Fallout

Chapter 29

Like a lifeline, Harper's voice comes through Lucy's cell phone. "I've conferenced Shea in. And he's got a pharmacist he uses as a consultant on the line with him. But they need to find out exactly what drugs are available in the clinic. Can you get the hostage-taker to let you talk to the doctor or one of the nurses?"

Lucy turns to Nolan. "John?"

Nolan takes a breath. "I'll try." He activates the public address system in the shop. "This is Officer John Nolan. I'm talking to the man with the gun. I'm not going to try to come in, and I'm not going to try to convince you to come out. My job is to keep everyone from getting hurt. But I heard that you're hurting already – a lot. So I need to talk to a doctor or a nurse, the person who knows everything the clinic has that might help you. Just call 555-999-7777. I'll answer right away."

Nurse Janelle Brown takes a step toward the gun wielder. "I want to help everyone, including you. Please let me call. I know everything we have anywhere in the clinic."

"She does," Dr. Jamal McNeil confirms. "I'm only here twice a week. Janelle's here every minute the clinic is open."

"I won't say anything that will tell the cops how to get in here," Janelle promises. "Please, just let me call."

The gunman swipes his sleeve over the sweat beading his forehead. "All right. But if I hear anything that isn't about the drugs in here, someone's going to get a bullet."

Janelle points to a cell phone the gunman took away from her. "I need that."

The gunman tosses it to her. Janelle punches in the number she's been silently repeating to herself.

"Thank God," John breathes, putting the call on speaker. "This is John Nolan."

"This is Nurse Janelle Brown. Everyone in here can hear you. I'm allowed to tell you about all our medicines, but I can't say anything else."

"That's fine," John assures her, signaling Lucy. "I have some great people to figure out how we can help. So, start from the beginning and tell me everything you have."

"All right." Janelle opens a drug cabinet. "Starting now."

"Are you getting this, Shea?" Lucy asks.

"Recording, the chemist-cop confirms, "and I have the pharmacist listening."

Janelle goes on to finish what seems too short a list. "That's it. That's everything."

John mutes his phone.

"Anything, Shea?" Lucy demands.

"Wait a sec," Shea responds. "Thelma, my pharmacist, has an idea. She says that the Carisol is a muscle relaxant a lot like a benzo. Combine that with the diphenhydramine, and you get a strong sedative. Add 600 mg of ibuprofen to take the edge off the pain, and the gunman should fall asleep."

"Is she sure?" Nolan questions.

"She says you can't predict how an addict will react to anything, but there's a damn good chance he will."

John grabs for his radio. "This is Officer Nolan at the clinic hostage scene. Do you have an ETA on the county team?"

"Ninety minutes out."

Lucy and John exchange looks. "Ninety minutes is too long, John. I learned enough to know that a desperate addict can do anything. By the time the unit gets here, the people in that clinic could be dead. But an addict will also try anything to make the pain go away. Shea knows his people. We can make this work."

"And there are kids in there," Nolan considers. "We can't let this go on." As his gut wrenches, John unmutes his cell. "Janelle, are you still there?"

"I'm here."

"Listen, our team has an expert pharmacist. She says that if you put together Carisol, diphenhydramine, and the ibuprofen, that will make a combination like Oxycodone."

"If I take that, I'm going to make your nurse here take it too," the gunman rasps. "You kill me. You kill her."

Janelle forces her voice to be steady. "I'll take it."

The gunman paces back and forth in the clinic's tight confines, shakily waving his gun. "How long is this stuff supposed to take to kick in?"

"It has to dissolve in your stomach. But it should be soon," Janelle responds, trying to spot any change in her captor's pupils. "I'm beginning to feel something now."

"How long should this take?" John queries Shea through Lucy's phone.

Thelma's voice comes through the speaker. "If he goes down, it should happen in about ten more minutes."

John looks at his watch and silently goes through every prayer he can remember.

Janelle feels like she's worked two eight-hour shifts and then some. She'd like nothing more than to lie down somewhere. She tries to focus on the gunman. His eyes seem darker as if his pupils are dilating. The diphenhydramine will do that. So will the Carisol. If he's going to lose consciousness, it should happen any minute. As she sees the fingers curled around the gun loosen, she catches Dr. McNeil's eye before quickly flicking her gaze back to the weapon. McNeil nods.

As the invader crumbles to his knees, McNeil grabs the gun before it can hit the ground and shoves it into the pocket of his lab coat. He checks the downed man's eyes, breathing, and pulse. "He's out but OK. Janelle, are you all right?"

"After getting the cops in here and about 20 hours of sleep, I will be."

Grey looks up from his desk at John and Lucy. "Nolan, Lucy, you did an outstanding job. You managed to resolve the situation without any casualties or firing a shot. You may be in line for a commendation."

"It was a team effort, Sir," John explains. "If Lucy hadn't gotten Harper to bring Shea and his pharmacist in, things could have worked out a lot differently. But the real hero is Nurse Janelle Brown. She made the whole plan work. She should get some kind of civilian award."

"I'll look into that, Nolan," Grey promises. "Still, this case will help you toward your goal of being a TO. And Chen, you've earned some points toward working undercover. But right now, I need both of you back on the street. You've still got hours left on your shift."

John suppresses a laugh. "Yes, Sir."

"Yes, Sir," Lucy echoes.

"Do you still want to go out with Chris tonight?" John asks as he and Lucy return to their shop. "I can still write the reports up. I'll give you credit for getting the drug stuff done. I promise."

"I know you will." Lucy snorts. "Unlike a certain sergeant who hasn't shown his face here yet."

"Lucy, you have to talk to Bradford," John urges. "You more than proved you have the right to be recognized for your accomplishments. And if you strike while Grey still has it on his mind, Bradford might have to explain continuing to play down your talents to his boss."

"Yes," Lucy considers, "he might."

"So, are you going to do it?"

"Damn right I am, next time Tim sets foot in the division."

"Go for it, Officer Chen. And while I toil in the paper jungle, where are you and Chris going tonight?"

"I don't care, as long as I can get a beer, maybe two beers."

"Sounds good to me."

A/N Carisol is fictional. Diphenhydramine and ibuprofen are real, but I am in no way advocating mixing drugs without professional guidance.