Page 2 of Code Trauma (Extreme Measures #1.5)

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H olly found the emergency department short-staffed, so no one minded that she wanted to care for her friend.

In room six, she checked the IV bag hanging on the pole. “Almost empty, Mr. Carson,” she told the man in the bed. “I’ll have to get another one.” That normally wasn’t part of her job, but she didn’t mind. The walk would allow her a few moments to think about the threats she’d received and what else she needed to do about them.

He nodded. “It’s really good of you to come see me. I know you’re busy.”

“Aw, what kind of friend would I be if I didn’t check in on my favorite drummer?”

He chuckled, but it was a weak sound. She squeezed his hand. “Get some rest. We need to get you well and back up on the stage at church.”

“Indeed we do. Thank you, my dear.”

“Of course.”

He closed his eyes, and she said a heartfelt prayer for God to touch him and heal him.

“Holly, I didn’t realize you’d be down here today.”

Holly whirled to see the doctor she always did her best to avoid. Garrett Mann. Unfortunately, avoiding people in the emergency room was basically impossible, and he’d caught up with her. “Yep. The place is super short-staffed, and I told Nick I didn’t mind helping out.” Nick, the head doctor of the ER.

“Well, it’s good to see you.” He winked at her like they shared a secret. They didn’t. “How’s your patient?” he asked. “I think I’ve treated him before. Seizures, right?”

“Right. He’s doing fine right now. He was a bit dehydrated in addition to the laceration on his forehead. We’re waiting on a room to open up to monitor him for any more seizures. If that’ll be all, Dr. Mann, I’ve got to head to base.” She patted Mr. Carson’s hand and turned to make her escape.

Garrett stepped in front of her, blocking her way. “It’s Garrett, not Dr. Mann. It’s good of you to help out. Things can get a little overwhelming. The extra pair of hands is always welcome.”

“Not a problem.”

She started to head to the next room, but he stopped her once more with a hand on her arm. “What’s the rush?”

Holly shot him a tight smile and shrugged him off. “He’s not the only patient, Doctor . I need to replace this IV bag then head to base.” The base for the medical flight team was located in one of the wings of the hospital.

“That’s what nurses are for.”

She barely refrained from rolling her eyes. “I am a nurse, remember? Anyway, I’m here to help, so that’s what I plan to do.”

“What about lunch later?”

“I already have lunch plans.” At least it was true.

“Why doesn’t that surprise me?”

The tone in his voice sent shivers up her spine. Was he the one who’d sent the threatening notes telling her she needed to leave? But why pursue her if he wanted her gone? Or did he think she’d come running to him for help?

Ha. Not likely.

She stepped past him, and this time he didn’t stop her.

Once out of the room, she let out the breath she’d been holding and aimed herself toward the supply closet.

Another nurse greeted her with a smile. “Hi, Holly, no emergency flights today?”

“Hi Rachel.” Rachel Vickers, a respiratory therapist who was often in the ER. She didn’t seem to have a problem with Dr. Mann’s attentions—even went out of her way to flirt with the man. Rumor had it that they’d dated for a while. So why didn’t he leave Holly alone and focus on someone who’d welcome his advances? She realized that Rachel was staring at her, waiting for a response. “Oh, sorry. I’m a little scattered today, but no flights yet. Headed to base shortly.” Holly shook off the creepy sensation the doctor always left her with and smiled at the pretty woman.

Rachel frowned. “Tough patient?”

“Tough doctor,” Holly muttered.

“Sorry?”

Holly forced a smile. “Nothing. You look like you’ve been running. Are you okay?”

“Just late and trying to catch up.”

“Are you here to work with Mr. Lyles?”

“I am.”

“He was sleeping when I checked in on him earlier, so poke gently.”

Rachel laughed. “He can resemble a bear, can’t he?” Mr. Lyles was a “frequent flyer.” He had chronic asthma and didn’t always take his meds like he was supposed to. He also didn’t like breathing treatments. Rachel nodded to the room. “Is that Dr. Mann?”

“Yes, it sure is.”

“Oh good, I have a question for him.” Rachel stepped around her. “See you later, Holly. Hello, Dr. Mann ...” Rachel’s voice faded as the door shut behind her.

Holly sighed and headed for the supply room, only to be stopped by Raina Price, the paramedic who was often on the chopper with her and Penny. “Raina, what’s up?”

