Chapter Seven
Steve sped through the night, crossing into Maryland. With the cooperation and assistance of the troopers, he was doing 90 down the Interstate toward the specified address. Jaime and Oscar lived in a very exclusive area of DC, where an unknown vehicle - especially one receiving a traffic ticket - was easily spotted. DC police and Maryland troopers combined information, and Steve had the address. He, Russ and Jim planned to go in, with the swarm of lawmen surrounding the perimeter of the house. Steve had also alerted a Medivac chopper, which waited just minutes from the destination. Hang on, Jaime, he thought, we're almost there.
Jaime was still suffering from the severe blow to her head she'd received when she'd been taken, and the jolt to her entire body from being thrown roughly into the metal wall of the cell. Despite her best efforts to remain alert, she was passing in and out of consciousness.
She was unable to hear normal conversations through the thick walls, even when completely awake, but the sudden sound of wood being splintered to pieces (the door?), half a dozen male voices all shouting at once and then a barrage of gunfire forced her instantly to full alertness. She could make out the reports of at least four, possibly more, different guns, with too many shots fired for her to accurately count them. Then - silence.
The next sound she heard made Jaime's heart sing with relief: Steve's strong, familiar voice, calling her name. He wouldn't hear her, even if she screamed (and she was to weak to do that), so she waited patiently, knowing he would eventually find her. Minutes later, she watched as the metal door began to buckle and then popped off its hinges.
"Jaime, are you alright? Did they hurt you?"
"I...think...I'm ok...they hit...my head...kinda...dizzy..."
"Jim, I need you to call for the Medivac," Steve said with authority. "Then call Oscar and Rudy and have them meet us at Bethesda." He knelt at Jaime's side and she threw her arms around him in relief. The bump on the back of her head was clearly visible.
"Whoa - you've got one hell of a goose-egg!" He rolled up his jacket and placed it behind her for a little more comfort. "I think I'd better let the medics decide how to move you. I don't wanna make anything worse." Jaime nodded as her eyes grew heavy again and she drifted off. "Jim!" Steve called urgently, "How long on the chopper?"
"ETA about two minutes."
"When they touch down, get 'em in here fast. With a stretcher and a backboard." Jim headed outside to wait for the chopper. "Russ, see if you can hunt down another blanket." They'd already used three to cover the three still forms on the living room floor. Jaime's captors had refused to give up quietly, even when surrounded. Steve stared down at Jaime. Her face was a ghastly shade of greyish-white, her breathing was irregular and her skin felt cool and clammy. Probably in shock, he noted.
Jim stuck his head in the door. "Chopper's here." The medics carefully placed Jaime on the stretcher, and within minutes, they were on their way to Bethesda, where Rudy and Oscar were already waiting.
