Chapter 4
When Mary's phone rang, she cringed. Damn, she had forgotten all about the girls' parents, they must have been half dead with worry. With trembling fingers, she took the call and reassured Pam's father that everything was fine. After hanging up, she informed the other two girls' parents as well. Trembling, she put her cell phone away again. Chin put his arm around her reassuringly and offered to drive the girls home. Gratefully, Mary nodded. Chin stepped up to the two women who had helped Mary and asked them if there was a way to get directly to the parking lots from here. There was no way he was going to walk the girls across the pier to the parking lot. They had already experienced enough trauma today.
Gratefully, they said goodbye to the two helpers and left the parking lot via a narrow path between two cars. At the parking lot, Abby was already waiting for them with a car. Briefly she took Mary and Joan in her arms and then greeted the other girls and asked them into her car. She would drive the girls home.
Chin boarded Mary's jeep with Mary and Joan and made his way to the hospital without being asked. On the way there, he asked that a sketch artist come to the hospital and draw the sketch. He also asked to be allowed to take the case with the task force. It was his concern to find out who was behind the attack.
"Danno, come quick! Uncle Chin is on TV!"
Danny stuck his head out of the small kitchen of his apartment, which he had rented for the week's father-daughter vacation in San Francisco, and then, continuing to stir the wooden spoon in the bowl, stepped behind his daughter.
Grace turned up the volume and, horrified, the two followed the report of the rampage on the Santa Monica Pier. The police spokesperson reported that due to the chaotic situation on the pier, they had requested assistance from the SMPD in L.A. and had even been joined by the task force led by Chin Ho Kelly.
Briefly, Chin and Abby and other police officers came into view again, then footage of the pier after the crime was shown, ambulances drove away.
Suddenly, behind Grace, the bowl fell clattering to the floor. Grace also stared in shock at the television, where the report continued unimpressed. Wide-eyed, she turned to her father.
The latter already had his cell phone in his hand and dialed one of his contacts with trembling fingers. The call went out, but no one answered. Nervously, Danny dialed another contact, but no one answered there either. Worried, Danny ran his hand through his hair and looked at his daughter.
"That was Uncle Steve, wasn't it?"
Danny nodded, his friend had only been in the picture for a split second as he was shoved into an ambulance, yet he had recognized him. But what was Steve doing in L.A. and why wasn't Catherine answering her phone either. Grace, meanwhile, had gotten up and was hugging her father. Concern was written all over her face. He put his arm around her and dialed another number.
"Chin, it's Danny."
"Danny? What's wrong? Did something happen?"
"I was just going to ask you that. Do you know anything about Steve?"
"How do you know about that?"
"The report just came on the news and Steve was briefly in the picture."
Chin cursed and began to rant about the sensational reporters, but Danny rudely interrupted him.
"Chin. What about Steve?"
"Sorry Danny. Steve and Catherine were injured while pulling Mary, Joan and three other girls to safety. They were unresponsive at last.
Mary, Joan and I just arrived at the hospital. As soon as we know anything, I'll let you know."
"Thanks Chin."
Danny ended the call. In his mind, his thoughts were riding a roller coaster. Catherine and Steve. Injured. Unresponsive.
"Danno? What did Uncle Chin say?"
Danny repeated Chin's words, his expression becoming even more worried. Grace took him by the hand and pulled him into the bedroom, where she placed his small travel bag on the bed. Puzzled, Danny looked at it.
"Pack a few things, we're going to L.A. I'll book us on the next flight."
Then she disappeared back into the living room and Danny heard the pick up the bowl and wooden spoon and take them into the kitchen.
He had just thrown a few things into the bag, when Grace was already standing in the bedroom doorway again. She also held her small travel bag in her hand. She looked at him questioningly.
"Can we?"
Danny took another look in the bag, then nodded.
He stopped briefly in the living room, but Grace had apparently already wiped away the mess he had made with the bowl, too. He pulled the apartment door shut behind him and locked it. A cab was already waiting outside the house to take them to the airport.
It wasn't until they were in their seats on the plane that Danny remembered he hadn't even told Lincoln and the others that Steve and Catherine had been injured. He quickly texted them a few lines. When his cell phone rang shortly after and Lou tried to reach him, he didn't take the call. He didn't want to talk on the phone now. After all, he himself knew nothing more than what he had already told the team.
Nervously, Danny slid around on his seat. He kept squinting at his phone to see if Chin had anything for him yet. Grace took his hand and squeezed it. He looked gratefully at his big daughter, who was certainly as worried about Steve and Catherine as he was, but was now simply there for him.