“I was looking for you.”

“Well, you found me. I’m headed to get an IV bag. Walk with me?”

“Sure.” She started down the hall once more. Raina fell into step beside her. “Isn’t that something nurses do?”

Holly cut her friend a sideways glance, and Raina grinned at her. “Sorry, I heard some of the exchange between you and Dr. Mann.”

“He’s a piece of work.”

“I avoid him.”

“You’re not the only one. And besides, I am a nurse.”

Raina stuck her hands in her jacket pockets. “Penny said something was going on with you. You okay?”

“I’m fine.” And she was fine with Penny sharing with Raina. They were closer than sisters. When one hurt or was in trouble, the others came to the rescue. Or at least tried to. “Just some weird notes. Threatening notes, actually.”

“What do they say?”

“Stuff like I don’t belong here and if I know what’s good for me, I’ll leave. Nothing like someone wants to kill me, but someone definitely doesn’t want me around.”

“When did all that start?”

“A couple of weeks ago.”

“But you’ve been here for ages. Why start wanting you to leave now?”

“Who knows? I’ve reported it to the sheriff and hospital security, so I’m not sure what else I can do.”

“Tell Holt? Andy?”

“Like I told Penny. Not yet.”

They arrived at the supply closet door, and Raina checked her watch. “I’ve got to go clock in. Are you going to be all right?”

“I’ll be fine.”

“Okay, I’ll see you when you come down to base.”

“I’m just helping Mr. Carson. I’ll be there as soon as I hang his bag and turn him over to Dr. Mann.” He might not be her favorite person, but even she’d admit—grudgingly—he was a good doctor and always gave his patients excellent care.

“Okay.”

Raina gave her a quick hug. “See you later.”

Her friend darted down the hallway toward Life Flight’s base. The medical flight team was close, and she loved them like family.

Sometimes more. And her family was amazing. With a mother and father still together and a younger sister in her last year of law school, Holly was blessed, and she knew it.

She held her badge over the security pad and waited for the green indicator to flash, then opened the door. The light came on at her entrance, and in the laptop to her right, she logged in and tapped the appropriate key sequence to indicate what she would be removing from the room.

The IV equipment was in the back, so she followed the shelving unit to the area and grabbed one of the plastic bags.

And the lights went out.

Holly stood still. “Hello? Hey, there’s someone in here. Can you turn the light back on?”

But the light shouldn’t have gone off. It was motion activated. If it went off, someone had turned it off.

Silence thickened the darkness.

Nothing.

Just the sound of her heart beating in her ears.

And the footsteps walking toward her.

Holly’s breath caught.

She backed up, trying to stay as quiet as possible. In her mind, she pictured the layout of the supply room. Sharps to her right. IV bags behind her. Bandages and tape to her left.

Why would someone turn off the light to enter the room?

The threats jumped to the forefront of her mind. God, help me, please.

She pulled her phone from her pocket and hesitated, her thumb hovering above the home button. Did she want to take a chance on making the light come on? But she couldn’t just stand there.

A noise sounded behind her. She spun, listening. Holly heard the person breathing, and a cold chill shivered up her spine. Who was doing this to her?

She moved away from the breathing but was confused. Which way was the door?

She shoved a fist against her mouth to keep from crying out.

She had to get out, get away.

Holly pressed her thumb against the home button. Her screen lit up and provided an eerie glow in the dark room. She swiped a finger across the bottom and saw the missed calls and texts from Andy.

Guided by the light of her phone, Holly moved toward the door.

The hard crash against the back of her head sent her to her knees. She cried out. Her phone tumbled from her hand and her ears rang from the pain. Nausea swirled through her, and she eased backward until her shoulders rested against a supply cabinet.

“Stay out of this hospital,” the voice whispered. “Or die. This is your last warning.”

* * *

Andy stepped inside the hospital and made his way to the base where Holly usually was. When he found it empty, he hurried to Dr. Fitzgerald’s office, only to find the man out. His administrative assistant directed him to the ER. With each step, the knot in his gut grew. Ever since his partner’s death, he’d developed a distinct distaste for stepping foot inside any medical facility. But for Holly, he’d do it. He closed his mind to the memories and focused on finding Holly. He made his way through the triage area by flashing his badge, turned a corner, and found several people clogging the hallway.

