Chapter 24

Steve placed a phone call to NSB-Los Angeles, identified himself and issued his next directive. ''I need you to pay a visit to all of Kingsley's associates in The Hole,'' he instructed (which was where they were all still being kept as long as Kingsley himself remained free). ''See if any of their tongues can be loosened. Kingsley's whereabouts, his habits...anything they can - or will - tell us. I don't care what methods you use to persuade them; just don't kill anyone. And have me paged at National Medical when you get something. Do not transmit this information via datacom.''

''Heard and understood, Colonel.''

''I anticipate arrival of Jack Hansen at this facility in...'' Steve checked Rudy's clock, ''four more hours.''

''Affirmative.''

Steve expected a vicious argument would commence in approximate four hours and ten minutes. Federal law (and protocol) dictated that the disappearance of a top OSI official (in this case, the top official) was automatically an NSB matter. Steve had complied with this - and agreed with it but only to a point - a big point! Oscar had issued a videotaped directive (not long after he'd assumed his current position) that if he were ever to be captured, due to the vicious effectiveness of modern interrogation techniques, he was to be located...and killed at once.

Steve would fight tooth and nail to not allow this to happen!

Confident that Steve had his hospital's security well in hand, Michael began rounds to check on his other three most important patients. He had never been one to crave power and didn't relish the thought that (with Rudy deeply unconscious for the foreseeable future) there had been a shift in the power to run this hospital...directly onto Michael's shoulders. He accepted this resolutely but his strength was in patient care and he was grateful to have Steve at the helm down in Rudy's office.

Rudy was still sleeping quietly, the restraints that Michael had ordered so reluctantly (and only because Rudy demanded them) were still in place and two guards stood watch right by the bed, as per instructions. His pulse was weak and thready and his pressure a little too high but the heart monitor showed no signs of further arrhythmia.

Russ was sitting up in bed (still in his street clothes), datacom in hand...and with a trio of guards standing watch. ''How do you feel?'' Michael asked. ''Any dizziness?''

''None.''

''Let's take a look at that foot.'' Michael unwrapped the bandage. As he'd expected, the foot was now angrily inflamed from Russ's foray out of the hospital. ''You need to stay off of it,'' he ordered. ''I'll have a nurse come in to re-bandage it - and bring you something for pain.''

''Negative on the pain shot,'' Russ told him. ''I need my wits about me, if we're going to find Oscar.''

The read-outs on Jaime's monitors were encouraging. She was sleeping lightly, with no present danger of slipping back into her coma. Michael would happily remove her from the Critical list and mark her condition as Serious instead. With such promising results showing on the monitors, he decided not to check her pulse and risk waking her from much-needed rest...but the slight movement in her room was enough.

''Steve...?'' she murmured (before even opening her eyes).

''It's Michael,'' he told her apologetically. At one time, it would've pained him deeply to hear her wake up calling for someone else. But Michael knew now and accepted (especially after the last few days) that her heart belonged to someone else. The love she and Steve shared had truly saved Jaime's life, twice within the space of 48 hours; they needed each other...and for Jaime, Steve was the best possible medicine.

''Where's Steve?'' she asked, her eyes fully open now.

''He's down in Rudy's office, assisting in some investigative work...'' (Michael was still trying to tell her as little as possible.)

''Michael, I heard the Security alarms too. Don't placate me, please! What's going on here? Because I know...something's wrong!''

''For a little while, they couldn't find Russ...but he's back now,'' Michael told her (choosing his words very carefully).

''But everything's not alright,'' Jaime persisted, ''or Steve would be back here!''

Damn, Michael thought to himself, she's awfully aware...coming this soon after such a close brush with death! It left him unsure of just how much he shouldtell her.

''Please, Michael! What's happening? Is it...Kingsley?''

She simply wouldn't be satisfied until she heard it all. Michael touched a hand to her shoulder to steady her for the news. ''Yes,'' he said simply.

''And he's...here?In the hospital?''

''No; he isn't here. You're safe...and so is Steve.''

''Damn it, Michael - tell me!''

''We believe he may have Oscar...''

''Oh no...God, NO...''

''They'll find him,'' Michael assured her.

Her body may have been severely weakened...but Jaime's mind was sharp. She knew that the NSB would've already been called in. While she no longer had memory of Oscar's directive (in the event he was captured by the enemy), she knew enough about the NSB and its tactics that she just didn't trust them. Please Steve, she prayed silently, find him before the NSB does!

''What've you got for me?'' Steve inquired when the first transmitted report came in.

''Not good, Colonel. We've located Goldman's tie down by the lake and a gun in the bushes nearby...recently fired. So far, no bullet casings located.''

''Keep me posted,'' Steve ordered.

''Will do, Colonel.''

This was not good news! Steve knew if the gun had been fired so close to the lake there was a terrible possibility to consider: that Oscar had been summarily executed...and his body dumped into the water...