Just Another Day: Chapter 12
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DISCLAIMER: Most of these characters are not mine at all, but they are memorable. Thank you, Mr. Marlowe. The others? Yeah, they're mine
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2:07 p.m. on May 14, 2012, At the Chinatown Hospital in San Francisco, California
The chopper now sits atop the roof of the Chinatown Hospital. The chopper blades have stopped, as the engine for the craft has been shut down by Ron Daniels. Outside the craft, the medical gurney on wheels carrying Willie Crockett is being rolled toward the roof entrance elevator. An entourage accompanies the fierce but newly-vulnerable enforcer for Sam Carlos.
"Mr. Carlos," Dr. Teresa Argento greets Sam Carlos, her hand extended. She is taken aback when the man in question ignores her hand completely, instead, opting to lean in closely to the chief of staff for the facility, placing a quick kiss on her cheek.
"Dr. Argento . . . Teresa," he begins, his voice strong but soft. "Take care of my friend. Please."
"Yes sir . . . yes, Mr. Carlos," the surprised doctor replies, stunned by the out-of-character emotional greeting from the man she has known for many years now.
"Do not worry, we will take care of him," she finally manages, noticing that his full attention is now back on the large black man being wheeled toward the roof elevator area.
"Who are . . . " Dr. Argento begins, but catches herself as she gets a closer look at the blonde woman walking alongside Sam Carlos. She leans in even closer when recognition kicks in.
"I know you," Dr. Argento offers quietly. Only now is she starting to understand the ramifications of admitting the unquestioned enforcer for Sam Carlos. Yes, she remembers this blonde woman from over a month ago in this very hospital.
In truth, she has more than curiously watched the video footage of Lindy Matthews all-to-easily defeating one of Carlos' other enforcers multiple times in the past month plus. The memory brings a shudder to the doctor, as there is no question at all why Sam Carlos would have this woman here.
"Lindy Matthews," the blonde woman greets Dr. Argento, hand extended, a fierce expression on her face. There are no smiles. This is no friendly greeting. This is a warrior on her premises, of that she has no doubt.
"You are expecting problems," Dr. Argento remarks to Sam Carlos, forcing her eyes away from the blue-gray steel gaze of Matthews. It is not a question.
"There is no way this man gets admitted to any hospital in this city . . . even this one, without word getting out," Carlos acknowledges. "My hope is that in this place, that word will not be so instantaneous that we cannot . . . prepare. Miss Matthews is here for if . . . or when . . . that occurs."
Suddenly Carlos breaks away from the group, just a mere ten feet from the door to the outer entry where the elevator is located. He reaches into his inner jacket pocket and clicks open the incoming text message from Richard Castle, being buzzed with the notification of the incoming message. He stares long and hard at the photo image that Richard Castle has attached to the text message.
He says nothing for a few seconds, before closing the message and placing the device back in his inner jacket pocket.
"Dammit," he mutters under his breath.
"Hold right here, please" he tells the entourage. Everyone and everything comes to a halt with his words. He walks backward towards the helicopter, where Kate Beckett stands next to the craft.
As planned, Kate will accompany Ron Daniels to the San Francisco General Hospital and Trauma Center for San Mateo county, to pick up Detective Jennifer Blackard. She and Willie, Sam Carlos and Lindy have already said their goodbyes. So yes, Kate is more than a little curious why the group has stopped short of the elevator entrance, and why Sam Carlos is returning to her.
Seconds later, the San Francisco man stands in front of her, his face serious.
"As requested, Richard sent me a photograph of the man who was captured at your facility," he begins.
"His name is Hoffner," Sam continues. "I know this means nothing to you, Katie, but it means a great deal to me. Because I know of this man. I know who he works for. And now suddenly, pieces to a puzzle are falling into place for me."
"This isn't like you to be so cryptic, Sam," Kate begins. "Who exactly –"
"He works for a gentleman named Raymond Hopkins, Kate," Carlos tells her. "Raymond Hopkins was one of the elite of this city. Raymond Hopkins was the chairman and CEO of one of the most prestigious banks of this city."
He glances out toward the city as he speaks, then returns his gaze to Kate Beckett.
"Raymond Hopkins was fired by the board of directors from his most prestigious position atop this city because he was one of the men and women who were captured on video by Anna Roberts back in February," Carlos continues.
"He was captured on video leaving Angel Island, Kate," Carlos concludes. He allows that bomb to drop, detonate, and spread within Kate's mind.
"Well shit," Kate Beckett mutters, stuffing her hands in her pockets.
