Hostage

When the man was gone, Marion worked inside the bag so no one could see. He tore open the syringe pack, twisted off the needle guard, and pierced the top of the vial. He drew deep at the lidocaine, filling the syringe. Lidocaine was one of his favorite drugs. When injected into a person with a normal healthy heart, it induced heart failure. Marion placed the syringe on top of Smith's torn clothes so that it would be easy to reach, then closed the bag and waited.

After a few minutes, the dark-haired nurse left Smith's room. Shortly after that, the second nurse left.

Marion let himself into the room. He knew that he didn't have much time, but he didn't need much. He put the bag on the bed. Smith's eyes fluttered, opening partway, then closing, as if he was struggling to wake. Marion slapped him.

'Wake up.'

Marion slapped him again.

'Walter?'

Smith's eyes opened, not quite making it all the way. Marion wasn't sure if Smith could see him or not. Marion slapped him a third time, leaving a bright red mark on his cheek.

'Are the disks still in your house?'

Smith made a murmuring sound that Marion could not understand. Marion gripped his face again and shook it violently.

'Speak to me, Walter. Have you told anyone who you are?'

Smith's eyes fluttered again, then focused. The eyes tracked to Marion.

'Walter?'

The eyes dulled and once more closed.

'Okay, Walter. If that's the way you want it.'

Marion decided it was time. He felt confident that he could report that the disks were still in the house and that Smith hadn't been able to speak since his release from the house. The people in Palm Springs would be pleased. They would also be pleased that Walter Smith was dead.

'This won't hurt, Walter. I promise.'

Marion smiled, and suppressed a laugh.

'Well, that's not exactly true. Heart attacks hurt like a motherfucker.'

Marion opened the bag and reached in for the syringe.

'What are you doing?'

The red-haired nurse stood in the door. She stared at Marion, clearly suspicious, then came directly to the bed.

'You're not supposed to be in here.'

Marion smiled at her. She was a small woman with a thin neck. His hands still in the bag, Marion let go of the syringe and lifted the clothes so that the syringe would fall to the bottom. He never took his eyes from the nurse or stopped smiling. Marion had a fine smile. Sweet, his mother always said.

'I know. I came for his belongings, but I got the idea of leaving something from home, you know, like a good-luck piece, and there was no one to ask.'

Marion took out the wallet and opened it. He took out a worn picture of Walter with his wife and children. He showed it to the nurse.

'Could I leave it? Please? I'm sure it will help him.'

'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. Peña'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.'