"I'll be here." I hung up and slid my phone back into my pocket before turning and making my way back inside to the waiting room off to one side of the emergency room. I grabbed a magazine off of one of the tables and started leafing through it to give myself something to do.
I'd been sitting there a little while when a commotion near the front door caught my attention. I lowered the magazine just low enough to look over the top. Two men dressed in dark clothing, maybe teenagers, stood at the reception desk.
They seemed to be arguing with the nurse, but that wasn't what bothered me about the whole scene. While one of them was arguing, the other one's eyes kept darting around, not settling on any one thing. He was jumpy and nervous, and that wasn't a good thing.
When the other guy pounded his fist on the reception counter, I knew I had to do something. I waited until no one was looking in my direction and then set my magazine down and got up, slipping behind the partition that separated the waiting room from the rest of the emergency room reception area.
I watched over the top of the partition for a moment. The second I saw one of them pull out a gun and wave it toward the nurse behind the counter, I ducked down and pulled out my phone. I dialed the last number I had called.
"Code red," I whispered as soon as Brodsky answered. "Emergency department, two armed perps in black."
"Hostages?" Brodsky asked.
"Not if I can help it." There were a few people in the waiting area. Two people were rubbernecking it, trying to get a look at what was going on, one was sleeping in a chair, and the two others were watching the TV hung on the wall. "I'll get out who I can. Just hurry."
"We're on our way," Brodsky said. "Sal wants to know if you still have your earpiece."
"Yes." I always had it.
"Well, put it in and activate it."
I rolled my eyes but took the earpiece out of my pocket and placed it in my ear, pushing the button to activate it. "Okay, it's in. Are you reading me?"
"Yeah, I got you loud and clear."
I hung up the phone and slid it into my pocket. "I'm going to clear the waiting room."
I walked to the first person and flashed my badge and then held my finger to my lips and pointed toward the hallway on the far side of the room that led to the exit in the main lobby of the hospital. I did the same with the others in the waiting room until it was empty.
I tapped my comm unit. "How far out are you?"
"Ten minutes tops."
This was going to be over in ten minutes.
"Call Skip and tell him to let me in through the security exit by the waiting room." I'd gone out that door enough times to know it was there. I just couldn't get in unless someone opened it for me or I had a keycard, and I didn't.
"Copy that."
I kept on eye on the two men at the reception counter as I backed up until I was around the corner and behind the wall. I turned and sprinted down the corridor to where the security door was located.
It opened as I got there, and Skip stuck his head out. "What's going on? Brodsky called and told me I needed to let you in."
I pushed on Skip's chest until he stepped back and I could walk into the emergency area. I pulled the door closed behind me. "How many patients are in the emergency room right now?"
"Three." Skip frowned. "Why?"
"Aren't there elevators in the back?"
"Yes, they're for moving patients up to surgery."
"How many can you evacuate with them?"
"All of them, but, David, what's going on?"
"There are two armed men out in the lobby. Sal and the others are on their way, but I can't guarantee those two won't try and get in here before they arrive. I've already cleared out the waiting room. We need to get whoever can be moved out of here."
Skip didn't say a word. He just turned and headed toward the nursing station. "Jean, I want everyone who can be moved evacuated to the surgical floor. Use the elevators. I want you and the other nurses to go, too."
