2
Matt's first instinct was to throw C.J. to the floor and cover her with his body. He held his hand over her head and tried to basically lay on top of her as bullets, hundreds of them it seemed whizzed over their heads along with the shattering glass. He kept his head down but tried to look around as he, Hoyt and Roy were shouting out to everyone to get down. The cops that had been invited had covered many of the other guests like Chris and Bernadette, another secretary. They had their guns drawn as well, but no where to really point them. Hoyt was shouting out to them to cover themselves and that the shots were coming from outside the building.
After what seemed like an hour, but in reality was only about 10 minutes the shooting stopped. Matt looked down at this wife, whom he had been whispering to the entire time asking if she were ok, to make sure she was. He couldn't hear her respond over the other noises but did notice she had put her hand on his and squeezed it every couple of seconds. That was her way of communicating with him that she was alright.
C.J. started to sit up as Matt moved over her to the side but he told her, "Stay down until we know for sure whoever did this isn't going to start shooting again, alright." She nodded and he looked at Roy and Hoyt.
Matt called out, "Is everybody alright? Anybody hurt?"
Murray lay just to the side of Matt and C.J. and was putting his glasses back on and replied softly, "I'm ok, big guy."
Matt looked around and heard Vince call out from C.J.'s office, "I've got LAPD on the line and they already have units surrounding the building across the street but are advising us to stay down until further notice."
Hoyt called back, "Tell them we have an officer down!" Matt looked sharply back in Hoyt's direction at the bar.
C.J. told him as she squeezed his hand, "Go, but stay down." He rubbed her back for a second and crawled over to the bar.
He found Warren bleeding from a wound to his shoulder. Matt asked, "How bad is it?"
Warren answered as he and Hoyt held his shoulder, "It looks worse than it is. I think it went through. Little patch work and I should be fine."
Hoyt told him, "Shut up Warren and save your strength...we don't know how much damage has been done." He and Matt looked at each other, "The officer down should have more units responding." They nodded to teach other. The other officers shouted out to Hoyt that no one they were covering nor themselves were injured.
Matt then visually scouted the room and noticed C.J. had moved. He saw she had crawled over to the steps where someone, a man was laying. He watched as she slowly made her way down, stopping for a second doing something, maybe talking to him before crawling over to Chris' desk.
C.J. had in that split second before the bullets started flying saw Mama and the Novelli boys in the elevator getting off to enter the penthouse. Matt responded quickly and before she could see what happened he had pinned her to the floor protecting her with his body. Now she had to make sure they were safe. She had taken a deep breath as she made her way over, praying the whole way everyone had gotten to safety.
As she approached the stairs she noticed Myron, Murray's brother laying face down with a large pool of blood under his chest. She stopped before going down the steps as the reality hit her that Myron had died. She crawled down to him, closed his eyes and whispered, "I'm so sorry." She thought for a second of going over to get Murray to her office or something before he saw his brother like that but caught movement under Chris' desk.
She crawled over to it and found Mama, the boys, and Vince's wife Isabella hiding behind it trying not to get too upset. She took Mama's hand and said, "I think the shooting is over now. We should be fine, but it might be best if we got all of you to the stairwell. Don't go down it, but stay behind the door. It should be safer there. I'll tell Vince when I get to him where you are."
Mama nodded trying not to cry but told her, "That man...is he alright?"
C.J. swallowed hard. The reason she was trying to get them to the stairwell is so none of them would see Myron and be left with that image. She told her, "He's injured, but we are going to get everyone out of here and get them the medical help they need, as best we can..."
Mama told her, "When we walked out we heard a noise, but...but, I didn't know. He ran to us shouting at us to get behind the desk here and held his hands out like a shield or something, you know. He saved our lives."
C.J. looked down and then told them, "All the more reason for us to get all of you to the stairwell so his...injuries...won't be in vain, ok?"
Mama nodded and they all stayed down and crawled over to the stairwell.
Matt watched as C.J. led Mama, the boys and Vince's wife to the stairwell and thought to himself how smart and quick his wife could think. He also breathed a sigh of relief as all 6 of them appeared unharmed.
The only thing that alarmed him was the look on his wife's face as she stared back at the man laying at the foot of the steps in front of the elevator.
Vince shouted out again from C.J.'s office. "LAPD is in chase of one suspect. They think there were two, but have officers making their way up to the penthouse now with EMTs to get out the wounded officer. They need details..."
