Lying Eyes (16 page)

He cut off Carlo's pants legs and slapped a bandage on the entry wound on Carlo's right thigh and his left calf and turned to Allison.

Reluctantly, she scooted over, making room for him. "Will he be all right?" she asked as he slapped a bandage on the exit wound.

"He's lost a lot of blood. We'll do our best."

Despite her bloody hands, Allison gathered Susan and Marsha in her arms for a prayerful hug.

Long minutes passed before two IV's began flowing into Carlo's arms and the first EMT on the site announced, "Ready to transport."

The EMTs efficiently pushed the stretcher toward the ambulance parked where the tour buses boarded.

"Where are you taking him?" Allison asked, glancing askance at the dark pool of Carlo's blood and abandoned packaging now littering a wide expanse of the hotel lobby.

"City of Angels," the tallest EMT said as he hurried past.

Susan said, "Come on, I'll drive. I don't think the Captain will object to all three of us going to the hospital with Carlo."

They took the elevator to the parking garage.

"Guess I don't need to haul this around anymore," Allison said, tossing the cumbersome gym bag to the floorboard as she climbed into the back seat of Susan's SUV.

"I'll let the Captain know what's happened while you drive," Marsha said as Susan backed out of her parking space.

Allison yanked out her phone and called the hotel desk. "This is Allison Marble in room 510. My plans have changed. I won't be checking out today after all. Please have the luggage I had you hold returned to my room."

No way am I leaving town until I know Carlo will be okay.

*****

B
y the time Allison returned from washing her bloody hands, Carlo's casually dressed co-workers, uniformed officers, and friends had crowded the hospital waiting room.

Captain Samson had arrived and Detective Aiken was filling him in. She joined the circle around them to listen, but didn't interrupt.

"From what I was told, Hanson made the arrest, thanks to Miss Marble's help. I heard Hanson read him his rights and now both are on the way to Central for booking."

"Was the perp hurt?"

"No, just stunned from his fall. I had the second pair of EMTs on scene check him out before they left the scene."

"Are any of our officers still at the hotel?"

"The evidence team, a photographer, and Radisson from Internal Affairs."

"Carlo got off a shot?"

"Yes, as he slumped to the floor. The perp ducked and Carlo's round lodged in the wall of the stairwell. Radisson confiscated Carlo's gun. The perp squeezed off at least three shots before Miss Marble put a sizeable knot on his forehead with the gym bag. He took a tumble, head first."

Nodding, the Captain turned to Allison. "You've had a busy morning. Are you all right?"

"I will be as soon as my ears stop ringing."

"I understand three or four shots were fired in an enclosed concrete stairwell, so it may take a while for your hearing to return to normal."

"How is Carlo?"
I sound like I've fallen in a well.

"He's on his way to surgery in critical condition, thanks to the bleeding. Susan and Marsha and a number of Carlo's many friends are donating blood. I'm next."

"I could—"

"Not a good idea. You're still in shock. I hear congratulations are in order. What did you use to hit the perp?"

"This bag of pretend money."

"A bag of shredded paper sent him tumbling?"

"I stuffed my running shoes inside to give the bag more weight. They are my favorite shoes and the reason I'm still lugging this bag around."

*****

A
n intern wearing a blue skull cap came out of the emergency room and walked toward them. "Anyone here for Carlo Demetri?"

Three-fourths of the crowd in the waiting room promptly surrounded him.

He blinked. "The detective is having emergency surgery. The next twenty-fours will be critical to his recovery."

"Any chance he'll lose a leg?" the Captain asked.

"Probably not. The left leg suffered the most damage. They're trying to repair it now. If you want to wait, you'll be more comfortable in the surgical waiting room. Once the surgery is complete, the surgeon will come out and update the detective's prognosis."

Allison followed the solemn crowd to the waiting room where coffee and light snacks awaited them. She poured a cup and found a quiet place to sit and call her boss.

"Hi, Larry," she said once he answered. "I need to stay in LA for a few more days."

After listening impatiently to Larry's rant, she said, "I know, but it can't be helped. I don't have time to explain now, but I will as soon as I get back in town."

