Page 68 of Undercover Hearts
The waiting room doors opened again, this time admitting Chief Diana Marten. The chief's silver-streaked hair was pulled back in a practical knot that showed signs of a chaotic night, several strands escaping to frame her face. Her uniform remained impeccable despite the early hour and obvious stress, as if maintaining this external order might somehow influence the chaos unfolding in the operating room.
Zoe and Destiny stood immediately. Jenna tried to follow suit, but Diana waved her back down.
"At ease," Diana said, her voice carrying quiet authority that made the instruction feel like permission rather than command. "Sit, Detective Walsh. You look ready to collapse."
Diana settled into the chair Zoe vacated. For several moments, she said nothing, her gaze fixed on the same wall clock Jenna had been watching.
"Julia Scott is securing your apartment," Diana said finally. "She's bringing you clean clothes."
Jenna's hand moved instinctively to her blood-stained blouse. "I'm fine."
Diana's expression softened fractionally. "You're not fine, Detective. None of us are. But we'll maintain operational function regardless."
The clinical phrasing might have seemed cold from someone else, but Jenna recognized it as Diana's way of expressing solidarity without compromising her command presence.
"The operation was a success, and those women will have justice," Diana continued.
Jenna nodded mechanically. "Justice" felt like such a small word for what those women deserved, for what Michelle had sacrificed to secure.
"Morgan Rivers is analyzing the surveillance recordings from your equipment," Diana added. "Isabella Garcia's direct involvement has been confirmed on multiple counts. International charges are being prepared."
The information washed over Jenna like distant waves. She understood its importance professionally, but emotionally, it barely registered.
"Has there been any update on her condition?" Diana asked, her voice dropping slightly.
"Nothing since they took her into surgery," Jenna replied, the words feeling strange in her dry throat. "The bullet caught her below the left collarbone. They said something about major vessel damage."
Diana's expression remained controlled, but her hands tightened almost imperceptibly in her lap. "Michelle's tough. Always has been."
Before Jenna could respond, the doors to the surgical area swung open. A woman in blood-spattered scrubs approached, her ruby hijab visible under her surgical cap, exhaustion evident in the lines of her face. The identification badge clipped to her pocket read "Dr. Samira Hassan, Emergency Medicine."
Jenna stood immediately, Diana rising beside her with similar urgency.
"Are you here for Captain Reyes?" Dr. Hassan asked, her gaze moving between them.
"Yes," Diana responded. "I'm Chief Marten. This is Detective Walsh. Status update?"
Dr. Hassan's expression revealed nothing as she gestured toward a quieter corner of the waiting room. "She's still in surgery. Dr. Reynolds is our best trauma surgeon. She's doing everything possible."
"How bad?" Diana asked, her voice steady despite the gravity of the question.
"The bullet damaged the subclavian artery," Dr. Hassan explained. "She lost a significant amount of blood before reaching the hospital. We've transfused four units already."
Jenna felt the room tilt slightly. Four units meant Michelle had lost nearly half her blood volume.
"Prognosis?" Diana pressed.
Dr. Hassan's professional mask softened slightly. "Captain Reyes is fighting hard. The next few hours are critical. If she survives the surgery, she'll have additional hurdles, including potential nerve damage affecting her left arm function."
"When will we know more?" Jenna asked, her voice barely audible.
"Surgery will likely continue another two hours," Dr. Hassan replied. "I understand you were first on scene?"
Jenna nodded stiffly.
"Your immediate response and pressure application likely saved her life," Dr. Hassan said. "Without that intervention, she wouldn't have made it to the hospital."
The doctor's words were clearly meant as comfort, but they hit Jenna like physical blows. Michelle wouldn't have needed life-saving intervention if she hadn't intercepted the bullet meant for Jenna.