Hoyt shouted back, "Shoulder wound, can't tell how serious, significant blood loss..."
C.J. slowly entered her office from the door that led from the lobby. Vince was sitting on the floor by her desk on the phone. He motioned to her to stay down so instead of just leaning over and walking in, she got back down on all fours. She told him, "Mama, the boys and your wife are fine, but they had just arrived back when the shots started. Myron, Murray's brother...well...he stood up in between the penthouse and elevator so they wouldn't get shot and told them to get behind Chris' desk. I found them there and got them to the stairwell and told them to just stay behind the door."
Vince had initially panicked but then seemed to relax for a second as C.J. had sort of quickly explained what happened and that they were all safe. He then asked, "How's Myron? Did he get down in time?"
C.J. swallowed hard again, trying in vain to keep the tears at bay for now and said, "No, no he didn't..." She put her head down in her hands for a second as she lost it.
Vince patted her back and said, "I owe him more than I could ever repay...I don't even know what to say or..." He started to get choked up himself. Sensing this C.J. reached up and hugged him for a second. They both pulled themselves together and Vince heard something on the phone that got his attention. He hung the phone up and said, "The police have the scene secured and have officers already in this building, up to the floor just below us and will be here in a second. We need to tell everyone and try to get them calmed down enough to give statements."
C.J. just nodded but then said before he got to the door, "We need to get Murray in here. I don't want him to see his brother like that."
Vince agreed and then went to the door. He opened it and said to everyone, "LAPD has the scene secured..." C.J. walked past him to Murray and helped him up, standing between him and the lobby. Vince continued, "We need everyone to stay calm so they can get everyone's statements."
Matt got up and went right over to C.J. She was telling Murray, "We need to go in my office ok?"
Murray looked confused and said, "Fine, just let me get Myron..." He started to look around.
Matt caught something in C.J.'s eyes that told him something was wrong and there was definitely a reason she wanted Murray in her office, that it was important. So he added, "Look Murray, I'll find Myron, you go on with C.J." He patted his back and C.J. almost tearfully mouthed a thank you to him. He noticed how she kept her body between Murray and the elevator, trying to keep in his line of vision.
Matt then walked over to Hoyt, Vince and Warren. Vince told him, "We need to get everyone to the couches and away from the lobby."
Matt and Hoyt looked at each other but seeing the look on Vince's face and the one on C.J., Matt had an idea as to the reasoning behind Vince's statement so he said, "Look, everyone, if we could all just move over to the couches and have a seat, we can all be in one place when the police come in to take statements...Is anyone else hurt or injured in any way?" The off duty officers nodded to Matt and all helped get everyone around the couch.
Everyone seemed to be trying to take care of everyone else as Matt had walked around to the penthouse doors that were not entirely shattered and closed them. As he did, he looked down at the man lying in a pool of blood and realized he was right. The body was Myron's and he had surely died given the amount of blood underneath him.
After shutting the doors, Chris walked up and started to go out. Matt stopped her and she just looked up at him confused as she said, "Houston, I just need some air, there are so many people in there. I wasn't going anywhere..." What she didn't want to tell him was that she still didn't feel comfortable being physically close to so many people and men especially. Even though the attack against her occurred months ago, there were still isolated incidents where she felt smothered and would start to panic. Hundreds of bullets flying over her head just a minute ago had started her into a panic attack and being crowded into a room filled with men magnified it.
He nodded his head but told her, "I need you stay in here for now. Look, its safe enough now to go outside, why don't we go out there together ok?"
She nodded her head. He had a sense as to why she needed to get some space and checked on the guests as they made their way out to the patio. They found the chopper all shot up and definitely not airworthy at the moment, so Matt was glad it wasn't needed to fly anyone to the hospital. However, as he looked back through the shot out window he could see and hear C.J. trying to calm Murray down as he really wanted to go find Myron and make sure he was alright as well. Matt closed his eyes and thought to himself that he wished Myron did need the chopper...that he had a chance...Matt just looked down and back at Chris who was watching the officers on the roof of the building across the street photographing and documenting everything.
The EMTs made their way in quickly enough and got Warren out and to the hospital. Neither of the men thought the wound was all that serious but would require surgery. Warren said something about having too much to do to be in the hospital long, to which Hoyt just told him again to shut up and do what they tell him, and that was an order.
