Eric monitored the dialysis machine. "Yes, ma'am. They reconnected when Elizabeth performed emergency surgery on Martin's brother."
Ruth read the chart. "The ER included a suicide attempt in the differential diagnosis. Not possible—if she wanted to die, she would die. She's too smart."
Miles leaned against one of the glass walls. "We thought that too. We think she consumed some type of poison and fell because of a drop in her blood pressure or a seizure. The brain aneurysm was voluminous but had a minimal leak. The neurosurgeon repaired the damage. I don't think that is causing the coma."
Ruth pulled up a chair. "She's trying to revert to the heart block again. How long ago was she found?"
"Twenty-eight hours ago," Eric said.
Jamie directed her to some of their notes. "We’re working with a toxicologist at Mayo. She is worried too. Her symptoms are not abating despite the dialysis and the intestinal decontamination. We washed her down twice."
Ruth fretted her brow. "You ruled out radiation, heavy metals, pesticides as well as illicit drugs. The nicotine level should be falling as well as any other toxin. The search needs to be expanded to long-acting drugs. Tell me what that bastard father of hers is trying while I think."
Judson listened to Austin's lungs. He passed his apnea test, and at Patrick's order, they planned to pull the breathing tube from his throat. "Austin, thumbs up or down. Any chest pain?" He went through the checklist of any issues that would stop them from removing the tube.
"Okay, here we go. I promise, no surprises. Suction… I'm sorry, I know it hurts." Austin tried to turn his head. Jonathan maintained the position of his head with steady pressure and suctioned Austin's mouth. "Once the tube is out, we’re going to put you on a mask. Who wants to hold his hand? Mandy, Livvy?"
Both sisters got up and took a side. The PA gave the nervous sisters something to do and kept Austin from grabbing at either PA or the tube. "Ready? Austin, deep breath in and cough." Jonathan slid the tube from between his lips. Austin choked and sputtered.
Judson wiped his lips and placed a mask on his face to provide him with humidified oxygen, then listened to his lungs. "Deep, easy breaths."
Olivia fussed over him. "How do you feel?"
Austin coughed and held his sore ribs. His voice sounded scratchy. "Hurts like razor blades."
"Don't talk. Open up." Judson peered into his throat and sprayed a numbing medication, cetocaine, on the raw tissue. "Better?"
Exhausted from the activity, he closed his eyes and slept.
Dakka, Dakka, Dakka. Austin sat bolt upright as pain tore through his chest and belly. A hoarse scream fell from his lips, and sweat poured off his brow.
"Austin, you were dreaming." Judson put a bracing hand on each shoulder. "You're safe and in the hospital. I’m Judd. Today is Monday, and it’s four-thirty in the afternoon."
"Find Marty. Need to talk."
Judson helped ease him against the pillows, and Jonathan readjusted his oxygen mask. "First, we need to worry about you. Deep breaths in and out."
Dennis Bailey held his hand. "Austin, I'll find Marty."
"Please, Dad."
"Alright." Dennis pressed the damp hair off his son's forehead.
Ford Cox sat on the commercial couch in the hospital lobby with Martin. “Shaun Murray is going to work with us. He said some, especially the detective division, are stuck in the good old days. Detective Sergeant Danny Logan has an ego the size of the Grand Canyon. Dangerous, cocky, cuts corners.The end justifies the meanskind of guy. Not a caring bone in his body unless he receives a benefit.
"SWAT, competent, handles the job. Big egos. Mathias used to be on Talbot Reed’s protection detail. Murray said he’s still whining that you stole his thunder with Satanta.
"Patrol. Lawrence Owen, the sergeant who works opposite Austin and Irvin Lamb, the lieutenant, opposite Murray.
“Beck Ferguson from burglary. Said his name suits him. He's at everyone's beck and call. His head is so far up the chief's behind, he sees everything in beige. When I told him Ferguson was visiting Austin when Satanta took Dr. Reed hostage, Murray did a double-take. He hates Austin. Austin wrote him up for screwing up some evidence at a burglary. Killed any potential case. Beck lost pay for the mistake.
“Get this, the case was a break-in, here in the tech park—a data server. Ferguson stopped to take a piss before he dropped off the evidence at the crime lab. He forgot the pouch on the back of the toilet. Once he realized, he found the seal broken. They tried to go back and repeat everything, but the cleaning service was efficient. They cleaned the place. No way to solve the crime. No video feed either—it was down for maintenance. They downloaded files, no idea what was in them. Our Undersecretary Brynn Hackman came in to investigate the cybercrime.
“The chief is a political hack, a yes man to the mayor and city council. They brought him in from a small Nebraska department. Perfect paper pedigree, but no real street experience.
“Shaun’s having nightmares. The little girl, Austin—the shots. Someone wanted him to die. They aimed for the vest voids. The investigations, no one is hustling. He said Lamb gave the two cops who left their post watching Tonette a training ledger warning—a slap on the wrist.
"As far as the homicide investigation, Logan used his toy hammer and made the pieces fit. ADA Krebs, another puzzle builder, gave him a warrant. Even the chief recognized the political football, he told Logan to be sure. Chief Sharpe also gave the governor a heads up.
