Chapter 7
Jim dashed out, stopping briefly at Mac's office to give him the news. MacDonald proceeded to put out a broadcast for any available units to meet at Taylor Yards to search for the missing officer before following behind 1-Adam-12. Jim joined up with Woods and the two were in route to the old rail yards running Code 3. Both officers wondered if Kevin sent them on a wild goose chase, or if not, how many boxcars would they have to search to find Malloy.
As they pulled into Taylor Yards, another four squads came to a quick halt alongside their vehicle. The group of officers circled up. Reed directed the others saying, "Pete is supposed to be in one of these boxcars. Let's spread out and open every one. Shout out if you find him." Ten men with flashlights at the ready fanned out.
Approximately eighty cars lined the old tracks throughout the rail yards. All the officers were calling out "Malloy" as they approached each car hoping to hear a response from Pete.
Jim and Jerry were on their tenth car when they heard a shout. "He's over here! We found him!"
Jim took off at a sprint. He was fortunate to not twist an ankle running over the rails to get to the boxcar. Just as he got to the open door of the railway car, Officer Sanchez hopped down from inside. "I'm calling an ambulance and grabbing a crowbar. I'll be right back."
Jim climbed up into the car. His flashlight shone on his best friend sprawled out on the hard floor with Officer Walters crouched over him.
Jim froze. He swallowed the lump in his throat before asking, "Is he alive?"
Jerry Walters glanced up, "He has a pulse. Can you shine your light on his wrists?"
Jim came close and directed the beam there while Walters pulled out a small pocketknife and began cutting the rope, releasing Pete's raw wrists after two and a half days.
"Can you hear me, Pete?" Jerry asked.
No response came. Pete lay completely still with matted down hair and sweat-stained t-shirt and pants from hours on the floor of the hot humid boxcar.
Jim then spotted the heavy shackle on his partner's ankle. Reed ran his hand under the links, "Is this why Sanchez went for a crowbar?"
Walters responded, "Yeah. He has him chained in here like an animal." Both officers flashed their lights around inside the car and only saw a crumpled brown bag, a gray thermos, a small wooden crate, and one shoe. Jim kneeled down next to Malloy.
Desperate to roust his friend, Jim shook his partner's shoulders. "Wake up Pete! Talk to me!"
Suddenly, Pete's eyes opened, his pupils were dilated, and the white's of his eyes were bloodshot. A delirious Malloy grabbed out at what was closest to him, grasping Jim's shirt. "Don't leave, Kevin!" was his cry.
Jim dropped the flashlight and took a firm hold on his partner's forearms. "Pete, it's me! JIM!" The panic in Pete's voice shook Jim to the core. Pete continued to hold on to Jim, but he had little strength left in him. Reed and Walters tried to reassure him.
"Malloy! We're here to help you!"
After hearing his name over again, Pete recognized the familiar voice of his partner. Head throbbing, heart pounding, and chest heaving, Pete finally gasped, "Jim?"
"Yes, it's me, Jim, and you have Jerry Walters here too. It's over Pete. We're going to get you out of here."
Pete finally released Jim's shirt then whispered, "Water?" His plea was followed by a dry cough.
Just then Sanchez climbed into the car carrying the crowbar. Jim shouted to Woods waiting just outside the boxcar, "Can you find some water quickly?"
"On it!"
Walters and Sanchez carefully worked the crowbar into a leveraged position to pry open the chain link attached to the metal plate on the boxcar floor. With the strength of both men the link was pulled open and the trapped Malloy was finally free, at least free enough to leave the confines of the boxcar. They had yet to remove the shackle and attached chain links. The men heard the siren of the oncoming ambulance. Jerry Woods returned with a bottle of water and was followed by one worried superior. MacDonald boarded the car wanting to see the condition of his officer and friend.
He took a knee beside the flat out officer. Malloy rolled his head toward the new blurred face above him. "Mac?"
