The Ransom of Dr. Dave
Part 19
The next morning when Jing-Mei came to work she headed straight for the ICU. She stopped at the front desk.
Jing-Mei: Nurse.
Nurse: Yes Dr. Chen, how can I help you?
Jing-Mei: Dr. Malucci, is he back in his room yet?
Nurse: Yes, he was moved back in a few hours ago.
Jing-Mei: Can I see him?
Nurse: Sure, but not too long.
Jing-Mei and the nurse enter Dave's hospital room. Jing-Mei runs to Dave's bedside and holds his hand.
Nurse: Go ahead, talk to him. It's okay.
Jing-Mei: Thank you, nurse. Could you please give us a minute?
The nurse nods and exits Dave's room.
Jing-Mei: How are you feeling? (pause) Probably like shit. You don't look too good. Dr. Allenfort says you'll have to be on heart meds for the rest of your life. That's not so bad. You'll have to take medication for the rest of your life when you get your new kidney and you will get it. The papers are still writing editorials on you. Randi and Jerry say they get 20-30 calls a day from people who want to give you blood and even some who want to donate a kidney to you. Your story has really touched alot of people. There are still some decent people in the world. Not everyone is cruel and vicious like the ones who did this you. I'm trying to take care of myself and the baby and everyone in the ER is making sure of that. I'm almost 4 months now. I was thinking about baby names. It might be nice to have a girl this time, since we both have boys already. (crying and squeezing Dave's hand tighter)Please open your eyes, sweet heart.
Down in the Cook County Hospital lobby, Rico, Dino and Frankie meet and head into the men's room.
Frankie: So now what, paisan?
Rico shows the others a blueprint he obtained from the city building inspector, a member of the family.
Rico: Now you climb up into that vent and I'll hand you a few smoke bombs.
Frankie: I thought you said one smoke bomb?
Rico: We want to make sure that no one sees Dino. The more smoke the better. Now climb up there. Head straight up to ICU and once your there drop your first bomb and head back down then start dropping one each time you leave a floor on your way back down to the lobby. Dino, you start making your way up to ICU and hang around the front desk, DON'T BE CONSPICUOUS.
Dino: How can I not be conspicuous? What am I suppose to do up there that won't make them suspicious?
Rico: I don't know. There must be a vending machine up there you can fight with or a payphone you can talk on to occupy your time.
Dino: Maybe I can hang in the bathroom up there.
Frankie: Whatever, just make sure you get to him before anyone realizes what's happening, paisan.
Rico: Frankie, when you get right about here(pointing to an area on the blueprint) that should be right about over the nurse's desk, set off the bomb and then whistle. That will be your signal to get to that fucker's room. Once you see him, don't hesitate. PUT THE KNIFE THROUGH HIS HEART! DON'T SCREW THIS UP!
Dino and Frankie: We won't.
Dino: What will you be doing while all this is going on?
Rico: I told you. Setting up the backup plan. Alright, it's now or never.
Rico helps Frankie up into the vent and hands him the bombs as Dino makes his way to ICU. Once Frankie is sealed up in the vent, Rico heads up to ICU shortly after Dino, carrying a small brown sack. When Dino arrives upstairs, he asks the nurse where a payphone is. She directs him and he pretends to make a call while Rico slips in the waiting area and grabs a newspaper staying within earshot of the nurses desk.
Desk Nurse: Nurse Davis, I need you to take your student nurse, Nurse Anderson, around while you administer meds to the patients.
Nurse Davis: Yes ma'am. Nurse Anderson, first we have to go down to pharmacy and pick up the meds. Each patient's name will be displayed on the side so that the right patient gets the right medication.
Nurse Davis and Nurse Anderson head to the pharmacy. Meanwhile, Rico goes into a stall in the men's bathroom. He opens the small, brown bag and takes out a vial and a syringe. He fills the syringe and places a blank label on it. He then takes out a black marker and writes Maluci, David A. on it. Then he conceals it up his sleeve being extremely careful not to stick himself.
Down in the ER, Capt. Amos arrives to speak with the doctors again.
Kerry: Well Capt. Amos, what can we do for you today?
Capt. Amos: Just took the chance that maybe I could get in to see Dr. Dave today.
Luka: He's still unconscious.
Capt. Amos: Well then, I still need to speak with my men and let them know about who to expect to replace them.
Carter: Any news on Dave's assailants yet?
Capt. Amos: Not yet. But then again, I told you it wasn't going to be easy until we can speak with Dr. Dave.
Frankie finally makes it up to the ICU floor and looks down at the vent over the nurses' desk. He watches for a few minutes so he can rest before his descent down.
Nurse Davis: Alright, Nurse Anderson, these are the trays we use to dispense the meds to the patients. Every tray has the patient's name and room number on it.
Rico sees Malucci's tray and starts signaling to Dino, Dave's room number by holding up his fingers accordingly. Then at the same time both Rico and Dino hear Frankie whistle. They prepare to do what they came to do. Frankie scurries down the vents dropping the bombs as he goes. Soon the ICU starts filling with smoke and detectors start going off. The desk nurse gets on the phone to Dr. Romano. He orders an evacuation as the other floors start filling with smoke.
Desk Nurse: Alright everyone, it will appear that we have a fire here. We have to start evacuation procedures. You have all been trained in this. We get into the patients' room and unhook any unnecessary machines. Those that are on vents have to be bagged. Be extremely careful with the IV'S. The beds are going to be too hard to move through the floors. Put the patients on the stretchers. Anyone who is free needs to help move the patients. If you don't need be here get out. Is this clear?
Everyone nods. As the confusion begins, Rico makes his way over to the medicine trays that Nurse Davis placed on a small gurney. He places the syringe he filled on Malucci's tray and heads out the fire escape. Dino, unable to see with all the smoke tries to find Dave's room. The desk nurse and several orderlies enter Dave's room.
Jing-Mei: Nurse, what is going on?
Nurse: There's smoke coming from the vents. There may be a fire in the hospital, we have to evacuate.
Jing-Mei: I don't want to leave him. Please let me help.
Nurse: No, you can't stay. Not in your condition, Dr. Chen.
Jing-Mei: I'm not leaving. I'm fine. There must be something I could do besides we don't have time to argue about this.
Nurse: You're right. Okay, you can bag him. But stay close. He can't survive without a vent for long.
Down in the ER, the staff watches as Capt. Amos lectures his men then an announcement comes over the loud speaker.
Dr. Romano: This is Dr. Romano. Please everyone start assuming evacuation procedures. All non-staff members please follow the instructions of the nurses and doctors and leave via the fire exit. The fire department has been called and are on their way. All staff-members are required to aid the patients when necessary. This is NOT a drill.
The staff gathers at the admit desk wondering what is going on.
Mark: What is Romano talking about?
Abby: Is there a fire? Why else would they call the fire department?
Kerry: We start doing as Dr. Romano asks and evacuating the patients.
Haleh: You heard Dr. Weaver. Nurses, do what the doctors say.
Luka: Does anyone smell something burning?
Carter(pointing to the vent): No, but I see smoke.
Everyone looks to where Carter is pointing and stare at the smoke.
Capt. Amos: Alright, everyone move it out. Men, help the doctors and nurses.
The cops, nurses and doctors all jump into action as the fire engine sirens can be heard in the background. Up in the ICU, the orderlies have just moved Dave on to a stretcher and are taking him out of his room, being extremely careful to keep his neck and back straight and immobilized. Jing-Mei is standing nearby bagging him. Trying to see through the smoke, Dino finally gets his target in his sights and pulls out his knife and places it near his side. He heads towards Dave's stretcher....
To be continued. Please read and review.