The two friends stare silently at one another for a few seconds in an almost comical face-off before Kate Beckett starts putting it together.
"This Hopkins blames Rick for his fall from grace," Kate remarks.
"Yes," Sam Carlos replies evenly. He will allow the final puzzle pieces to fall for his friend. She is smart. She will realize this anytime now. He mentally counts down . . . five . . . four . . . three . . .
He is not disappointed.
"There are other Raymond Hopkins' out there, aren't there Sam," she tells her friend. It is not a question.
"Other men . . ." she continues.
"And women, Katie," he corrects her.
She nods her head.
"Other men and women, like this Raymond Hopkins . . . who blame Rick," she finishes.
"Yes Kate," Carlos agrees.
"And I suppose each of these powerful people have accomplices like our friend . . . what did you say his name was?"
"Hoffner," he tells her.
"Each of these powerful people have a Hoffner at their disposal," Kate realizes, her face dropping with frustration.
"Do not despair, Katie," Carlos tells her, placing his hand along her shoulder. She glances up into the now darkened eyes of Sam Carlos, and for the first time in their entire friendship, she is somewhat frightened by what she sees.
"War has been declared, Katie," he tells her. "This is a war I am comfortable waging. This is a war they are not comfortable with. They think they are. But they are not. So do not worry. Now that I know –"
"We, Sam," she corrects him, her eyes blazing now just as fiercely. "Now that we know what is happening, we can take this fight to him . . . to them."
"There she is," Carlos remarks admiringly. "There is the warrior I knew to be inside you, Katie. Unleash her. Because the likelihood that these are not the same people who have attacked Jennifer – in my mind – is absolutely zero."
Kate Beckett nods her head in understanding, as Carlos continues.
"I came back to share this information with you so that you know exactly what you might be walking into at San Francisco General, Kate," Carlos tells her. "I know for a fact that Hopkins is behind what almost happened in Sausalito this morning. And I believe he is also behind what has transpired with Jennifer."
"And he is not the only one with an axe to grind with Rick," Kate agrees.
"With Rick, and with Jennifer, Katie," he corrects her. "When the cameras were rolling, Katie . . . when those who were caught with their hands in the cookie jars came out with their hands raised . . . at gunpoint from Richard's team . . . captured on video for the nightly news . . . what police presence was there to arrest them?"
Kate nods her head, now finally fully understanding the ramifications of their raid on Angel Island.
"Jennifer," she replies. "I understand."
"Good," Carlos tells her. "And just as I am grateful for Miss Matthews back there to help me protect Willie . . . Katie, I am counting on you . . . I am counting on you to protect someone who is just as important to me as –"
"I know who she is to you, Sam," Kate interrupts. "I have always known who she is to you, even when you didn't."
Kate leans in, placing a kiss on her friend's cheek, pulling him into an embrace. She feels his arms wrap tightly around her.
"I won't let anything happen to her, Sam," she tells him, quickly disengaging and turning back toward the chopper. Her entire demeanor has changed.
"Ron, let's get in the air, and I mean now," Kate tells him as she climbs into the front seat of the chopper next to the pilot seat.
Ron Daniels has heard stories of the old Kate Beckett from the east coast, but this is his first glimpse of the so-called best detective from New York City. Truth be told, this version of Kate Beckett actually scares the man, and he quickly jumps back into the aircraft as instructed, starting the engine up.
Kate offers a smile-less salute to Sam Carlos, who returns the gesture and then performs an about-face, turning toward the rooftop entrance, to return to the entourage waiting there.
Seconds later, the helicopter is rising into the San Francisco sky, banking sharply and accelerating toward the San Francisco General Hospital. Sam Carlos returns to this group, where Willie Crockett eyes him warily.
Carlos offers a single word to his enforcer.
"Hoffner," Carlos tells him. He mentally counts off two seconds before Willie Crockett replies.
"Hopkins," the San Francisco enforcer remarks. "Then the lines have been drawn."
"Indeed they have, my friend," Sam Carlos replies, nodding his head. "Now, let's get you downstairs and find out what ails you inside. The hounds will be afoot."
He then turns to Lindy Matthews as they enter the large elevator interior.
"I am glad you are with us, Miss Matthews," Carlos tells the blonde woman.
"Her name is Lindy," Willie Crockett corrects his boss, as he closes his eyes.
Lindy Matthews does not respond. Instead, she grabs the hand of the large black man, giving it a squeeze, her eyes determined for whatever may be coming ahead.