Chapter 8

"She needs surgery, right now. She's bleeding internally and we have to go in and stop it before she bleeds to death. Is the OR ready?"

"Yes, Dr. Padnik."

"Good. Take her now."

As Abbey's stretcher was pushed out to the OR, a contingent of armed agents followed her.

"Wait. No guns in my OR." Dr. Padnik angrily pushed one of the agents. "No way are you going in there."

Agent Marks, one of the armed agents following the First Lady, broke up the shoving match as he stepped between the surgeon and his agent. "Doctor, we have to be in there. We don't know that the danger has passed and we must be physically present in the room. And we haven't vetted all the surgical staff yet. There hasn't been enough time. We'll change into surgical garb but we must be in there."

"Are you telling me that my staff is not professional and might harm her?"

Agent Marks looked straight into the surgeon's eyes and answered, "Yes. That's exactly what I'm telling you. The bombing was done by Chechen rebels and they haven't been caught. If it is Chechen related, then she needs extra protection. This is an emotional issue in this country and I just can't take any chances."

The American trained surgeon grunted. "Do I have a choice?"

"No, sir. You don't."

"Well, stay the hell out of my way!" He angrily turned to continue to supervise the preparations. Marks motioned to two of the female agents to change into scrubs while the other agents maintained a watch over the preparations for the First Lady's emergency surgery.

In a matter of minutes, the two female agents had changed clothes, put on surgical caps and masks and exchanged positions in the operating room, still holding their guns, poised to protect the First Lady at any cost.

After placing their patient on the ventilator, Dr. Padnik and his assistant made the first incision. Blood immediately spurted out of the opening, spraying the personnel surrounding the operating table.

Russian expletives shattered the silence as both physicians urgently sought the source of the blood. Struggling against time, Dr. Padnik finally found the bleeder and clamped it off. "Now, let's find the real problem here."

Minutes passed quickly while the abdomen was visualized and decisions made on what was required to save her life. The ruptured spleen was removed and bleeders tied off. More time was spent removing the shrapnel and remnants of the room which had forced their way into her as a result of the explosion's intensity.

Suddenly one of the agent's hands went to her ear piece. Glancing at her partner, who nodded, she yelled "STOP!"