Waiting: Chapter 5
Simon and Jim approached the warehouse in their car as Rafe and Brown approached from the other side in theirs. Both cars had their sirens off, as did the black and white unit they had called for further backup. Simon glanced over toward the passenger seat and noticed that Jim had his head cocked, as though listening to something.
Mindful of his friend's sensitive hearing, Simon whispered, "Anything?"
"He's in there, Simon." Jim looked distressed. "His heartbeat is a little slow, but it's steady so far; his breathing is awful though."
"How many are in there, and where?" Simon, always the policeman, wanted to know.
"Three," Jim answered, "all in the same room as Blair, as far as I can tell. Two really close to him; one farther away." Jim listened again. "Doesn't sound like they're hitting him right now, at least."
Simon relayed this information to Rafe and Brown – who had long since stopped asking how he knew these things – and all started to get into position to await Simon's signal. Jim was chomping at the bit, telling Simon – repeatedly – that Blair's breathing was getting worse. Simon wanted to wait until all three units were in optimal positions.
Finally, though, Jim heard something that wouldn't allow him to wait anymore. "They're getting ready to tape again, Simon," the detective said frantically. "Sara must have gotten the case postponed after all," and Jim was gone.
"Move in," Simon called urgently as he followed Jim, "Move in!"
By the time Simon breached the main door of the warehouse, Jim was already zeroing in on Blair and the perps. Once they were close enough that even Simon could hear one of the men say, "Start the tape," everything started to move quite rapidly.
Jim burst through the door to the large room, followed closely by Simon. Both had guns at the ready and were yelling identifications. The kidnapper nearest Blair held the pipe and was in mid-swing. Before he could connect with Blair's head again, Jim took aim and shot. The other man relatively close to Blair immediately raised his hands in submission, obviously terrified of being shot.
Out of nowhere, the third man produced a gun and fired at Jim. The sentinel's legs fell from beneath him, even as both he and Simon returned fire. Jim's shot went wild as the gunman's second bullet hit home as well, just before Simon's round dropped the perp.
Because they had not had sufficient time to get into position, Rafe and Brown were just now coming through the back entrance to the room. Rafe verified that the gunman was dead and moved on to check the injured one. Brown cuffed the craven kidnapper who was still in the same place that Simon and Jim had found him.
"Man, Captain Courageous," Brown remarked to the perp, "How did you get picked for this job? We're probably gonna have to stop on the way to get you some new pants!"
The two uniformed officers finally arrived and took custody of the kidnappers. Rafe found the control that would lower the meat hook and Brown carefully gathered Blair's lowering body into his waiting arms. Rafe gently lifted the kid's bound arms from the hook, placed them on the injured man's chest and gingerly cut the duct tape to unbind them. All the while, the partners exchanged looks that clearly said, "Are we certain the kid is even still alive?" Rafe pressed his fingers to Blair's carotid artery and nodded his answer.
Meanwhile, Simon had gone to the side of his fallen detective. "How bad is it, Jim?"
"Two gunshots to the leg." Jim answered, trying for nonchalant, but not quite making it. "I'll be fine."
Simon had taken out his clean handkerchief and reached for Jim's leg when he noticed the rapidly growing puddle of bright red blood under the sentinel's right leg.
"You're not fine, Jim," Simon retorted. "One of those bullets hit the femoral artery."
"Is that your professional opinion, Dr. Banks?" Jim got really testy when he was hurt.
"I don't need to be a doctor to know that nothing else in the leg would bleed that much, that fast."
"I'm going to Blair," Jim started to try to rise but Simon gently restrained him.
"No you're not. Hold this on your thigh."
The captain called over to Brown before Jim could interrupt. "Can you bring the kid over here without hurting him anymore?"
Henri looked down at the burden he cradled in his arms with such a stricken look that Simon feared the kid had died after all.
"I'm not sure it's possible to hurt a person more than this," Henri started, "at least not and leave them alive."
Brown started toward Simon, with Rafe supporting Blair's head to keep it from dangling over the other man's arm. Jim was turning paler by the second and it would probably be only a short time before he passed out too. The partners knew it was imperative that they get Blair to his friend's side before the detective tried to move again and caused more damage to himself.
So far, Jim was still sitting upright, but Simon noticed that the sentinel's grip on the handkerchief was waning. He quickly replaced Jim's hand with his own, urging, "Stay with me Jim." But the sentinel swayed until Simon moved to prop him up.
Brown gently settled Blair's battered body next to Jim; and Rafe eased the kid's head onto the lap of the barely conscious detective, repeating Simon's plea, "You stay awake Jim. Blair needs you."
Jim held Blair's head in his lap and patted haphazardly at the matted hair. "Hey Chief," he said weakly, "Hang in there buddy. We're here."
Jim felt himself slowly slipping away as femoral blood drained through Simon's fingers. The image of Blair's slack features was becoming blurry and the sentinel felt himself leaning ever more heavily on his Captain.
"We got you, Chief," Jim slurred one more assurance and then joined his friend in unconsciousness.
TBC