Robert Crais - Hostage

“It might get lost.”

Marion looked past her. No one was in the hall. He glanced at the far side of the room. Another door; maybe to a bathroom, maybe a closet or a hall. He could cover her mouth, lift her, it would only take seconds.

“I know, but …”

“Well, just tuck it under the pillow, then. You’re not supposed to be here.”

The dark-haired nurse stepped through the door and went to one of the monitors. Marion closed the bag.

The red-haired nurse said, “Is it okay if he leaves this picture? It belongs to Mr. Smith.”

“No. It’ll get lost and someone will bitch. That always happens.”

Marion put the picture into his pocket and smiled at the red-haired nurse.

“Well, thanks anyway.”

Marion was patient. He was content to wait until Smith was once more alone, but he heard sirens as he walked back to the admitting room where he saw the female police officer outside the entrance. Marion thought that she was talking to herself, but then realized she was talking into her radio. The sirens grew closer. The reporters trickled outside, joining her, asking questions, but she suddenly broke away from them and ran back into the hospital. Marion decided not to wait.

Marion went out to his car, feeling dispirited by the way things had worked out. Palm Springs was not going to like his report after all, but there was nothing to be done about it. Not yet.

Then two police cars arrived. Marion watched the officers run through the shouting reporters into the hospital, and then he phoned Glen Howell.

TALLEY

Running for his car, Talley radioed Metzger at the hospital. He told her that there had been a threat to Smith’s life, and to put her ass outside Smith’s door. He grabbed Jorgenson and Campbell from Mrs. Pena’s home and told them to follow him.

Talley rolled code three, full lights and siren. He knew that Benza’s people would learn what he was doing, and that this might jeopardize himself and his family, but he couldn’t let them simply kill the man. He didn’t know what else to do.

When they reached the hospital, Talley saw the knot of reporters coming toward him from the entrance. Talley hurried out of his car to meet Jorgenson and Campbell.

“Don’t say a word. Everything is no comment. You got that?”

Their eyes were confused and overwhelmed as the reporters surrounded them.

“Let’s get in there.”

As they entered the hospital, Talley glanced from face to face, from hands to bodies, hoping for a glimpse of a deep tan, a heavy Rolex watch, and for clothes similar to those worn by the men and woman he had seen in his parking lot. Everyone was a suspect. Everyone was a potential killer. Anyone could lead him back to his Amanda and Jane.

The hospital security chief, an overweight man named Jobs, met them at the admitting desk with Klaus and the ER supervisor, an older woman who introduced herself as Dr. Reese. Talley asked that they speak somewhere more private, and followed them past the admitting desk through a gate and around a corner into a hall. Talley saw Metzger standing outside a door not far away. Talley went directly to her, telling Reese and the others to wait.

“Is everything okay?”

“Yeah. It’s fine. What’s going on?”

Talley stood in the door. Smith was alone in the room. His head lolled to the side, then righted. Talley glanced back at Metzger.

“I’ll be right back.”

Talley told Jorgenson and Campbell to wait with Metzger, then explained to the doctors.

“We have reason to believe that there could be an attempt made on Mr. Smith’s life. I’m going to post a guard outside his room and have police here on the premises.”

Klaus made his face into a pinched, sulky frown.

“An attempt on his life? Like what you did in the ambulance?”

Reese ignored him.

“We work at an ER pace here, Sheriff. Things move quickly. I can’t have that disrupted.”

“I’m the chief of police in Bristo. I’m not a sheriff.”

“I understand. Is my staff in danger?”

“Not with my officers here, no, ma’am.”

Klaus said, “This is bullshit. Who would want to kill this guy?”

Talley didn’t want to lie. He was tired of lying. He shrugged.

“We have to take the threat seriously.” Jobs, the security chief, nodded.

“The world is filled with nuts.”

Talley worked it out that his officers would remain the primary guard outside Smith’s room with Jobs’s security personnel as supplement; if Smith was moved to another part of the hospital, the Bristo police would accompany him. They were still talking about it when Metzger called from her post.

“Hey. He’s waking up.”

Klaus pushed past them and hurried into the room, Talley following. Smith’s eyes were open and focused, though still vague. He mumbled something, then spoke again, more clearly.

“Where am I?”

The words were slurred, but Talley understood them.

Klaus drew out the penlight, peeled open Smith’s eyes, then passed the light, first over one, then the other.

“My name is Klaus. I’m a doctor at Canyon Country Hospital. That’s where you are. Do you know your name?”

It took Smith a few moments to answer, as if it took him a while to understand the question, then figure out the answer. He wet his lips.

“Smith. Walter Smith. What’s wrong?”

Klaus glanced at the monitors.

“Don’t you know?”

Smith seemed to think again, but then his eyes widened and he tried to sit up. Klaus pushed him down.

“Easy. Stay down or you’ll faint.”

“Where are my children?”

Klaus glanced at Talley.

Talley said, “They’re still in the house.”

Smith’s eyes tracked vaguely over. Talley lifted his sweatshirt so that Smith could see his badge.

“I’m Jeff Talley, the Bristo chief of police. Do you know what happened to you?”

“People came into my house. Three men. What about my children?”

“They’re still in the house. So far as we know, they’re okay.

We’re trying to get them out.”

Klaus grudged a nod.

“Chief Talley is the one who got you out.”

Smith looked up at him.

“Thank you.”

His voice was soft and fading. Smith settled back, his eyes closed. Talley thought they were losing him again.

Klaus didn’t like what he saw on the monitors. His face pulled into the pinched frown again.

“I don’t want him to overdo it.”

Talley brought Klaus aside and lowered his voice.

“I should have a word with him now. About what we talked about.”

“I don’t see as it would do any good. It will only upset him.”

Talley stared at Smith, knowing he could punch the right button because he could read Klaus as easily as he read a subject behind a barricade.

“He has a right to know, Doctor. You know he does. I’ll only be a moment. Now, please.”

Klaus scowled some more, but he left.

“Smith.”

Smith opened his eyes, not quite as wide as before. Talley watched as they flagged closed. He bent close.

“I know who you are.”

The eyes opened again.

“Sonny Benza has my wife and daughter.”

Smith stared up at him, as blank as a plate, showing no surprise or shock, revealing nothing. But Talley knew. He could sense it.

“He wants his financial records. He’s taken my wife and daughter to make sure I cooperate. I need your help, Smith. I need to know where he has them. I need to know how to get to him.”

Something wet dripped on Smith’s shoulder. Talley’s eyes blurred, and he realized that he was crying.

“Help me.”

Smith wet his lips. He shook his head.

“I don’t know what you’re talking about.”

The eyes closed.