Tunnel of Love?

After a short, quick flight, the copter landed on the roof of the UCLA Medical Center. The emergency surgical team was there waiting. Della was transferred to a gurney and wheeled away almost before Perry could climb from the copter.

When he tried to follow, an orderly held him back. "Sir, please, let us do our job. I promise you, she's in the best possible hands."

When Perry nodded, the orderly smiled. "Let me take you to our waiting room. I'll fix you up with some coffee."

"Fine." But as Perry started forward, the captain's coat slipped from his shoulders and the orderly grabbed him.

"Sir, you're bleeding pretty badly. Let's get you inside and get you taken care of."

Perry let the man lead him into the building. As they headed for the elevator, Perry felt his head swim. His last conscious thought as he slipped to the floor was of Della.

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Paul, Tragg and Hamilton had arrived at the hospital looking for Perry, only to find that he had been admitted to emergency with severe lacerations to his back. Paul said he would go check on Perry while Tragg and Hamilton went to find out any information they could on Della.

Paul was shown into the room where Perry lay on his stomach, bandages covering most of his broad back. He had an IV running some type of clear fluid into his arm and the doctor was arguing with him about getting a tetanus shot.

"Mr. Mason we need to give you this shot. It's for your own good. Now please..."

Paul walked over to the side of the bed, placing his hand on his Perry's arm.

"Perry, listen to the doc. You need to get this for..."

Perry turned his head, looking at Paul with a scowl. "What I need is to get up and go find Della. She needs me."

Paul looked at the doctor and the syringe he was holding. When the man mouthed the word 'tranquilizer', Paul nodded his understanding.

"Okay pal. Let the doc here give you the tetanus shot and I'll help you find our girl."

Perry nodded. "Let's get this done."

The doctor stepped up and added the medicine to the IV tube. "Give it just a minute to enter your system."

"Fine but then..."

Paul felt his friend relax. Looking at the doctor, he grinned. "I hope you have a large supply of that on hand because it's the only way you're gonna keep him down."

The doctor nodded in understanding. "He a pretty tough customer. One of cuts on his back required some stitches. He wouldn't even let us give him a local because he had to get to this lady. Whoever 'Della' is, she must be someone very special."

Paul looked over again at Perry. "That she is doc. Very special."

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Tragg and Hamilton learned that Della was in surgery to remove the bullet. They hadn't been able to discover much more, but were told that one of the doctors would be out to talk to them soon.

Paul found them in the waiting room and gave them an update on Perry.

"Docs are gonna keep him sedated for a while. He needs the antibiotics and fluids."

Tragg laughed at this. "I hope I'm not around when he wakes up."

Paul and Hamilton joined in the laugh. "You can say that again."

Just then Officer Daniel Kelly poked his head around the door. "Excuse me. Is this the room to wait for word on a Miss Street?"

All three men looked over at him curiously. Tragg stood and walked towards him with a smile, holding out his hand. "I'm Lt. Tragg, LAPD Chief of Homicide."

Daniel almost saluted but shook Tragg's outstretched hand instead. "Sir, I'm Officer Daniel Kelly. I was in the tunnel. I was hoping to get some word on how the lady is doing. And there are several others who were in there too who are wondering."

Tragg gestured to a chair. "Have a seat, son. The surgeon is supposed to let us know. But while we wait, maybe you could fill us in on what happened."

Daniel dropped his head at this. "I'm afraid it's all my fault."

The three men looked at each other then back to Daniel. Tragg put his hand on the officer's shoulder.

"Okay, son. Why don't you start at the beginning and tell us and we'll be the judge on fault."

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By the time Daniel finished his account of the collapse, the efforts to find a way out, the actions of Pierce, and everything that followed, including his CPR that had literally brought Della back, the men were in awe and admiration.

Tragg assured the young man that it was not his fault and in fact he was pretty much to be considered a hero.

"Thank you Lt. but I don't think..."

"Well I do young man. And I say you are a hero."

All four men stood as the older lady entered the waiting room. Paul was the first to react, walking to her and enveloping her in a hug.

"Hello, Mrs. Kirby."

Mae smiled up at him. "I swear you get more handsome every time I see you. How is she?"

Paul took her arm, leading her to a chair. "No news yet. But let me introduce you. Lt. Arthur Tragg, our Homicide Chief, Hamilton Burger, the District Attorney and Officer Daniel Kelly. This is Della's aunt, Mae Kirby."

"Pleased to meet all of you. My niece has told me all about you, except the young officer. But from the little I overheard before I stepped in I owe you my great thanks."

Then everyone turned as the surgeon entered the room. "I'm looking for Miss Street's family."

Mae stood up, gesturing at all of them. "That's us. How is she?"

"We got the bullet out but she did lose a great deal of blood. Fortunately no vital organs were hit but it did tear some tissue around the spleen which is the reason for the blood loss. We were able to repair the damage and once she receives a supply of blood to compensate, she should make a full recovery."

Paul grabbed the doctors hand, shaking it. "Thank you doctor."

Mae went up to the doctor and hugged him. "Add my thanks to that. Now, when can we see her?"

"She's in recovery but I'm having her moved to a private room in ICU shortly. You can go in, one at a time, after that. Oh, and which of you gentlemen is Perry Mason?"

Paul coughed loudly. "Ah, he's not here at the moment. Why?"

"Well I understand he gave some very special instructions to my staff when the lady was brought in. I was just curious to meet this man."

When the doctor had left the room, they all started laughing, with the exception of the young officer. "Sorry, but is there something I missed?"

Paul was the first to recover. "No officer. It's just that we all know Mr. Mason and his instructions must have been over the top."

Daniel looked at them and smiled. "Well considering how much he loves that lady it's no surprise. I've never seen any man..."

When he realized they were all staring at him, he thought he had made a terrible mistake. Mae walked over and taking his hand, led him back to a chair.

"Officer, I think there are some missing pieces to your story that you had best tell us about."