After talking to Chris for a minute and feeling that she was safe on the patio, Matt went back inside and knelt down with the coroner and Vince over Myron's body. Mack, the coroner said, "He died instantly I'd say. I doubt he even felt anything. Multiple shots tore through the chest cavity, given the amount of blood loss, more than one probably went through his heart."
Matt rubbed his forehead and Vince patted his back as they stood up. He told Matt, "At least he didn't suffer. I'm sorry buddy, you don't how sorry I am." Vince started to get choked up and walked over to the stairwell.
Matt followed him confused, "Vince...what..."
Vince looked at him and Matt could see tears as he pointed back to Myron, "He saved my family's life. I didn't even know they were here yet. I did nothing to help them. Mama said he stood up...in between the bullets and them and he took them all for them...Mama...the boys..." Vince then broke down.
Matt took him and hugged him for a second then stood back and told him, "Vince, everything happened so fast. There wasn't anything you could have done and Myron..." Matt looked back over as the coroner zipped up the body bag and they put the gurney in the elevator. "Myron made a very brave decision. Look, why don't you go on. We know where to find you. Go and take care of your family, alright."
Vince looked down as an officer approached. "No, I'll give my statement first and then go." He nodded to the officer and walked back over to the bar and gave his statement. Both he and Hoyt gave statements before Hoyt started directing the officers in the investigation.
Matt made his way around to everyone essentially apologizing, to which everyone told him there was nothing for him to apologize for. The sense of guilt he felt was almost overwhelming and he wasn't sure he could even go in to C.J.'s office and face Murray. He knew however, he didn't want her to handle telling Murray this alone. So he took a deep breath, made a brandy for Murray and went in.
C.J. had done all she could to keep Murray calm. She knew the coroner was bound to have taken Myron away by now. At about the point she was going to tell him, Matt walked in.
Murray was saying to C.J., "C.J. I understand that we may need to handle a statement about this to the press but I really need to find Myron. He gets really worked up easy and he's bound to be a bundle of nerves right now. He doesn't handle danger as well as I do."
Matt then interrupted, "Murray, why don't you sit down for a minute." Matt's expression told Murray that something was wrong. He looked back at C.J. and then slowly sat in the chair in front of her desk.
Matt then handed him the brandy, Murray said softly, "You know after that case with Joey's World I swore off the stuff." He took it though and took a drink as Matt nodded to him to take one anyway.
C.J. then walked over as she took Matt's hand as she told him, "Murray, Myron made a very courageous decision today...He was standing close to the doors to the lobby when the gunshots started and..." she closed her eyes.
Matt squeezed her hand and took over the story from there. "Mama Novelli, Isabella, and the boys had just come up in the elevator and Myron...he put himself between them and the penthouse, blocking the gunfire for them so they could get to safety. He saved the lives of 6 people, including 4 boys, Vince's boys." Matt swallowed hard before saying, "You should be very proud of him."
Murray took another drink and then said, "I am proud, but where is he? Did he get shot? What hospital was he taken to?" He looked up at the two clearly without considering the alternative, that Myron had died.
C.J. squeezed Matt's hand and looked down. He knew she was trying to keep herself composed. So he told Murray after he squeezed her hand, let it go and walked over, kneeling down in front of Murray putting his hand on his shoulder. He told him, "Myron gave his life for six others, Murray. I am so terribly sorry."
Murray started to hyperventilate. "No, no he can't be dead...no you have to be wrong. Myron!" he shouted out and stood up.
Matt stood up and both he and C.J. could see the tears starting to fall as he called out but then slumped back down in the chair, "We were going on a cruise next month. We made a pact that we were going to find someone and settle down. Its a single's cruise...we...we..." He completely broke down and Matt and C.J. both put their arms around him.
After an hour they helped him to the couch as everyone else had left at that point. Two EMTs remained to help those in shock and when they saw Murray they asked if he needed help. They explained what happened and the EMTs gave him something to sedate him that wouldn't conflict with the brandy he drank earlier. Once they did that, they left Matt, C.J. and Murray in the penthouse. Everyone else had left. Roy said something to them as they came out of the office about taking care of Chris, Will, Holly and Johnny and not to worry.
Matt went and poured a scotch for himself and one for his wife as he joined her outside. He noticed she just appeared to be staring back at the penthouse, no doubt taking in just how much damage had been done. Then she seemed to sink down against the ledge onto the floor of the balcony and pulled her knees into her chest. He took a deep breath and went out to sit with her.