Chapter 12
Dixie's heart skips a beat, as those few words echoed in her mind. "Squad 110, can you repeat that last message?" She had to have heard incorrectly. She asked three more times and no voice came back. What scared her most was that the line seemed to still be open; the only sound was muffled but resembled short, wheezing sounds.
She leaned out of the booth and glanced around. Seeing Ginger she yelled, "Find Dr. Brackett and get him here ASAP!" Ginger was alarmed; she had never seen Dixie so unnerved.
Gage and DeSoto had just walked up to the desk, when they saw the expression on Dixie's face. She picked up the line to County. "This is Miss McCall at Rampart General Hospital. What is the location of Squad 110?" The paramedics looked both curious and a little panicked, why would Dixie want to know that information?"
She wrote down what the dispatcher was telling her. Then Brackett walked up to ask her what she wanted, which was a routine they did day in and day out. "What is it Dix?"
"I just received a call over the Bio Phone." She hesitated, "its Squad 110."
"What do they have?" Kel was perplexed, Dixie was clearing distraught.
"I don't know I only heard a couple of words, then nothing. The line is still open. The last call they were dispatched for was two hours ago." She was mentally calming herself.
"What?" Johnny exclaimed. "What did you hear?"
"All SHE said was help."
Johnny's complexion paled as he took in those words. Suddenly his feeling of foreboding was becoming all too clear. "Roy, that last call was when they covered for us...."
"Where was the location, do you remember?" Roy was attempting to keep his voice calm. Gage shook his head. "I'll call the station and ask Cap." He picked up the phone, at the desk.
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At Station 51, the men were taking in the down time they were finally having. The phone rings and Marco picks it up, "Hey Roy, what do you want....sure Caps. right here..." He handed the receiver over to Stanley.
"What's up Roy? The last call was on Canyon River Road, why?" An audible gasp escaped from his lips, causing the crew to immediately become silent.
"They called in returning to County....I'll call the 110. What is the number where you're at? "Alright, keep me informed."
"Cap, what's wrong?" Chet could see both panic and guilt in his commander's eyes.
"Just give me a second!" Now the men were really concerned, snapping was not a trait that Stanley showed often.
He finally hung up the receiver, then picked it up again and dialed the number. "Danny, this is Hank at 51. Is your Squad there?" Morgan informed him that they hadn't got back from the last rescue. It really made no sense; they were assisting Stanley's station.
"NO, their NOT at Rampart!" They should have returned over an hour ago!" Hank wasn't telling Danny anything he didn't already know.
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Captain Morgan hung up the phone. "Why didn't I act on this sooner? I knew something wasn't right!" He then called County on the radio and asked them to try and contact the squad.
The rest of the crew was startled when they heard County asking their squad to respond. The dispatcher requested a response several times and instead of the voice of either A.J. or Brice, there was complete silence.
"Cap, what the hell is going on?" Davidson knew it couldn't be anything good.
Trying to maintain a level of professionalism he told them, "They told County they were returning, and obviously they didn't." Despite his attempts his voice portrayed his fear for two of his own.
He once again picked up the mic to the radio and told County the situation. The dispatcher's voice echoed through the station. "Engine 110, Station 51; respond the area of Canyon River Road, for search and rescue of Squad 110."
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Roy hung up the phone. The expression on his face showed there was no mistaking the gravity of the situation. "They should have been back at the station over an hour ago...." His focus was on Johnny but his mind was thinking of what he would be doing or better yet, feeling if this were Joanne they were talking about.
Dixie walked in and pushed the button to the Bio Phone link. "Squad 110, can you hear me? Repeat your communication; let us know where you are. What is happening there?"
The only thing audible was the sound of strained, ragged breathing. The others could here it clearly too. It was painful and did not give them any comfort. Johnny's body posture was stiff and his stare was distance as he took in the sounds.
"Engine 110, Station 51 respond in the area of River Canyon Road, to set up search and rescue of Squad 110."