Chapter Nineteen
Pete replaced the empty bag of renal replacement solution and inserted a syringe into one of the IV ports. “I’m bolusing with Heparin.”
He and Tucker spent the shift taking care of Cassie’s needs. Every move they made stressed her. They washed the remaining blood from her hair and back and changed her sweat-soaked bedding and gown. Because of her fever, they sandwiched her body between cooling blankets with care in a way to prevent bedsores.
Sunlight streamed in through the window, casting a golden sheen over her fevered skin. Tucker rolled her to the side to retake her core temperature. Pete’s eye caught a rainbow prism reflecting off a drop on the outside of the bag of her swaying fluids. His stomach lurched. “Tuck, something’s wrong.” He grabbed the bag and tossed it to the floor, disconnecting it.
Tucker scanned the monitors in time to catch the first of many irregularly shaped beats. “Pete, she’s coding.” He removed the thermometer to place her flat on her back. “Her temp is up to 105.6.” Pete was already drawing multiple tubes of blood. “I’m pushing calcium. Call Hunt. C’mon, Cassie,” Tucker begged.
Pete moved to hit the red button. “CODE BLUE ICU.”
Health care providers ran to Cassie’s room to help. When one of the incoming nurses started CPR, the sickening noises of cracking ribs resonated.
Pete took the stairs three at a time to the lab, rushing them for the results both he and Tucker already suspected. Quickly returning to help in the resuscitation, he set his phone on speaker awaiting Hunter’s answer.
“Insulin, glucose. Albuterol IV,” Jack Parker called out the orders to reverse what they thought might be potassium poisoning. “Stop CPR. Defibrillate 200 joules.” This was the third attempt to break the deadly rhythm.
Everyone held their breath. Nothing changed. CPR was continued. Two minutes later, they defibrillated again. Two more attempts—and still nothing helped. A hush fell over the room.
Tucker fired the sixth attempt. Blip, blip, blip. The monitor showed organized beats. “We have a pulse,” the nurse nearest Cassie’s head said.
“Hook up the vent again. Hemodialysis. Get another machine and fluids up here now.” Tucker looked at the remaining supplies in the case. All had pinhole leaks. “It’s all contaminated.”
Parker stood at the bedside, writing orders.
* * *
As Ian called the meeting to order, Hunter took his place in front of the Chase personnel. “At this point, there’s nothing more anyone can do. It’s up to her.” He looked up. “Ian, I’m sorry.”
Ian’s lips pulled into a straight line, and his voice cracked when he spoke, “We need a multi-pronged approach. Martin, there was an article in thePosttoday about ‘an unnamed socialite at University.’ Find the source. FBI is prowling the floor. Her bureau chief, best friend, and partner are all due in soon. They get carte blanche to see her. Anyone from her division can see her too. Her team from the Four Seasons gets escorted in to visit. I do not trust any of them.
"Until we have the whole story, we’ll work under the assumption someone wants her dead and will keep trying until they succeed. Matty, work with Tate. I want a security plan bypassing all hospital personnel in thirty minutes. Every supply, every medication, every piece of equipment runs through us.
“I want a 24/7 watch on Wilds and on Maddox. Julian, arm her med team. Nothing big—I want her protected but don’t want the other staff, families or patients scared. Hunt, as soon as she’s stable enough, I want her transferred to the house for the duration of her recovery.”
Hunter steadied his hands on the table. “Ian, damn it, did you hear a word I said? Cassie is dying.”
Ian lifted his chin in defiance. “Just set up for it. Whatever she needs, whatever the cost.
“We have to find out why Sebastian Ames tried to kill her. Kieran and I will have a more in-depth chat with Andy Blake. Extend the search parameters to explore any potential association between Ames and the Paulsen sons. Check her case files. I’m not comfortable with the police’s current thinking Ames just snapped because she said no. Her last words to me were ‘Cassiopeia is dead.’ I believe this has to do with something that occurred six years ago. There are a lot of missing pieces.” Ian fingered the newborn’s cap he’d stowed in his pocket.
When Hunter’s phone rang, he looked down at the screen, raising one finger. “Montgomery.” His face blanched as he listened, scrubbing his hand through his hair. “I’m on my way. Yeah, 8.8, shit.”
Hunter shook his head at the worried faces looking at him. “Restart dialysis as soon as you can from fresh stock. Do you have the bag? The case?” Hunter gritted his teeth. “I agree. Go for broke on the antibiotics. Full dose. To hell with the blankets—pack her in ice. Drop the fluid temp and irrigate her bladder. Get that fever down. Call ID back; I want another consult on the antibiotics. Scan her from head to toe to look for an abscess.”
Hunter hung up and looked up at the group. “I need to go back to the hospital. Cassie’s heart stopped again. Tucker and Pete believe her fluids were contaminated. Our guys and the code team are fighting to keep her alive. To make matters worse, her temp’s higher. Her family is aware.”
Ian locked eyes with Hunter before he left the room. After giving out assignments, he stepped into the privacy of his office and changed from his suit into a Chase Security black polo shirt and black battle dress uniform pants. Maintaining a level of professional distance and detachment from Cassie was a failure. Whether or not she wanted him in her life, he was jumping in with both feet.
Ian attached his Sig P226 to his waistband holster. No one was going to take away her chance again.
* * *
Caleb and Christian Paulsen were sitting on either side of Cassie, holding her hands, when Ian arrived at the ICU. She was wrapped in ice-filled plastic. Despite medication to prevent it, her body shook from the cold.
Both men looked exhausted and drawn. At the sight of his previous CO, Caleb jumped to attention. Ian smiled and pulled the young man into an embrace.
“Sir, I am so glad to see you. Thank you for helping Cassie. Why is this happening to her? Why would someone want her dead?”