She ended the call and placed another. As soon as her mom answered, Allison burst into tears.

Several long moments of silence ensued before she was able to say, "I'm sorry. I didn't realize how much I needed to hear your voice."

"What's happened, sweetie? Where are you? Are you all right?"

"Still in LA, and yes, I'm all right, but a... close friend has been shot. Someone I just met. He's still in surgery."

"
Dear God
. How did it happen?"

"It's too long a story to go into right now, but he needs your prayers."

"That's a given. What's his name? I'll put my prayer group on it right away."

"Detective Carlo—" The name choked in her throat. "Detective Demetri. He was shot trying to keep me safe."

––––––––

T
he nurses changed shifts, the crowd in the waiting room thinned, and Allison stood for the first time in hours.

My feet hurt. My head, too, but there's no way I'm leaving this hospital until I know Carlo is out of danger.

A dark haired, pleasantly plump woman hurried across the room. She tried to smile at Allison but her lips trembled instead.

This must be Carlo's mother. She has his shining eyes.

"Mrs. Demetri?" Allison cautiously asked.

"Yes?"

"I'm Allison Marble. I was with Carlo when he was... hurt."

"How bad is it? A nurse called. I was too frightened to ask."

"Carlo's in great physical shape. He should have no trouble pulling through this, the Captain says."

"I was told in the lobby that I'd just missed him, Miss Marble."

"Allison, please. And yes, Captain Samson will be updating the public about the shooting at a news conference in about an hour."

"How do you know my son? Carlo didn't... Please tell me everything that happened. Maybe I can stop shaking, once I know. Traffic over the mountain from the San Fernando Valley slowed to twenty miles an hour. I didn't think I'd ever get here. If Carlo—"

"He'll be fine. We met by accident at Union Station on Thursday and shared a taxi to the Caprice Hotel where the writers' conference we were both attending was being held. Carlo... befriended me."

"When my son told me he was giving a weapons workshop for a bunch of writers he sounded amused. Is that how he got shot?"

"No, Mrs. Demetri. His audience loved him. You would have been proud."

She smiled faintly. "You were there? And please, call me Angela. Everyone does."

"Yes, I was. Carlo has hardly been out of my sight this entire weekend."

"He called me from his hotel, but he didn't say anything about having a girlfriend with him."

Allison shook her head. "Not a
girl
friend. A friend. We've been working together to solve a mystery at the hotel. It finally came to a head this morning and—"

"—Carlo was shot." Tears welled in Angela's pretty eyes.

"Yes, a drug dealer holding a gun to my ribs was forcing me to go with him to the parking garage. That's where your son confronted him, on the stairs. Carlo didn't shoot right away. I think he was afraid I'd be hit. The shooter got off three shots and hit Carlo twice in the legs."

Angela's eyes widened. "Dear God. How did you get away?"

"In all the commotion, the shooter lost his balance and fell."

"Carlo...?"

"Saved my life, but one of the bullets he took severed an artery in his thigh. He... lost a lot of blood."

"The nurse said he was in surgery—"

"Yes, but he should be out soon. An hour ago a nurse reported the surgeon was almost through."

Angela's tense shoulders relaxed. "Thank God."

A doctor wearing rumpled green scrubs entered the room and crossed to them. "Are you Detective Demetri's family?"

"This is his mother," Allison said, taking Angela's hand.

"Good. I'm Doctor Hilstrom. Your son is going to be fine. He lost a lot of blood before and during the surgery but we successfully repaired the artery, stitched his right thigh and removed a shattered round from his left calf. I suspect it will be needed as evidence. I'll leave it at the nurses' station on the surgical floor for someone to give to Captain Samson. His left leg sustained the most damage and your son will be immobilized for a while, but with time I expect a full recovery."

Angela squeezed Allison's hand and shook hands with the doctor. "Thank you. Can I see him?"

"He's still in recovery. Get something to eat and by the time you finish he should be settled in Surgical Intensive Care for the night. I'll let the nurse know you're waiting to see him."

