Page 5 of Sergeant O'
I heard someone call out, “Incoming male, unresponsive. Multiple GSWs.”
I glanced toward the hall as another trauma team moved into position. A gurney was wheeled through the doors, butno one was moving fast. The silence that followed told me everything.
No chest compressions. No shouted vitals. Just hushed voices as they headed for Trauma Two.
Whoever he was, he hadn’t made it.
I sent out a silent prayer that the man rest in peace.
I didn’t have time to dwell on it. Brian’s surgical team had just arrived from Charleston by helicopter. Normally it was the other way around, but the chopper was already there, and I think they gave special consideration to the fact that Brian was a police officer shot in the line of duty.
I gave a quick recap, then stepped back to let them work; there was nothing else I could do.
As they wheeled him away, I offered up another prayer—this one maybe a little more urgent than the last.
Please let him make it through surgery okay.
The ER doors opened, and I noticed a policeman gently ushering a woman inside.
My heart dropped when I realized who it was.
My baby sister.
She walked in under her own power, but she looked like hell with her bruised cheek, messy hair, mud-splattered jeans, and an oversized shirt that obviously wasn’t hers. Adam Callahan was right behind her, guiding her through the ER with his hand on her back.
“Lainey?”
Her eyes found mine. “Is Brian okay?”
I ushered her into Room Two, adrenaline still buzzing through my system. “He’s in surgery. He lost a lot of blood, but they’re working on him now.”
She gingerly sat on the bed, then pressed a hand to her mouth. “Oh my God.”
“What happened?” I asked, scanning her for injuries. “We got the trauma alert—officer down. Then a DOA came in, followed by someone with a head injury. And now you. Are you hurt?”
Lainey shook her head, tears starting to pool in her eyes. “No, but they made me come in anyway. The DOA was Earl Schilling—my landlord.” Her voice broke. “He and his nephew kidnapped me from my apartment. Brian and Adam got there just in time.”
Adam’s jaw tightened. “Brian took a round during the rescue before returning fire.”
I felt like I was going to puke. “Where’s Conor?”
Adam answered. “He’s with the O’Briens. He’s fine. Kristy found him and called us.”
Lainey’s eyes brimmed with tears. “I was so scared I’d never see him again. And then he’d grow up without any parents.”
Hey, God. That prayer I sent up about Earl resting in peace? I take that back.
Adam reached over and pulled her against him. “Baby, I told you he’s fine. He was just a little hungry. You know Teresa and Hugh are taking good care of him.”
Baby?
There’d been gossip about my sister and Adam, but I’d thought it was just the rumor mill jumping to conclusions, like it had a tendency to do.
Apparently that was not the case this time.
Lainey grabbed my hand. “Please tell me Bri’s going to be okay.”
I squeezed her fingers. “They got him into surgery fast. That’s always a good thing. He’s strong, Lain. Not to mention he’s too damn stubborn not to come out of this okay.”