"Yeah. Pete, how are you doing?"
"Lousy."
Woods passed the bottle to Reed. "I've got some water. Let me help you sit up." The sergeant and Jim assisted Pete into an upright position and then a burst of pain shot through Pete's head from the elevated position. He pinched shut his eyes and moaned.
Jim asked, "Are you OK?"
"Uh huh"
Jim offered a sip of water, which Pete eagerly took. When handed the water bottle itself, it slipped right out of Malloy's hand.
"I'm sorry Pete."
Pete looked confused then shook his hands trying to stop the tingling sensation he felt. "They're numb."
Jim picked up the bottle then lifted it back up to Pete's lips for another much-needed drink.
Pete just wasn't satisfied with a sip. "Moreā¦" he pleaded, then reached out to direct Jim's hand to let him keep drinking from the bottle.
"Take it slow, Partner."
The ambulance attendants arrived at the boxcar with a stretcher.
One of the attendants spoke up, "Excuse me, gentlemen. Step aside so we can get him ready for transport."
Officer Walters directed, "Be careful. He has a heavy chain and shackle on his ankle."
"We can get some bolt cutters to take it off at the hospital," the attendant responded.
With reluctance, the fellow officers backed up to let the attendants do their work. In no time, they had Pete on the gurney, the loose chain situated between his legs, and a sheet over him with straps secured. The one attendant announced they would be taking him to Central Receiving.
MacDonald directed, "Reed, ride along with him to the hospital. I will be right behind you."
"Thanks Mac." Along with Walters, Jim helped the attendants carry the gurney out over the tracks until they could load it into the ambulance.
On the ride in, Pete asked Jim, "What happened to Kevin?"
"He was apprehended at the scene of a 211 posing as you. He captured one of the suspects before trying to disappear into the woodwork."
As Reed shared how things went down, Pete's eyes closed and he seemed to doze off. The quiet state of his partner suddenly alarmed Jim.
The attendant put a hand on Jim's shoulder and shared, "It's OK. I think he just fell asleep."
Jim let out a huge sigh. He queried the attendant in a whisper, "Is he going to be alright?"
"I think so."
The ambulance pulled in and they moved Malloy into a treatment room. A nurse stopped Jim from following and led him to a waiting area. When Jim finally sat down he dropped his head into his hands. The fatigue of the last three days had taken a toll.
A couple hours later, the doctor came out and delivered the good news to Jim and Mac and a few other boys in blue. "Gentlemen, your friend, Officer Malloy, is going to be just fine. He was suffering from severe heat exhaustion and some heat stroke as well. We have started rehydrating him with intravenous fluids and so far his kidneys seem to be responding well. I believe if he continues to improve at this rate, he may be released in another twenty four hours."
"That's just great, Doc." MacDonald stood up and gave an appreciative handshake. "Is it OK if we visited with him for a bit?"
"Sure thing, Sergeant. He was moved into room 317."
Jim, Mac, Woods, Wells, and Brinkman all made their way up to the third floor. Jim and MacDonald were the first ones to slide inside the room. They were pleased to see Pete resting comfortably in the bed. He had minimal things attached to him, mostly just one IV line going in and another line coming out. A glass of water sat in front of him on the tray table while a beautiful blonde nurse stood at his bedside. She fluffed his pillows then offered, "Can I get you some more ice water?"
Malloy looked up at the entrance of his friends. "Yes, please."
The nurse continued to mess with her patient by carefully tucking in his sheet and blanket.
"How are you feeling, Partner?"
"Better." Even in his exhausted state, Pete glanced over at his nurse and a small grin spread across his face.
Both Mac and Jim noticed the look. "I can see that. The doctor says you could be out of here by tomorrow."
Finally content with his bed arrangement, the nurse scooped up his almost empty water glass and hustled out the door.
Still struggling to swallow, Pete spoke in a gravelly voice, "That sounds good."
