Page 127 of Asystole

In the other mesh pocket of the AED are three small vials and a cellophane-wrapped syringe. This man gets closer to the pearly gates with every second I waste, so quickly reading that the vial contains epinephrine and ignoring the expiration date, I open the syringe and draw the full contents into the needle.

Taking a quick glance at my watch, I note the time. He’ll need another dose in three minutes.

With my left foot planted on the floor of the helicopter, and my right knee bent and resting on this man’s left thigh, I’m practically folded in half as I hover over him because the ceiling is so low.

Jesus. I don’t even have time to clean his skin before I’m locating the best vein he has, slapping it repeatedly to make it stand out, and issuing a plea to Logan.

“You’re doing great, baby. Think you can hold her steady for me for just a sec, though? I’m aiming for a vein back here.”

“Doing my best, sweetheart,” Logan calls, making me grin.

Erik’s skin is already turning blue as I flush the medication into his body.

Ideally, I’d follow this up with saline, but there is none.

As soon as the syringe is empty, I elevate his arm to circulate the drug, but only give it three seconds before starting CPR.

I count out loud in the back of this swaying helicopter, doing my best to save this man’s life, while Logan saves ours.

Chapter 47

Logan

“Ground control to Airbus H130, I have your location. Do you have any experience with flying?” the disembodied voice asks in my headset.

“Roger. I’m a life flight helicopter pilot back home,” I confirm.

“Today’s our lucky day, then,” the accented voice says informally, wasting my time.

“Request immediate landing. Medical assistance required upon arrival. Will need proper shutdown instructions.”

“Ground control confirm. All traffic, hold position. EMS en route. Mr. Kirkland, I need you to head due west,” the voice says, returning my professionalism.

“Copy that,” I respond.

The airport is a blinking green dot on my radar, making it pretty easy to find.

My only concern comes with the touchdown. If I stall out before we land, all of this will be for nothing, and I’d never forgive myself if I didn’t get Chase on the ground safely.

Chase.

I hear him counting in the back. I wish we were able to help each other right now, but all our attention needs to be completely focused on the tasks in front of us.

As I cut across the island and approach the landing zone of the airport, I can see the flashing lights of the emergency vehicles on the tarmac. I’m almost certain we’re carrying a dead man to his final resting place, but I guess there’s hope until a physician says there isn’t any, and Chase is still working.

Suddenly, I hear him shout.

“Holy shit! HOLY SHIT!”

I don’t have time to ask him what’s happening as I bleed my airspeed down to forty knots while closing in on three hundred feet above ground.

Instructions for shutting this bird down are coming through my headset from ground control. Knowing we’re going to make it has me dizzy with relief.

Hold it together, Logan, we’re not on the ground yet, and the man in the back could still be dead for all we know.

As soon as we touch down, I flip the switches in the order they’re told to me as the side is ripped open and people begin pulling Erik out of the back row of seats.

Chase’s voice fills my ears as I sign off with ground control and take the helmet off.