“Make way, coming through.” A nurse shoved past him. “Here Holly, put this on your head.”

“Holly?” Andy pushed his way to the center to find Holly on a gurney with a hand to her head. He stopped beside her. “What happened?”

Her eyes widened when she saw him. “Andy? What are you doing here?”

“We can talk about that later. Now, what happened?”

“Someone attacked me,” she said. Tears formed in her eyes and coated her lashes.

He reached for her and pulled her into his arms. “I’m here now.” He looked up at the others. “You all can go back to work. I’ll take it from here.”

“’Bout time you showed up,” Penny hissed at him.

“Penny?” Holly frowned at her friend. “How did you...?”

“Know to come out here? I didn’t. I was coming to find you because you weren’t answering your texts.”

“Oh.”

Andy took a look at the back of her head. “The skin isn’t broken.”

“I know, thanks.”

“Well, where’s a doctor? Someone needs to examine that.”

“Take a deep breath and relax,” she said, her eyes dark with pain and something else, but he wasn’t exactly sure what. “Someone went to get a doctor. I’m just going to wait here and try not to throw up, okay?”

Andy took the deep breath she suggested.

“Holly, are you all right?”

He turned at the question. Rachel, a nurse he’d met several times during his visits to see Holly, walked up and placed a hand on Holly’s shoulder.

“Yes. I’m fine.” She started to touch the back of her head, but stopped short, dropped her hand, and grimaced. “Or I will be.”

“We’re getting her examined by a doctor, and then I’m taking her home.” Andy looked at Rachel. “And if a doctor doesn’t show up soon, I’m going looking for one.”

Rachel raised a brow. “If she said someone is on the way, then someone is on the way.”

“I need to make a report and get my stuff,” Holly said. “And let my boss know what’s happened. Has anyone talked to Dr. Kirkpatrick?”

“I covered that,” Penny said. “He said he would find someone to cover your shift for as long as you needed.”

“He’s a good boss,” she whispered.

Rachel shifted. “I can help get your stuff if you want.”

“Thank you, but I’ll get it.”

“Okay, well, if I can do anything, let me know.”

Andy stayed at her side while one of the doctors checked her out. “No concussion, and the person didn’t break the skin so no stitches. You’ll be fine, but you’re probably going to have a nice headache.”

“I don’t know that I’d call the headache nice ,” Holly said, “but I agree that I’ll be fine.”

“Take it easy for a couple days, and call if you have any nausea or vomiting or changes in your vision. You know the routine.”

“Right. Thanks.”

After the security officer took her report, Andy said, “I’d like to see the footage leading into that supply closet. It’s only accessible to someone with a badge. Let’s see who swiped a badge right after Holly.”

The officer nodded and walked to the nursing station. With a few taps on the keyboard, he logged into the software and soon had the footage playing. “There’s Holly,” he said. “And there. The person caught the door just before it closed.”

Andy sighed. “No badge necessary. Thanks.”

“Yep.”

Andy looked up to meet her gaze. “You ready?”

She nodded. Then winced. “Remind me not to do that.”

He led her out of the hospital and to his truck. “Let me drive you home. We’ll get your car later.”

She hesitated, then shrugged. “Sure.”

“Who would do this to you, Holly?”

“I don’t know. At least, I’m not sure.”

“Penny told me about the threats. I’m going to call the sheriff and find out all I can, and we’ll get to the bottom of this.”

“I’ve already reported it to Sheriff Lewis as well as Dr. Kirkpatrick, but you’re welcome to talk to him.”

Andy shot her a look as he climbed into the driver’s seat. There was something in her tone that held a chill. A distance. He swallowed. Not that he blamed her. They rode in silence for the next ten minutes until he pulled into the parking space in front of her home. She lived in a three-bedroom townhome not too far from the hospital.

Andy slid out of the truck and walked around to the passenger side. After he helped her from the vehicle, Holly pulled her keys from her pocket. “Let’s get you settled,” he said, “then I’ll call the sheriff. In the meantime, I’m going to stay with you. You shouldn’t be alone.”

“Andy...”

He started to open the door, and she placed a hand on his. “Stop.”

“Stop what?”

“Pretending nothing is wrong. We’ve barely said two words to each other for two months, and now you want to come riding to the rescue? Why are you here?”