Mac came up to the end of the bed. "It's good to see you, Pete. You had us worried there for a minute."
"I was a bit worried myself."
After the nurse shuffled by the other officers in the hallway, they decided to sneak inside the room. Ed, Jerry, and Bob stepped in the back of Pete's room. Wells spoke up, "Hey Pete, we just wanted to check on how you were doing?"
"I'm ... OK." Pete struggled to sit up a bit more because he wanted to look like less of an invalid and also to convey a serious message to his brother officers. He battled with his emotions to say, "Guys, thanks ... for not giving up ... on finding me."
Jerry responded first and the others chimed in, "You bet, Pete. We don't give up on one of our own."
Jim stepped up along his partner's bedside. His face showed the lines of worry across his brow. "Obviously, I can't let you out of my sight." He tried to make a joke, but Pete got the true message.
Just then the feisty blonde nurse came back in carrying Pete's glass filled with water. "Excuse me gentlemen, I hate to cut this visit short, but Officer Malloy needs his rest. In a little while he's scheduled for a sponge bath and shave."
"Say what?!" Pete's expression of shock and horror spoke wonders to the other men in the room. It even elicited a cough from the patient.
"Trust me, Officer Malloy, you will feel so much better afterwards. Here, drink this." She offered him the cup of cool water.
Ed interjected, "Pete, you DO smell a bit foul."
Pete pushed the glass to the side as he retorted, "Let's see if you would smell like a rose ... after two days in a hot box."
Mac decided to take charge. "OK, Pete needs to rest. Time to clear out." He waved the guys toward the door. "I'll stop by later to get your statement for the report."
Jerry and Bob blurted, "Rest up, Pete" as they walked out.
Ed joked, "Happy bathing!"
Mac then quickly ushered out Wells before Pete could react. Jim paused beside Pete's bed before departing. Pete reached out and grabbed his partner's forearm and gave it a squeeze. "Thanks again, Jim! Now go give that wife of yours a kiss for me and Jimmy a hug."
"You bet!"
Three days later, Pete knocked at Reed's front door while holding a six-pack of Rainier. Jean opened the door with a huge smile on her face. "Oh Pete, it so good to see you!" She gave him a hug and a peck on the cheek. "Come in."
"Here is a little contribution for tonight," as he handed her the beer to share.
"Thank you, Pete. I'll put them on ice. Go make yourself comfortable. Jim and Al are out back by the grill." Malloy wandered to the patio door expecting to see Jim watching over the steaks. He stepped out and was met with a cheer from a half dozen off-duty officers. "Surprise!"
"Hey, what are you all doing here?" Not only was Al Porter there, but also Mac, Jerry Woods, Bob Brinkman, and even Ed Wells. They all raised a salute to Pete.
Jim spoke up, "We decided not only to celebrate Al's acceptance as a Reserve Officer, but your return to duty."
"Get the man a drink!" Mac commanded.
Just a moment later, Jean came out with a couple cold ones in hand. "Does anyone need another beer?"
"Heaven sent. Thanks Mrs. Reed." Jerry passed the opened bottle to Pete and another full bottle to Porter.
Jim closed up the grill and turned to the gathered officers. "I would like to make a toast. To my partner, my friend, Pete Malloy, I'm glad to have you back! And congratulations to Al Porter, a welcome addition to the Los Angeles Police Reserves!" All the men lifted their bottles and clinked them together before taking a swig of the golden ale.
Pete looked over to the beaming Al. He was happy for him, but also appreciated some of the attention being on someone else.
After another gulp of beer, Pete raised his bottle one last time. "And to my friends, thanks for backing me up one more time!"
One side note: Kevin Mitchell pleaded not guilty by reason of insanity. He was undergoing a mental evaluation prior to a trial being set. All the factors were pointing to a diagnosis of Schizophrenia for the young man.
Thank you again to all who left a review. I really do appreciate hearing from you. Aussielover
