Jill yawned, sitting at the table next to the cafeteria. There was a sign saying 'back in ten minutes' on the cash counter, and she had no idea how long there was left so she'd decided to wait. She looked up and saw Steve walking out of the elevator. Now would be a good time to ask him about last night, she thought.
She was about to wave him over but noticed him running towards the door. It was a big lobby, so she couldn't really tell why he'd be running, but saw him talking to someone at the door. When the man turned around, she could clearly see it was Claire's doctor. They talked for a bit then Steve followed him outside. "That was weird..." she said. She decided to stay at her table and wait for the cafeteria staff to return, and she'd catch Steve on his way back in.
Ten minutes passed before the staff returned. Jill got her coffee, and as she was paying she saw Claire's doctor walk back into the hospital. She'd expected to see Steve, but he was alone. She paid and thanked the man at the cash, and walked towards the doctor. He saw her coming and put on a thick smile.
"Ahh, officer, just who I was looking for," he said.
"Oh? And why's that?" she asked.
"I've been meaning to ask...The girl, Claire, she had quite a few bruises on her," he said.
Jill sighed. She'd been expecting that. "Yeah, she's had some problems with bullying at school," she said.
"Is that right...I was wondering about her brother," started the doctor.
"Hold it. I know where you're going with this, but you're wrong. Her brother would never hurt her," she said.
"I see...I'm sorry, I didn't mean to offend. I've seen all kinds of things in my days, and not all of them have a happy background story," he said.
"It's alright, I asked the same question at the start, but Claire became defensive before I could get the whole question out. No, I'm afraid this is a simple case of bullying," said Jill.
"It's still going on, then?"
"No, we've arrested the boy not long ago."
"Arrested him for bullying? Is that a legal charge?" asked the doctor.
Jill shook her head, sipping her coffee. "It started off as bullying, but he got some friends together and attacked us in an alley. I can't go too much into detail, but he was charged with attempted murder, assaulting an officer, and assault with deadly weapon. He's still a minor though so we couldn't put him where I wish we could've," she said.
The doctor seemed too interested. "And that is?"
"In hell," said Jill. Why's he asking so many questions, she thought as she sipped her coffee.
He sighed. "And the boy...what was his name?" he asked.
"I'm sorry, that information hasn't gone public yet," said Jill.
"I'd like to know," said the doctor.
Jill hadn't seen this guy as any kind of threat before, even with Claire's over-paranoid worries. But now, after all these questions, she was starting to get suspicious. "I'm sure that as a doctor, you'd know a thing or two about confidentiality? There are certain things that can be shared and others that can't," she said.
"Was it Landers?"
Jill was about to sip her coffee, but stopped. "How..."
"It was, wasn't it? Micheal Landers, as you've said yourself, is only a minor. A young man who was probably framed, and put behind bars for no reason," he said.
"No reason!? He tried to kill three people! And nearly got me, even," said Jill.
"You? You were there that night?" asked the doctor.
Jill took a step back. "Maybe...Who are you?" she asked.
He ignored her question. "So you must be officer Jill Valentine, then? The arresting officer of the Landers boy?" he asked, already knowing the answer.
Jill put her hand on her hip; the most subtle way to get her hand closer to her belt. "Who are you?" she asked again.
"Officer, please, do not try anything bold, and come with me," he said.
"Come with you where?" asked Jill. Her phone started ringing, but she ignored it.
"Away, this place is too crowded to make a scene," he said. He opened his palm and revealed a small remote.
Jill looked at it, unsure of what to think. "What is that?" she asked.
"That, miss, is a remote detonator," he said.
"WHAT!?"
"Shh...Like I said, I don't want to make a scene here," he said. He lowered his voice, and grinned. "If I push this button, your little friend will be scattered into millions of little pieces in my van," he said.
"My little...Steve? What did you do with Steve!?"
"He's safe at the moment. Probably suffering a slight concussion, but if you follow me and do as I say, he'll be alright, as will the young lady in the cast," he said.
Jill's heart nearly skipped a beat. "What did you do to Claire's cast..." she asked, feeling rage build up.
The man laughed. "What seemed like a simple procedure of inspecting the cast to you was actually a simple application of an adhesive bomb. This remote works for any bomb set to the right frequency, and I hate to say but I've planted two for one. So, like I said, come with me and you can save two of your friends, if not more," he said.
Jill wanted to reach for her gun, but wasn't sure if the remote was a bluff or not. She couldn't risk it, and it tore her apart inside. "Okay...I'll go..." she said.
The man grabbed her arm and pulled her out of the hospital, causing her coffee cup to fall on the floor. He kept his grip on her arm as they walked towards the white van in the lot. "You know, it took a lot of work to find you," he said.
Jill wanted to pull her arm away and fight him, but when bombs are involved there's no time for bravery. "Why? What did I do to you?" she asked.
"You've destroyed my family, that's what," he said.
"I don't even know you!" she said.
The man opened the back of the van and held up the remote. "Get in," he said. As Jill started climbing in he grabbed her arm. "Oh, and I'll have your gun and phone please," he said.
Jill handed him the gun and phone, and he instantly aimed it at her. "Now, climb," he said.
"Let Steve go," she said.
"I do believe you're in no position to call shots," said the man. He threw the remote on the floor, grinning. "And I also do believe you're not the brightest cop. This is a garage-door opener, miss," he said.
"No bomb," said Jill.
"No bomb," said the man, laughing.
Jill nodded, and dove right for him. He was caught off-guard and fired a shot in the air before getting knocked to the pavement. He dropped the gun and Jill reached for it, but he quickly rolled on his back and sent his foot to her side. She fell back down, allowing him to get the gun first. He brought the handle down on her head fast, and she stopped moving. "Sneaking little bitch..." he said.
He got back up, put the gun to his belt, and picked up Jill's unconscious body. He tossed her in the van and got in, sighing.
After throwing Steve out onto the pavement, he shut the back doors and got into the driver's seat, then drove off quickly, leaving an unconscious Steve alone next to a useless garage-door opener, and Jill's ringing cell phone.
