Hard Case V: Blood and Fear (A John Harding Novel Book 5) (33 page)

“Will help arrive?”

“Oh yeah,” I told her while moving around the desk again to check on the four men with partial heads. Clint already had one of our people on the way. He’ll request a team now. There’s no keeping this quiet. We mistakenly assumed there would only be possibly one shooter if at all. To attack an obstetrics newborn ICU like this will gain us more publicity than we care to have, but we don’t get a choice in this one.”

“I’ll go do something I can do, check my staff in the NICU, and help your friend calm the patients.”

“That’ll work, Connie. Thanks.”

“Ever get worried you’ve picked the wrong careers?”

“Not yet, but the day is young.”

* * *

Clint jogged into Lynn’s room to find her lying unmoving, and breathing regularly. He grinned. “I ain’t going near you until I see both your hands, babe.”

Lynn chuckled, and put away her butterfly knife in the serving tray drawer. She positioned her adjustable bed more comfortably upright, being careful not to raise the angle too far for her surgical sutures. “Spill it. How many dead?”

“Four, and one survivor John Gronked the first after he pulverized the guy’s wrist. We, my dear one, appear to have become a main target for this Christova woman while she flees the area. It seems from Denny’s perspective, she may have made it. Kornev told Denny and John under duress Christova has quite a luxury liner near the port of Lagos, Nigeria.”

“What the hell put a bug up her ass about us?” Lynn began sipping from her ice water.

“I’m thinking our Amara connection, and the prior ‘honor killing’ asshole posse had something to do with it. We must have mangled one of her treasured minions during our adjustments. Remember, Denny traded players to the Nigerians, along with Amara’s Daddy, and his crew. According to Kornev, she has a lot of friends in the upper echelons of power in Nigeria. I’d wager Amara’s Dad, or the gang of enforcers Denny placed may have had more of a connection with Christova through Kornev than we knew about. We pissed her off but good. That’s for sure. Attacking the obstetrics floor of a major hospital means two things – they figured to get away with it, and if they didn’t accomplish it quietly, they didn’t care how loudly they did it. This very high profile attack won’t do them or us much good in the media.”

“It is what it is. Can I go see my boy now, or do I have to get really upset?”

“I’ll go get a nurse to help with all the meters they have you hooked to. I saw some patients walking around with their rolling tree of meters and IV bags, so maybe you can walk there while we skirt all the police I’m sure will be here soon. I should know better than to ask this, but wouldn’t tomorrow morning be-”

“You do know better than to ask! The boy’s probably starving by now.”

“Sorry. On my way.” Clint hurried out to do Lynn’s bidding, and nearly ran into Connie. “Oh… hi Connie. My wife would like to see our baby, and do a feeding if that’s possible. I think when you take a look at her, you’ll help me get her in a position to try a few steps. She and I can stay in the NICU until the police thing wears down a bit.”

“We sure can.” Connie strode into the room, looked over Lynn’s readings, and did a blood pressure check. “I think you’re good to go. I’m Connie by the way.”

Lynn shook her hand, before Connie began moving the rolling tree to the side, and positioning it so Lynn could try sitting all the way vertically before swinging her legs over the bedside. “Don’t try and stand for a moment. We need to see if you can stay upright without dizziness or nausea, okay?”

Lynn swung her feet over to the floor, where Clint quickly put slippers on her feet. “Glad to meet you, Connie.”

“Connie alerted John to the fake Doc getting ready to kill her and our baby.”

Lynn stood without help, balancing herself without gripping the mobile meter tree. She then hugged Connie. “Thank you. I’m sure Clint gave you our card. It’s good as gold if you ever get into trouble. Now, c’mon Clint, I have to make a pit-stop before I see Clint Jr.”

Clint assisted her in the bathroom, and then fell in behind Lynn with one hand on the diagnostic meter and IV tree, and one hand on Lynn’s waist so he could catch her if this first trip out of bed didn’t go well. Connie guided the way, but glanced continually back at her followers, uneasy about allowing Lynn to visit her son so soon after the delivery. Outside the room, she helped both Clint and Lynn into sterile masks before entering the room. While Clint watched with anxious anticipation, Connie showed Lynn how to use a breast pump. With Lynn comfortably seated, Connie explained how to hold a baby like little Clint, who was only a bit over two and a half pounds, and sixteen inches long.

