Chapter 1
Abbey slid into the black sedan. Was it only a few minutes ago that she had been notified that there had been a shooting at Rosslyn and that several people had been hit?
She shook her head. The initial fear that Jed had been hit had been eased when her agent said that no, the President had not been hit and was on his way back to the White House. She had been just ready to ask about the others when her agent received word that turned her world upside down.
Jed had been hit and was being taken directly to GW. That's when she pushed her agent aside and flew down the stairs, heading for a car she hoped would be there when she got there.
"Is he conscious?" She kept running as fast her heels would allow her to do so.
"He's conscious and they're moving him to pre-op. He was hit in the side, entry and exit."
Abbey nodded, grateful to see a car already pulled up to the door.
"What about Zoey?
The agent who was running with the First Lady answered "They got her in the car. She's cool. She's on her way to G.W."
"Let's go! Let's go! Let's go!" The second agent slid in the front passenger seat as the cars sped away, tires screeching.
"I want to talk with the doctor treating my husband."
"Yes ma'am." He spoke a few words into his walkie-talkie and in a matter of seconds his cell phone rang. Listening for just a second, he handed it to Abbey. "It's a Dr. Keller."
Abbey grabbed for the phone, ignoring the usual pleasantries. "How is he? Is he conscious? Abbey needed to hear it herself.
"Yes."
"PO2?"
"Ninety-eight percent on 5 liters of nasal O2."
"Bleeding?"
"Minimal."
"Surgery?"
"Yes. I'm considering a lap to assess any damage but I think now it'll be minimal. But I won't know for sure until I get in there."
Abbey looked out as the motorcade sped through Washington. She noted the landmarks speeding past and knew it would be only a matter of minutes before they arrived. That made her next request easier. "Dr. Keller, I'll be there in just a minute. Don't take him to surgery until I get there and have the anesthesiologist there. I want to speak with him before you take my husband."
"Yes, ma'am. But if something occurs to change the circumstances I reserve the right to take him immediately to surgery."
"I understand. We'll be there very soon."
Abbey handed the cell phone back to the agent and sat back. At least Jed was not in any immediate danger. But it was urgent for her to speak with the anesthesiologist before Jed was put to sleep. His MS would provide complications during surgery if the anesthesiologist didn't know ahead of time. And knowing her husband, he had not told the hospital staff anything. This was too sensitive an issue to just blurt out such an item.
"Ma'am, we're here."
Abbey looked up as the hospital's Emergency Entrance loomed ahead. Even with all the agents and police around, the crowd was beginning to overwhelm the security lines. And she knew it would only get worse.