Chapter 4

Rudy rose from the corner table where he'd been observing quietly. ''Let me talk to her...just for a minute?'' he requested. He knew that Jack and Oscar needed to gather as much information from Jaime as possible - and quickly - but as her doctor he had questions too. Oscar realized that although Jaime had met Jack the night of the hospital siege (so she knew who he was, and a little bit about the NSB in general), he was still a complete stranger to her. Quietly, Oscar suggested that Jack rally the Search & Rescue and Security teams from the main radio while he and Rudy tended to Jaime. Then, knowing that Rudy had become something of a surrogate father to Jaime while he (Oscar) was an authority figure she still didn't know very well, Oscar nodded Rudy toward the microphone.

''Jaime?'' the doctor began, ''it's Rudy. Are you hurt?''

''No. I - I don't think so.'' Her voice sounded thin...and very small.

''Honey...did you hit your head?''

''I'm not sure...''

Rudy didn't like the sound of that! She'd told Hansen she didn't know where she was. Was that because she was in an unfamiliar area - or was her disorientation caused by something more ominous? ''Jaime, what were you doing right before you got there?'' he probed gently.

''We were...in the car. Russ ran it against the tree. They told me to...to run...and I heard them running too. But...they ran the other way! It sounded like...like Steve was...slowing down to stay with Russ. And then they stopped.''

''What happened next, Honey? Did you hear anything unusual? A fight...thuds...gunshots?''

''No; no gunshots. They were...talking. I didn't really listen - I should've listened! But I'd have had to stop...to really tune in...and Steve told me to keep running. So I did...I kept running...and now I don't know where I am!''

Rudy frowned. Something in her voice just wasn't 'right'. While the mic was keyed 'Off', he turned to Oscar. ''No new head injury; her memory of what happened before and after is too vivid for that. But - I'm guessing here - she may be in shock. And possibly injured.''

Oscar nodded and relayed the info to Hansen - along with what Jaime had said about Russ and Steve. It sounded like they had been leading the terrorists away from Jaime. Meanwhile, Rudy kept talking to her on the datacom, trying to keep her calm and hoping to figure out where she was.

''Jaime...is anyone following you - or chasing you - right now?''

''I don't think so.''

''Alright; that's good. I want you to sit down - right where you are and stay there so Rescue can find you,'' Rudy instructed.

''But...I need to find Steve...and Russ...''

''Young Lady, Sit. Down!'' he repeated in a stern voice (that he hoped would get through to her). ''Now...tell me what you see. Are you in the woods?''

''Lots of trees. I - I can't find the car. So many trees...''

''Jaime,'' Rudy continued, ''I want you to listen closely to everything around you. There should be searchers nearby.'' (At least, Rudy hoped she was still near the search perimeters. Just how far had she run...?) ''What do you hear?''

''Birds...and...water. I hear water!''

That narrowed things down considerably. Rudy stayed on the datacom while Oscar - once again - relayed the info to Hansen so he could inform the searchers and send them in Jaime's direction.

''Great job, Honey,'' Rudy told her. ''Now just stay put and let the officers find you.''

''Can't...'' Jaime said vaguely. ''Have to go now, Rudy...''

''Jaime!'' Rudy called for her several times over the device - and there was no answer.

Units Three and Four started combing the area of the woods that was closest to the nearby river (assisted by other units as they began to arrive). It didn't take long before Jack had a (partial) answer. Led there by the sound of Rudy's voice still trying to reach Jaime, Unit Four located a datacom, lying on the forest floor - either lost, abandoned...or taken away from Jaime by force. There was a slight indent among the sticks and leaves where she had apparently been sitting...along with a small amount of blood and a scattering of the surrounding foliage. A struggle had taken place; either Jaime had needed to fight to get back on her feet (due to weakness or injury) or she had been surprised - and ambushed.

Jaime was not there.

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