Angela slumped on a chair, her voice strained. "How did the doctor know I haven't eaten yet?"

Allison chuckled. "You're running on empty. It shows. Come on, I'm hungry, too. I overheard a nurse say the beef stew is good today. The sign for the cafeteria pointed this way."

When Angela wobbled to her feet Allison took her elbow and guided her toward the room emitting such good smells.

Once they were seated in the cafeteria with bowls of thick stew and mugs of steaming coffee Angela asked, "Miss Marble, how did you say you met Carlo?"

"Allison, please. Your son helped me with my luggage at Union Station and invited me to share his cab. The taxi stand was crowded, and we'd discovered we were both going to the same hotel."

Angela smiled proudly. "That sounds like my son. He's such a good boy."

"Thoughtful, too. A number of his friends from Central were here most of the afternoon."

"Has an arrest been made?"

"Yes, the shooter is being interrogated as we speak."

"Good."

"Carlo was heading a complex investigation into an illicit drug operation at the hotel this weekend involving the shooter. You should be doubly proud."

Angela beamed. "Carlo always makes me proud."

"How is Snookums?"

"He told you about his cat?" Angela asked, looking surprised.

"Yes, during the past few days he's mentioned both of you several times."

"Carlo has always loved cats. When he was in third grade be brought the first one home in his backpack. I don't know why the frightened kitten hadn't scratched him. The first thing it did was scratch me."

Allison enjoyed a moment of laughter at Carlo's expense.

Angela's world obviously revolves around her son.

"You don't live here?" Angela asked.

"No, I'm from San Diego."

"Are you a detective, too?"

Allison laughed again. "Afraid not. I'm a published writer of mysteries and a reporter for a television station there."

"Oh, my. That must keep you busy."

"Yes, it does."

But not for long.

Allison winced. As soon as she returned to San Diego she intended to find a television station that appreciated her expertise.

"Carlo says you taught him to cook."

"My son seems to have shared a lot with you in the short time you've known him."

Against our wishes we've shared close quarters for the last three days.

Allison didn't intend to reveal the closeness of their relationship to Carlo's mother. He was the one to share the news.

Angela thoughtfully sipped her coffee and set the mug on the table. "Both legs? I doubt Carlo will be able to climb stairs for a while."

"No, I don't suppose he will."

"Last year he moved into a split-level house near Universal Studios. With so many stairs, I doubt he'll be able to recuperate there. Maybe I can talk him into coming home with me for a while."

Allison grinned. "He'll get to spend more time with Snookums, too. It's a good thing no bones in his legs were shattered. His recovery would be even longer. Are you ready to leave?"

"Yes. The nurse was right. My stew was good. Carlo worries about me. He thinks I don't eat right. You'd think he could tell by the extra pounds I'm carrying around that I don't push back from the table as soon as I should."

"He loves you. I could tell."

Angela's eyes filled again as she stood. "He's all I have. After such a traumatic childhood he had to learn to be strong, for me."

"He told me about his brothers. I'm sorry for your loss."

"The death of his father almost brought Carlo to his knees."

She squeezed Angela's hand. "I read somewhere surviving the slings and arrows of outrageous fortune make a man better able to withstand the next hardship tossed in his path."

"Or it castrates him."

"Not Carlo. He possesses more inner strength than anyone I've ever known."

"Yes, and I suspect he'll need every ounce of it in the coming weeks."

*****

A
fter Angela visited her sleeping son in ICU for the allotted five minutes Allison convinced the distraught woman to go home and rest. "I'll spend the night here in your stead. I'm younger and more accustomed to going without sleep when the need arises. Carlo wouldn't want you to worry about him. He's in good hands. I haven't met anyone on the hospital staff I wouldn't trust with my life."

"Are you sure it's all right for me to leave?"

"I'm positive. The nurse who notified you about Carlo's injuries knew you'd want to be near his bedside until he was out of danger, for your own peace of mind. From what the doctor said, the danger has passed.

"You and Carlo both need to rest. By the time you come back tomorrow he should be wide awake and complaining about being confined to a hospital bed."