"Everyone, we are going to try a laparoscopic procedure to resect a group of three large, irregular, thin-walled liver abscesses. We’re going to go as slowly as reasonable because I’m nervous about the perforation of adjacent abdominal organs, lung collapse, hemorrhage, and leakage of the pus into the abdomen. May I ask for complete quiet unless it pertains to the surgery? Electrosurgical scalpel."
Chapter Thirty-Two
Friday, August 28th
"Situation report?" Ian entered a trailer on the Bailey farm, fresh from his flight to Silverton.
"Josh is running the other scene. There were explosives and another Post-it wall," Mike said while bent over to tie his tactical boots' laces.
Not looking like a billionaire executive, Ian was dressed head to toe in black as a confident, commanding officer. "Julian, where are we headed?"
Julian diagrammed the plan. A satellite view of the building's exterior, its access points and roadways surrounding it, appeared on a digital screen. He directed the laser pointer. "With information from Spooner and McAllister, this is where they also shot some of the movies."
Tighe pointed at the roof outline. "The exhaust system resembles a turret—Lissa’s castle."
Mike detailed the plan. "McAllister said there is a central area with camera vantage points and a circus ring, for lack of a better description. From his behavior, we know Jenner is unraveling. Janice, you're going to wear a red wig and drive Elizabeth's rental car to the meet location. Kip and Bruce, you will be there to assist and take out whoever Jenner sends to pick her up. Once they are in custody, you will change into their clothing and drive Janice to the warehouse. Upon your arrival, Janice, you will scream and break free. My thought is Clay will send help to catch you."
Kieran said, "According to the most recent update about arrestees, Boyd Thomas, Beck Ferguson, Irvin Lamb, Vernon Gafford, Keene Jensen, Trip Mathias, Hailey Ullman, Indira Choudhury and Henrietta Krump are the missing major players."
"Hedges, do you have what you need?" Julian made sure he was prepared.
Patrick blew out a breath. "I'm set." He double-checked his weapon and his medic bag.
Ian rallied the group. "Last chance for questions. Time to bring Martin home." He was met with tense faces. "For our Air Force and Army members, Hooah!" For our Marines, Oorah! For the Navy in the room, Hooyah! Move out!"
"Clay, we need to forget about this, put a bullet in his head and get out of here while we still have a chance," Gafford said.
"Is that what you think we should do, Vernon?" Clay's tone was ominous.
"Yeah."
"Go. Be my guest." Clay stretched out his hand.
When Gafford got up to leave, Clay drew a gun from his pocket, pointed it and shot him in the back of the head. The blood spray hit against Martin's cheek. Hailey screamed. "Anyone else want to leave?"
"What are you doing? You killed him. It wasn’t supposed to go down like this." Keene bent down to see if Gafford was still alive.
Clay crossed his arms. "It goes how I want it to. Trip and Keene, go get Elizabeth Reed and don't give a thought to running away. Trip, you don't want that fiancée of yours to die, and Keene, your kids could get hurt. Boyd and I could have a lot of fun with them." Trip and Keene drew their own weapons. "If I don't see Elizabeth standing here at 12:15, and I can't make a call—well…"
"He's lying to you. There is no one else out there. You're all that's left," Martin implored.
"Marty, shut up." Clay struck him with the butt of his gun wrapped in his fist. Martin's left eye swelled as Keene and Trip walked out into the night.
The gleam in Clay's eyes declared to Martin his desire. Martin's only immediate help was Hailey. "Hailey, you don't want to be part of this. You said you liked to do things humanely. What these two plan is as inhumane as it comes. Please, you’re better than that," Martin's tone was slow and even.
"Clay, honey, maybe we should consider our escape." Hailey's tone was coaxing as she walked toward Clay.
Martin caught sight of the syringe in her hand. So did Boyd. As Hailey raised her hands to wrap them around Clay's neck, Boyd fired a shot. She dropped to her knees, and in her last bit of strength, she tossed the needle like a dart at Boyd, striking him in his chest. Hailey collapsed to the floor. Boyd's eyes clouded, and he followed her.
Clay yanked down the rest of the prison coveralls Martin still wore. "Well, Marty, just you and me. I think I'll start before Sunshine gets here." He ran a finger over Martin's tattoo and bit his nipple. Clay lived for the struggle and fear he caused in his victims. Though it was an internal battle, Martin held still.
His hands roamed Martin's body. "C'mon, Marty, you don't want to make this easy for me.”
Troy's surgery was difficult and delicate. Elizabeth, tongue stuck to the roof of her mouth, was grateful Pete was able to anticipate her moves. The pockets of infection had adhered to his liver with small tentacle projections. The final abscess sat in the cusp of the center and the half of the right lobe that remained. The left lobe was removed in the original surgery. There was no choice in how to take the abscess. The infection would be unstoppable if it broke, and without a liver, Troy would die in hours.
"Troy, we are coming off this mountain together."
Pete observed her create an intricate web of sutures over the abscess before she used the electric scalpel to section small pieces of liver surrounding it. Leaving a tentacle behind would spread the infection and mean his death too. With intense concentration, she made the final cut and scooped the mass of sutures and infection into the leak-proof bag. The abscess ruptured green awful-smelling liquid as it cleared the bag's opening. Elizabeth cinched it closed, taking her time to withdraw the bag from Troy's body without spilling a drop. She exhaled and stepped back from the table.
