Page 63 of Luck Be Mine
Dr. Day joined them, eyeing the procession with a bland look. “Let’s assess first, shall we?”
Cait stayed out of the entrance area and let the paramedic come to her. The young woman carried her harassed feelings well. “Doc.”
“What do we have, Meyers?”
“Gunshots, two. One in his right thigh, the other in his shoulder. Bleeding still. He’s combative, high on something.”
“No IV?”
“Wouldn’t let us put one in. Don’t trust this one, Doc.”
“Understood. Trauma 2.”
She waited for the cops, the orderlies, and Hannah to pass. Frank Walker strode through the door. His broad-shouldered frame filled the space in front of her. With quiet confidence, the man never needed a uniform to carry authority. His grim countenance gave her all the info she needed.
“Frank.”
“Doc.”
“Are your cops okay?”
“Incoming behind me. They need attention, but will hold.” He walked with her to the trauma room. “Another day in the neighborhood.”
“I hear you, Frank.”
He slowed to let a nurse pass. “By the way, Doc, I heard you’re looking for a house.”
Cait grimaced. “Yeah, not successfully, though.”
“There’s one next door to me. Not on the market quite yet, but I know the owner. It’s a great neighborhood. Stable. Solid. Good people.”
Hope bloomed. “I like the sounds of that. Find me later and tell me about it.”
Frank let her move ahead of him.
Hannah stood on the man’s right; a cop guarded his left. Cait waited for the transfer to the table.
The moment one cuff came off, the man shoved the cop and clocked Hannah. Both hit the floor.
Cait’s body moved before her brain caught on. Mackey’s training kicked in. She drove a fist into the man’s windpipe and ducked away. Gagging, his free hand shot to his throat.
Bets lunged with the tranquilizer and stabbed the needle into his thigh.
Frank and an orderly swarmed him, wrestling until the cuff snapped shut again.
“Shit,” the orderly muttered, stepping back.
Cait straightened, shaking her hand, irritation flooding her. “People,” she called to the stunned room. “This is not what they mean by combat trauma medicine.”
Bets snorted. “Around here anything goes.” She went to the door and yelled for security.
Cait bent to Hannah. “Let’s get you out of here.”
The woman pinched her bloody, broken nose and moaned. “Dammit. With your punch, you can go first next time.”
Frank helped the stunned cop to his feet. “How did you learn that, Doc?”
“Eleven years in the Army, and I work for Mackey Reynolds at QM. Nobody walks around untrained.” She flexed her fingers. “But don’t tell my husband. I’m not supposed to do that.” She glared around the room.
