Dan pulled in minutes before the ambulance departed. After his initial joy over Mike and Steve's safety, he related the status of the search for the Garrod's and Brian Jones. Although disappointed with the lack of cooperation from DMV, Mike was pleased that Captain Olsen had been called. He had the clout to make things happen that even Mike envied. Dan's arrival also solved their transportation problem. With two SFPD vehicles on site, they now had enough room to get everybody back to The City. The exhumation of their LTD would have to wait until after the brush fire was contained.
After the chaos and heat of the fire scene, the back of the ambulance was cool and quiet. Seeing that all the "victims" were conscious and stable and the other ambulance needed to stay on site, Mike and Steve sat side by side on the gurney in the back of the box while Marshal Talbot rode up front for the 20-minute trip to Good Samaritan Hospital. The fire chief had offered to have one of his crews hose them down before they went to the ER, but Mike demurred for the three of them. He just hoped a shower and clean clothes were in their future. He did not relish the thought of driving back to San Francisco covered with half of Santa Clara County. The ambulance pulled down the drive and Dan, Bill and Norm followed it to the hospital.
"How are you holding up?" Mike asked Steve once they were under way.
"I'm fine, just sore and tired, that's all. How about you?"
"About the same. I gotta tell you, that was way too close for comfort back there in the car."
"I know what you mean. When I was trapped under that dirt..." Steve took a deep breath and shuddered, "Let's just say I'll have a new nightmare to add to the list of things I never want to experience again. If I haven't said it yet, thanks. Thanks for pulling me out."
"What are you talking about? You're the one that dug us out! I should be thanking you." Mike picked up one of Steve's hands which were bloodied from clawing the dirt.
Steve pulled his hand back and looked at it for the first time, flexing his fingers. "What a mess."
Mike smiled. "On the plus side, looks like I'll been doing all the typing for the time being."
"You always find the silver lining, don't you."
"Why not, we really dodged a bullet tonight."
"Yep. Now we just need to nab those maniacs who put us in the ground. Who thinks up stuff like that?"
"I guess you'll have to ask, once we catch them."
"You really think we can get them before they get out of the country?"
"I hope so. According to Dan, everything that can be done, is being done. Rudy's on it, too. Once we get to the hospital, I'll give him a call. I pretty sure we can count on Talbot to get us Federal help, as well. That reminds me." Mike banged on the portal between the box and the front seat.
Talbot opened the hatch, "What's up?"
"Does the name Claus Meyer mean anything to you?"
"The Menace of Mosel? Yeah it sure does. Why?"
"That is Juan Garrod's real name. I found it on the back of a photo. It was hanging in plain site on the wall in the riding stable's office.
"You're kidding me. DoJ's been trying to find him for almost 30 years. I need to get to a phone!" Talbot said excitedly before the ambulance attendant slid the portal shut.
"He turned out to OK, didn't he?" Steve said.
"He sure did."
"You think it will last? Or will he go back to being a, what did you call him, oh yeah a 'Federal Pompous Ass.'" Steve snorted with laughter. Mike joined in.
"Who knows. It might last. Sometimes near-death experiences are transformative."
Both men went quiet, considering what might have been as the ambulance came to an abrupt halt.
The back door swung open. Steve and Mike climbed down and waved off the waiting wheel chairs. They were led into separate bays in the ER. Talbot followed them in.
A PA quickly checked Mike and the Marshal's over and after reviewing their vitals with the doctor, declared them filthy, but generally in good health. The head nurse procured scrubs for both and sent them to doctor's locker room for a shower.
Steve's check-up was a little more in depth. After regaling an intern with the story of his injuries, he petitioned for, but was flatly denied a shower. They cleaned him up as best they could, debrided and stitched the wound on his arm and butterflied the gash on his face. His hands were then cleaned and dressed. On the way to x-ray, he spied Mike, freshly showered and clad in green hospital scrubs. He was conferring with Norm, Dan and Bill in the waiting room.
"WAIT, hold up. How come he got to take a shower?"
Mike turned at his partner's voice and walked over. "He giving you a hard time?" He asked the nurse who was pushing the wheel chair.
"Nothing I can handle. I used to work Peds. I know what to do when someone is pouting. Let's go inspector, x-ray awaits."
Mike mouthed behave yourself to his frowning partner as he was wheeled down the hall. He returned to the waiting room.
"Sounds like someone is not happy." Larry Talbot said as he hung up the phone at the nurse's station. He thanked the middle-aged woman at the counter and walked over to Mike.
"They didn't let him take a shower. I really can't blame he for being upset. He ate more dirt than both of us combined."
"Well, when hears this, it might make him a little happier."
