost it for a minute.”
“That’s okay, you’re human.”
“Yeah, I guess I am. Okay…” She wiped her eyes and took a long breath.
“So, what do we know?” she asked as they walked to the lounge.
“He was attacked by someone and thrown into a hedge where he fell to the ground on his weak side. I believe the knee is stable, but we need to be sure. His vitals are a little low but stable.”
“Okay.”
“By the way, there’s a police officer who is staying with him.”
“Why?”
“They think the attacker may try to come after him.”
Cynthia’s face turned pale.
“They won’t let anything happen to him…or you. I was told to keep an eye on you. You’re to have someone with you…”
“No.”
“Yes. Detective Sharkey says these people are very dangerous.”
“Okay, can I take his personal things?”
“Sure. Let’s go get them. You can put them in the staff locker.”
“Thanks. Okay, back to work.”
Dr. Jim Olson smiled. “You’ll be fine. I’ll be by to see you soon. Stay at the nurse’s station in ICU after you pick up his things. I’ll keep you posted.”
She smiled and headed for emergency. That’s when Sharkey saw Cynthia and walked to meet her.
“You all right?”
“Yes. He’s in x-ray now. Sharkey, who attacked him?”
“We’re not sure of specifics but we think they were connected to an
