Thanks for the advice in PMs and reviews.
Sometimes you really don't know who you are until a reviewer explains it to you. Thanks again to Polymarine4ever. And of course B(Are you Polymarine4ever, also?). You are very welcome.
I'll continue and as promised, no one will be left in the lurch.
Chapter 26
Everyone is dead.
The hospital in Bristol Cove has not been this full of police and news people since Tia's sonic attack some months before.
"I've got two females fighting for their life in the O.R. and you tell me my people are not needed." The irate administrator turns from a stern looking female Naval officer to use his cell phone. He intends to call her superior. "We'll see about this." He storms off to his office. A head full of damp clumps of sparse hair stick to his perspiring skin.
"Lieutenant…Martinez." The Resident on duty in the E.R. struggles to identify the officer in charge. She appears to be in command of an array of medical personnel sent to take over the treatment of the two females and a male. All of them suffering of gunshot wounds. "We are a bit confused on the circumstances of this…"
The tall dark-skinned doctor is interrupted as the naval officer receives a handwritten message from a camo-clad young sailor toting a M-4 carbine.
"I'm sorry doctor, please give me a minute." She turns and walks into a corridor to reread the communique. Its contents have caused the confident and authoritarian expression of the young woman to falter.
An hour before.
Milling around the crimes scene, Xander is stopped by a tall Black man in a three piece suit.
"Officer McClure?" He asks as he presents his identification.
"Yes…ahh, Captain Roberts." Xander stays composed as he sees Ryn's body being put into a black body bag. The picture through the shattered window offers a full view of the bodies of Ben and Hope covered by bedsheets.
"I'm with the State and we'll be taking over this investigation." Taking a notebook from inside his jacket pocket, the distinguished detective asks a few generic questions concerning statements Xander has previously made to the Sheriff. As he becomes relaxed, the investigator then shows his true intent.
"I want you to explain how you come to be here, where you have no jurisdiction?"
Xander grits his teeth and remains silent.
"Officer, when you think of a good reason for that, think about how you are going to explain what the mother of a supposed kidnapped eight year old is allowed to break procedures with you?" Roberts snorts a muffled laugh. "The big question for you to ponder is how is that girl lying under that bloody sheet," using his pen to point into the motel room," a damn eight year old?"
Xander remains silent, looking up into the moonlit sky.
"Grrr!" A scream from the motel room stuns the rambling police officers outside.
Roberts runs into the room.
"She's alive. My wrist. I think she broke it." The morgue attendant rolls on his side to feel movement under Hope's sheet.
"What dah hell is going on?" Roberts screams.
"Shit, I think he's alive too." The EMT that had declared Ben deceased states.
"What the hell kind of crime scene is this?" The State Investigator yells. "You can't tell the living from the dead? I want him and the other useless teck outta my crime scene."
As the infuriated Roberts points in all directions. Two black vans and two unmarked ambulances pull into the motel's parking lot.
"Get those vehicles out of my crime scene." Orders Roberts.
As two armed camouflaged figures leave from each van, Chief Hawkins walks over to the Sate Investigator.
"What is the meaning of this?" the shocked investigator asks the approaching Hawkins.
"This means, this isn't your crime scene anymore, Captain."
A smirking Xander enters the motel room. His head nods as tears flow over a growing grin.
He looks at the stirring trio on the floor.
"You guys are unbelievable." He whispers.
The Hospital
As the morning sun begins to climb the Eastern sky, the Pownalls are given good news.
"Your daughter-in-law and grandchild are doing fine." The naval surgeon still is wearing her dark blue scrubs as she speaks to Ted and Elaine. "Your granddaughter will need more time before we can move her to a safer facility."
"And our son?" Aske a trembling Elaine.
The designation of Ryn and Hope as family members of the Pownalls make it easier to explain to those not familiar with the unusual circumstances of the case.
"He's strong. Really all three of them are well," Doctor Gamble takes a breath and finds the courage to say something still too incredible to believe. "They should be…well."
The female Commander in interrupted by Ted.
"Dead? They should be dead?" He asks.
After taking a deep breath she continues.
"He's out of surgery. Commodore Giordano worked on him. He told me to relay to you that he is under observation."
"Can we see him?" Asks a teary eyed Elaine.
"In a little while. He's going to be hooked up to a lot of…well things." Gamble sighs as she reaches for Elaine's hand.
"Ted, Ted." Helen calls from the front desk. She rushes to the now sobbing Elaine.
As the three wait for permission to see the recovering patients, Nicole rushes through the first floor of the hospital. A message in her hand.
"Here, read this." She hands the communique to Commodore Giordano. "I got it just as it is. No encryption."
"What," the fatigued looking surgeon responds.
"They didn't have time to encode it or they don't think we have time unscramble this bullshit."
"What does this mean, Martinez?" the Chief Surgeon asks.
"We got to get the hell out of here." She calls to one of the armed guards in the main lobby.
"If you have to get rough, get rough and clear all non-medical personnel from the lobby. We need to use the front for a quick evacuation." Martinez's voice is direct and strong.
"Commodore, we have to move the three of them. Even the man. I know how bad he is but if we don't…" She pauses to look at a passing group of reporters being pushed toward the exit door.
Xander is holding his I-phone after leaving another message for Maddie. His place is hidden by a towered tray of breakfast meals left unattended in the corridor. He is in ear shot of the young woman.
Nicole's words are emphatic.
"If we don't," she takes a breath.
"Everyone is dead."
To my reviewer B:
I promised that if you reviewed my tales, I would listen to you. B has submitted more reviews than anyone.
So Chapter 27 will give a good lead into 28.
Chapter 28 is for B.