"What do you have?"
"I called my boss. When he found out we had a line on Meyer and he was still in the country, he got very motivated."
"How motivated?" Norm chimed in.
"Motivated enough to wake someone up over at DMV."
"Wow," Norm exclaimed, "that usually takes an act of God."
Mike gave Norm a cease and desist glare, "Bottom line it for me Larry."
"We will have photos by the time we get back to the City. They already sent over the registration information on Peter Garrod's car to your office and to CHiP. APB's are out. If he's driving, we'll find him."
"Excellent, let me call the Captain and let him know what's happening."
"That's not all. Marshals are already on their way to cover the Cruise terminal and the Airport. Once the pictures are in from DMV, someone will get copies to them. Don't worry, we are going to get these guys."
"Your tax dollars as work, for a change." Norm whispered under his breath.
00000
It was another forty-five minutes before Steve was wheeled into the waiting area. At some point he had managed to get a clean scrub top, but he had still not been granted a much-needed shower. His right arm was immobilized in a sling and strapped close to his torso and his other wounds were clean and covered with white gauze.
"Well you look a million time better!" Mike said enthusiastically.
"Don't start with me. Let's get out of here now." He grumbled.
The nurse handed Mike several bottles and explained, "Antibiotics, anti-inflammatories and pain killers. He'll be sore, but there are no breaks. He should wear the sling for a week and then take it slow after that. The joint will be more prone to future dislocations now that it's happened once. Dressing on the arm needs to be changed every day and keep those stitches dry for at least 48 hours. They come out in ten days. If that or the gash on his cheek start to look infected, he'll need to see his doctor."
"Anything else?"
"Nope, you're good to go. If you bring your vehicle up to the exit, I bring him out."
"You know, I'm sitting right here and I can walk to the door."
"And it's been a pleasure meeting you too, Inspector." She rolled her eyes at Mike.
"You'll have to excuse him. He's had a tough night. He usually has much better manners."
Steve rolled his eyes.
00000
The drive back to the city was exceptionally quiet. Mike recounted the evenings event to Norm in a low voice while Steve dozed in the rear of the Galaxie. They arrived at De Haro street just after midnight. When Mike returned to the car after changing into work attire, Steve was still sound asleep in the back seat.
"He hasn't stirred at all." Norm said as Mike slammed the door shut. "Do you want to drop him home before we go back to the office."
"As much as I'd like to, I'd never hear the end of it if I benched him right now. Let him sleep and we'll see where we are once we get to the office. Push comes to shove; I can get a uniform to take him home later on."
When they pulled into the parking lot at Bryant Street, Dan and Bill were just getting out of their car. "Where's Talbot?"
"We dropped him at the Federal Building. He was going to get a change of clothes and check in with his supervisor. Depending on what's going on, he will either call and swing by after that."
"Good," Mike answered. "Hopefully, they won't try to cut us out of the case." He turned back to the car and opened the rear door, "Now let's see if we can wake sleeping beauty back here and finish this."
Steve awoke with a start after Mike gently nudged. "What? I'm awake!" he slurred.
"Sure you are."
Steve looked around and realized they were back in the City and Mike was back in his customary attire. "Whoa, how long was I out?"
"About an hour and a half. You ready to get back to work or do you want to get someone to run you home."
"You're kidding, right?"
"No. If you're not up to this, you need to tell me now."
Steve slid out of the car. "Just try and stop me." He was genuinely surprised at being give the choice to stay.
Once up in the office, they found Rudy dozing in Mike's chair. It seemed it was Mike's night to wake people up. He rapped on the door frame, startling the Captain.
Rudy jumped up and wrung Mike's hand, overjoyed to see him in one piece.
"I'm hearing that you boys had quite and adventure!" Olsen stated.
"From whom?" Mike asked.
"I got call about an hour ago from Marshal Talbot's supervisor, You three were really buried alive?"
"Yup," Mike said looking around to see where Steve had landed. He saw his partner dig into his desk and come out with a spare key ring."
Rudy followed Mike's eye and spotted Steve.
"He's okay to be here?"
"Probably not, but I wasn't about to stop him from seeing this through. With what he did tonight, he earned it."
Rudy nodded as Steve turned to the two older men, "I'm heading to the locker room. I need this dirt gone now." He said as he ran free hand through dirt matted hair.
"You think you can manage with that shoulder. You know you need to keep those stitches dry."
"Yes, mother, I know. I will figure it out." He said with a huff. "I've been taking care of myself for a while now." The nap had not seemed to improve his mood.
After Steve walked out the door, Rudy looked at Mike and shook his head asking a second time, "You reallyy sure about this?"