At Connie’s direction, Clint sat near Lynn, where she supported his son’s head, enjoying the look of total concentration on his wife’s face. Lynn had no trouble getting the baby to feed from the bottle. “He seems hungry.”

“He’s doing well in every way we watch for,” Connie replied. “His breathing is good, which is a very healthy sign in preemies. The lungs are the last organs to fully form. On a scale of one to ten how’s your pain level, Lynn?”

Lynn chuckled, and then realized Connie was being serious. “Oh yeah, you mean from the operation. It’s not much worse than a five second stun-gunning… maybe a five. It’s cool though. I’m fine.”

Clint stifled amusement of Lynn’s pain comparison to her day to day reality, but noticed Connie’s odd expression. “It’s okay, Connie. Lynn doesn’t really have an internal pain meter. The only time I’ve ever seen a pained expression on her face is when I asked her to vacuum the living room.”

The three went into a whisper soft, muffled set of snorts in the hushed atmosphere of the NICU. Little Clint seemed to like the vibrations.

* * *

Gus and Denny arrived before the police. A CIA crime scene forensics and cleaning team Denny scrambled entered the floor seconds later in well-marked uniforms with Homeland Security in large letters. I had Doc Ock on his feet by then with his ankles released. To say he was a sullen, angry captive would be putting it politely. The good part was he didn’t bother demanding treatment he was never going to get. I had already taken pictures of everyone, along with DNA samples. We always like to be thorough when erasing enemies off our list.

“This is the only live one, Gus. His right wrist is broken, but take no chances with him. He’s a professional baby killer. Christova sent him to murder little Clint. Can you make the baby killer feel at home back in Pain Central until morning?”

Gus smiled at Doc Ock. “You are very lucky our Pain Central leader, Cruella Deville won’t be coming in tomorrow, but I will take good care of you, amigo. Should I take him now, John?”

“Yes. Take him. We’ll work out the details tomorrow. I’m sure Denny scrubbed the police presence. What government agency are we taking over the scene under this time?”

“Homeland Security. I let all our backers know, and delved into favors all the way to the White House. We control everything on the West Coast as of right now until we fix this situation. Laredo’s at Central now watching every line for confirmation with Jafar next to him. I see we won’t have to worry about much other than cleaning. I’ll talk to you later. I want to go with Gus if you can take over here. I have a number for you to call for anyone giving you shit. The guy on the other end of the line will shut them the hell up quick. C’mon Gus, let’s take this tough guy here in for the night. My guys know you’re in charge, John. They’ll take care of everything without much direction. I’ll see you tomorrow morning. Keep us up to date on Crue and the baby.”

“Will do.” I took the card Denny gave me. He had a few last words for his crime scene team before he and Gus took Doc Ock. I figured I lucked out. Lucas would be here to relieve me at eight, so I could get home in time for the Dark Lord’s Lora and Al show, highlighting I’m sure the horrible time they had, relegated to the safe-room for the night. I decided to retreat to my chair outside NICU, check on my favorite monster couple, and sit for a snooze until morning.

Chapter Eleven

Leak Fix Discoveries

I actually managed some quality sleep time, the only disturbance a Clint Jr meeting with Mom and Dad in attendance. Lynn looked remarkably better than when I saw her last. I have no clue how she could be traipsing around after the day and night she had. Lucas relieved me, kicking himself for not staying with me.

“I might have known you’d get all the fun, Banana.”

“Hey… what happened to Recon?”

“What did you do for me lately besides ace me out of the killin’?” Lucas was smiling again. “I smell disinfectant. How did Denny’s team work out?”

“Excellent. He’s billeted them out on the West Coast permanently because he can trust them. He texted me, they handled Clint’s neighbors, and scoured the scene there too. Their cover story is violent home invasion stopped by the FBI special task force. Mom and Dad are with baby Clint now. It’s feeding time again like every couple hours or less. They wanted me to bring you in the moment you arrived.”

