Then he noticed two people over was a pink-clad cafeteria worker. While his name was Tyrone, they called him ‘Tiny’ even though he was a buff Black man.
Sean sidled over to him and carefully gave him a glimpse of his badge. “Can you get some towels from the laundry cart?”
Tyrone took his own measure of the situation and nodded once. “Be careful,” Sean whispered. Then again, judging by the old gang tattoo of the Black Kings on his forearm, El Socio might be the one who had to be careful.
Having an idea of what was needed, Tyrone casually reached the far end of the laundry cart and said, “Spilled soup in the kitchen. Can I have some towels?”
Rather than play it cool, El Socio growled and pulled a knife. Tyrone dodged the first slash by backpedaling. People ran in every direction away from the cart.
Perceiving Tyrone to be the closest threat, El Socio was unprepared for Sean to bring his heel directly down on El Socio’s left calf from behind.
El Socio dropped, as Sean had hit the spot where his tattoo had once been. The knife clattered to the floor and Sean twisted El Socio’s right hand behind his back, putting pressure on his shoulder. El Socio let out a string of expletives. Tyrone shoved a washcloth into his mouth.
“Check for the baby,” Sean said, holding El Socio fast.
Tyrone slid a set of towels to the side and found the prize. A swaddled newborn baby had slept quietly through the entire commotion.
“Let’s figure out how to tie him up,” Sean said. Security was on their way, but they didn’t even have handcuffs.
A group of ER nurses took the baby and helped Tyrone use medical tape to truss up El Socio like a Thanksgiving turkey.
Surrounded by security with tasers, Sean identified himself as Cleveland police. “Where is Lillian Hernandez?”
“Quien?”El Socio spat. “El doctora. Donde esta ahora?You stole her badge.”
“La gordita? Wouldn’t you like to know, gringo?”
“Tell me where she is, Angel, or I’ll let them tape your entire calf. Nice of you to leave an open wound where you sawed off your own skin.” He nudged the edge of El Socio’s calf, making him wince in pain.
“She’s in her office.”
“Unharmed?” Sean asked in the coldest voice possible.
“Mostly. I ain’t fucking dumb enough to open that can of worms.”
“What does that mean?” Sean hissed.
“Oh, you’ll see.”
“We have the baby.” One of the security guards spoke into his radio. “They say they’re checking out a doctor and nurse upstairs who were drugged.”
“What did you give them?”
“Nothing you can trace.” El Socio smirked. Sean grinned, making sure to show his teeth. “I’m narcotics. We can trace anything,jefe. Make sure they collect blood and first urine on the two upstairs. Test any of their food and drinks for GHB.”
The police arrived, including Charlie who wasn’t even in her uniform. They started forming a perimeter, but Sean had a more important task. “Dr. Lillian Hernandez. El Socio had her badge. He says she’s in her office. I need to find her.”
“I’ll go with you,” Charlie said and handed him a backup gun. “Control the perimeter until I get back.”
With Code Pink over, they were able to use his hospital badge, which he’d never turned in, to take the stairs to the third floor and enter the locked peds clinic.
They drew their guns, even though there was no evidence anyone had been helping El Socio. They passed through the clinic, checking each room until they reached Lillian’s office, which had its door closed.
“This is Officer Murphy, Cleveland Police.”
Charlie opened the door from the side, and he entered, instantly relaxing. Her office was in shambles, but Lillian was alive and unbleeding. She was taped to her chair and gagged with medical tape. Judging by the mess, she’d tried to use her feet to get to her landline without success.
“You’re safe.” He passed his gun to Charlie, opened the desk, and took out a pair of scissors to cut her bonds.
