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A female voice called out. “You’d better be scrubbed and masked before you set foot in my OR.”
Joe hesitated at the tone. The woman didn’t sound scared, just pissed off. He turned and waved at the nurse Tabora, who led him through the procedure and outfitted him with a gown and mask. She moved the camera to the collar of the gown, where he hoped it wouldn’t be noticeable.
After he sent Tabora out of range, he called out again. “Okay, it’s Joe again. I’m scrubbed up, wearing a mask and a gown. I’m still not armed and I’m coming in.”
Joe held his hands up and to the side, showing he wasn’t carrying a gun and pushed into the room. Directly across from him, a young man pointed a gun straight at his head.
While the kid couldn’t be twenty, he held the gun comfortably. His eyes were steady on Joe. “What do you want?”
“I’m here to check out the situation, make sure everyone is okay, and see what I can do to help.”
“So you’re a cop.”
Joe smiled and shrugged. He didn’t point out that he was FBI. With some hostage takers that might impress them into talking, but this was a kid from a gang neighborhood. Hearing FBI might scare him into escalating.
Nothing about this hostage situation was usual. The kid wasn’t looking for money. At least Joe didn’t think so. He hadn’t taken his eyes off the kid yet to assess the rest of the room. Time enough for that when he was sure no one would be shot. The vest he wore wouldn’t stop a head shot, and even a body shot would hurt like hell.
“You got a gun?”
“No. I’m unarmed.” Well, aside from his brain and his body.
“Prove it.” The kid was smart enough to stay across the room and not get into close fighting distance.
Joe moved his hands slowly and lifted the gown to show he wasn’t wearing a holster. He turned to show no gun at his back. Then he lifted his pant legs to show no ankle holster or weapon.
He turned back and the kid nodded slightly. When he didn’t say anything else, Joe kept his hands up and turned his head to the other people in the room. “You ladies all good?”
The surgeon had her hands deep in the belly of the kid on the table and she didn’t bother answering him. With the oxygen mask on, it was difficult to tell much about the younger kid. Going by the long and lanky build, he’d had a hell of a growth spurt, but hadn’t filled into his body yet. Probably over six feet, but maybe only fifteen or sixteen.
Another woman, Dr. Ibrahim he’d been told, stood at the head of the gurney, monitoring machinery Joe didn’t understand and seeming to assist Dr. Moreno. She glanced up at Joe with clear eyes. “We’re all good here.”
Time to get things moving. Starting with names. “Good to hear it. I’m Joe.”
Dr. Moreno didn’t look up or respond. Instead, her hands moved steadily.
The other doctor looked back at her machines. “I’m Casilda.”
When there was a blank moment, the surgeon blew out a breath. “I’m Lia. Excuse me for not shaking your hand, but I’m trying to save Gogo’s life and make sure he’s not using a colostomy bag for the rest of that life. We’re going to need more blood. Sneaks, I’m going to have to let Casilda go get some. He’s lost a lot.”
Well done. Lia Moreno had given him a ton of information with that short monologue. The woman had smarts and stones.
The man’s voice wobbled. “You can’t let him die.”
Finally, the woman looked up. With her head covering and a mask, he could only see her eyes. They were bright and fierce as they looked at the man with the gun. “I’m doing my damnedest here, Sneaks, but he needs more blood. I’ve already sutured a lot of the wounds. Bullets do a hell of a lot of damage. He needs that blood. Now.”
Sneaks pointed the gun at Joe. “Send him.”
Those fiery eyes turned to him. “Joe. Go into the hallway. Don’t touch a damn thing. Holler at Tabora to bring you blood. O positive.”
Joe looked at Sneaks and the kid nodded.
Joe moved into the hall and called for Tabora and gave her the instructions. When she brought the bags of blood for him, her eyes were serious. “Everyone okay in there? Any messages?”
He nodded. “The docs are good. Sneaks and Gogo. Abdominal gunshot with damage to the intestines. Find out if there are family members who might help.”
Then he called through. “It’s Joe. I’m coming in alone and I’m still unarmed.” He held the blood bags high and moved slowly. Casilda came and took the blood and Joe went through the procedure again to show he hadn’t grabbed a weapon while he was in the hallway.
While the two women worked on the boy, Joe turned to Sneaks. “You want to tell me what happened? What led to Gogo being shot?”