“Hell yeah, I want to see the baby.” A dark shadow passed over Lucas’s face. “You’re stopping at Pain Central to make sure that phony you stopped last night was treated well, aren’t you?”

Indeed I am. “Did I give you some reason to insult me this morning, Lucas?”

“Just checkin’. Man, I wish Crue was feeling well enough to educate him. We’d have a video we would only need to show a few seconds of to a perp, and they’d be screaming to tell us their tale. Let’s see the baby.”

The staff around the NICU knew me well by then. We could see Lynn and Clint together feeding the tiny bundle. They waved as we put our masks on and outer tie on surgical gowns and hair covers. Inside, Lucas melted. The monster who trained three of us monsters knelt like a five year old on Christmas morning in front of Lynn.

“Nice to see you, Godfather,” Lynn delivered the line with deference, her head nodding.

“Godfather,” Clint acknowledged, also with the head nod.

“Huh?”

“You’ll be Clint Jr’s Godfather when we get him babtized,” Lynn said.

“I will?” They had Lucas then. He stared at Clint Jr like he was delivered on the wings of an angel. “Oh my God… are you serious?”

“Hell yeah,” Lynn said. “Who’d you think we’d get to do it? You trained Clint, and I’m only alive because of things you’ve taught me while I was breaking into the monster squad.”

“He’s so tiny,” Lucas muttered.

“Maria’s obstetricians told us he’ll grow fast,” Clint said. “Even the nurse was optimistic because of his lung development.”

Lucas covered Lynn’s hand where she held the Clint Jr bundle. “You look hell-a-better, Crue. I’m glad Recon was here with the ‘man from nowhere’ to protect my Godson. I trained them. They damn well better know how to protect him. Are you feeling better, kid?”

“I sure am, Pappy. My boy’s so tiny I have to be in top notch form. You wait. He’s going to be a monster.”

Lucas laughed, patting her hand. “It wouldn’t be bad if he became a doctor.”

“Well sure… he could do that.” Lynn grinned at Lucas. “Disappointing, but manageable.”

We monsters enjoyed that Cruella Deville declaration. We had so many unknowns going in this monster excursion there really wasn’t anything left but jokes. “Congratulations, Lucas. The boy will have an ancient in his life to guide him… I’m not sure to what… but he’ll have the ancient.”

Lucas pointed a finger of retribution in my face, complete with snarly drill sergeant face. “You wait, Mellow Yellow. Your time’s comin’, and it will be bad. I don’t know what you’re still doin’ here anyway. Don’t you have a home? All you’re good for is killin’ and malingerin’ like an old egg suckin’ farm hound.”

Mind you, Lucas delivered this entire line in a hushed whisper with us three knuckleheads and Clint Jr listening with rapt attention. I waved. “I’m going. I’m just glad it’s daytime, and the threat’s over. Otherwise I’d stay for a double shift.”

Mellow Yellow made good his escape with rapid but silent footsteps out of the NICU before the ancient got his feet under him in pursuit.

* * *

When I reached home what did my wandering eyes see but my fight corner brothers, Dev and Jess. They began apologizing almost before I got out of the car. I waved them to silence. “It’s been a long night, brothers. Give me the short version. First… is it an emergency, because I have to say hi to Lora and Al before I go over to Pain Central.

“You know Jess’s Mom,” Dev said. “Jess has a problem in that Florence won’t accept any favors from anyone. She lives in that old house of hers on Coolidge Avenue by herself.”

“She won’t move in with me,” Jess cut in. “Since I bought the new house in Walnut Creek, she thinks I’m sellin’ drugs or somethin’. Every time I say come live with me, Mama, she starts rantin’ about not getting involved with violence. She shows up at my door this morning, and surprises the hell out of me. My Mama thinks the idiots messing with her house are there because of my imaginary criminal lifestyle. She thinks I’m a damn kingpin of crime or something, John.”

I unfortunately start laughing my ass off, and Devon joins in against his will. Now I’m getting a snarly face from Jess. He waves me off. “Don’t you never call me brother again, John Harding. Disrespecting me and my Mama when I come to you for advice. That’s just wrong!”