Page 29 of Resuscitation
ChapterFourteen
Friday,February 13th, 8:51 P.M.
Brick joined Tysonin the waiting room, now crowded with patients, family, and the few staff left alive. No one appeared to be a threat, all cowed and cowering. Good.
“What’s going on? What’s the plan?” Tyson asked in a low voice.
“Harper’s coming to give you a hand. Meantime, I have a little job for that one.” He jerked his chin at the dispatcher, Wayne. “C’mon, Wayne. I need you to help me with a little communications issue.”
The man climbed to his feet, wavering. “Me?”
“Yeah, you run the dispatch office, right? C’mon, show me how it all works, then I’ll bring you right back.”
“Uh, sure, all right.” Not like the guy had any choice, not with Brick’s weapon aimed right at him.
Brick smiled, took the guy’s arm, and shoved him ahead of him into the hall leading back to the ambulance garage and EMS office.
“So, this is where all the action happens, huh?” Brick said, taking in the monitors, radio, and telephone.
“Yeah, pretty much,” the guy said, eyeing him curiously.
“Walk me through your comms. There been any outgoing calls since we arrived?”
Wayne shook his head. “How could there be? We were all with you guys.”
“Right.” Brick brushed the radio controls. “These go to…?”
“Depends on the frequency. EMS and fire, of course. Plus, Potsdam PD, county sheriff, staties. Used to have our own police force here, but they closed it down. Couldn’t afford the insurance. Same reason why we’re next on the chopping block.”
The guy was warming up to Brick, liked to talk about his work, proud of it. Good. Brick could use that. He motioned for Wayne to take his seat. Once he was settled in, the dispatcher visibly relaxed. Very good.
“How come no one’s talking on the radios now?” Brick asked.
Wayne messed with the dials, releasing only static. “The storm. Radios have been on the fritz all night.”
Brick’s eyes narrowed. “What about landlines? Cell phones?”
“Sure, a landline’s essential.” Wayne chuckled nervously. “Cell reception’s spotty at best, especially in this weather.” He pulled out his mobile phone, glanced at it, and mumbled, “Zero bars right now.”
Brick took the cell and pocketed it. He scanned the tiny room, noting cameras, computers, anything that could jeopardize their operation. “Any other ways to contact the outside? Emergency backup systems?”
“No, sorry.”
Brick crouched down, eye level with the man. He stared at him for long moments, noting the sweat gathering, the way his eyes blinked faster…
“You’re lying.”
Wayne’s gaze flicked to the radio.
Brick stood, tapped the radio with his rifle. “Tell me more about the radio, Wayne. What have you heard about us?”
Wayne squirmed, kept his gaze focused on his desk. “There was a report of a state trooper pursuing a robbery suspect. But I didn’t hear anything after that from them.”
“From them,” Brick pushed. “What about from anyone else?”
“Uh, I think, maybe one of our EMS units saw you guys driving here? Called to warn us we might have a trauma coming in, but that was right when you got here, so there wasn’t anything we could do.” The words poured out of him in a gush. Finally, the truth.
“That’s good work, Wayne. I can tell you’re a man who likes to stay on top of things. I appreciate that. Most folks just clock in, clock out, don’t give a shit. But not you.” Brick lowered his head, speaking directly into Wayne’s ear. “I think I can trust you, Wayne. Trust you with the one chance you have to save all your friends and those innocent patients in the waiting room. What do you say, ready to be a hero?”
