Nowhere To Run (To Protect And Serve) (21 page)

She removed her
latex gloves with an angry “smack” followed by the mask. She didn’t like the news.

Jordan
glanced around the room. “Let’s get some air, okay? It’s starting to feel as if the walls are closing in.”

“Alright.” He followed her outside without saying a word. She looked exhausted.

When they were some distance away from the hospital, she turned to him, shielding her eyes against the afternoon glare. “What did he say?”

“He wants to bring us both in. This situation with the outbreak makes
that more difficult, of course.” He studied her expression. She didn’t look as if she could take much more. “He wants us to sit tight.”

“How long?”
Her gaze held his.

“He didn’t say. My guess
is a few days at least.”

She
focused on the hospital once more shaking her head. “The CDC is dispatching an emergency team already. Someone is apt to leak news of this magnitude to the press.”

“Ye
s. Let’s just hope David figures something out soon, otherwise I’m afraid we’ll be on our own. The way I see it, we’ve got maybe another day if we’re lucky before all the major news media picks the story up. Once that happens, the place will be locked down tight. No one will be getting on or off the island. Will be sitting ducks.”

Chapter Fifteen

The steady onslaught of new patients made it virtually impossible for Jordan and the rest of the staff to monitor those exposed to the fever the longest.

She didn’t talk to Riley again for most of the afternoon, but just knowing he was close helped to keep her
from going out of her mind with fear.

She kept a close eye on the events taking place outside the hospital. The ETA for help was still some hours out.
Without any airstrip on the island, the CDC team would have to land on one of the neighboring islands of size and ferry to Longboat.

By the time
the sun began to sink lower on the horizon, the number of infected totaled well over a hundred and growing.

Momma
Lizbeth had called in every member of the medical staff including those retired and anyone with any knowledge of medicine, but it wasn’t enough.

Supplies were quickly running out.
They’d begun treating patients with less effective antibiotics until the CDC arrived to replenish their supplies.

So far
, the death toll was zero. But there were many victims clinging to life.

“You need to take a break, Doctor
Jayne. You look exhausted.” Momma Lizbeth held a cup of coffee out to her.

“I’m
okay--”

“No, you
’re not. You’re practically dead on your feet. Go take a few minutes. There’s been no new cases in the last half hour. Take a break. You’ll need it later on.”

“I need to check on the elderly couple
--”

“They’re fine. I just came from there. Go. Take advantage of the time while you can.”

With nothing left to do, Jordan stepped out into the sultry twilight. The smell of the ocean helped to clear her head. The peacefulness of the island settled in around her.

For any
unsuspecting soul recently arriving on Longboat Key, it would appear to be just another day in paradise. But as Jordan watched the sun dip farther on the horizon she wondered how many victims would die before relief finally arrived.

And how much longer before the showdown with Caesar she’d known was coming since she
’d left New York arrived. Today. Tonight. Possible tomorrow. But for certain it would come. The only thing left to chance was whether or not she’d walk away from it.          

***

In the middle of setting up additional beds in the doctor’s lounge, Riley’s cell phone rang. He excused himself and stepped outside to take the call from David.

“Tell me you have good news.”

“I wish that I could say that I do, but I’m afraid I don’t. There’s no place to land a helicopter much less a plane on Longboat Key. And with everything that’s going on there right now, we can’t risk the agents lives we’d be sending in. We’re getting the vaccine necessary to inoculate our people, but it’s taking a bit of bargaining with CDC. In the meantime, I’m working on an alternate plan. There’s another small island not far from Longboat Key with an airstrip big enough to land on. I should know something more in a couple of hours.”

Riley released a frustrated sigh in answer to the words he’d expected but didn’t need to hear.

“I know, I know. It’s not good. Hang in there, Riley. I promised your old man I’d keep Anyone suspicious-looking showed up on the island yet?”

“Not as far as I know, but then
…”

“Yeah, I know. The devil couldn’t fool as many people as he does by looking like the devil. What about the good doctor? She holding up okay?”

“As best as can be expected, I guess. She’s been too busy keeping other people alive to worry about her own life.”

“Okay, well, keep an eye on her and try
to get some sleep. You sound bushed.”

Riley didn’t bother responding
. Sleep. Yeah, that was going to happen.

He
closed the phone and tried to think clearly. He was exhausted down to his soul which made rational thought that much harder. Unfortunately, his cop instinct was telling him they’d be on their own when the time came.

He considered their options. They were few.
As much as he hated dragging his father their dangerous situation once again, he didn’t believe they’d have the luxury of a waiting for David.

“It’s me.
Can you talk?” Riley hoped to forewarn his father against saying anything that might identify him.

“Are you okay?”
his old man wanted to know.

“Yes. But I think
we need an alternate plan.”

“What do you need
?”

“
Go to New Jersey.” His father would recognize the nickname he’d given Burbeck years ago when he’d still been his old man’s partner.

“I understand. I know what to do.”

“Thanks.” It was hard letting his father go. Riley snapped the phone closed, but didn’t return to the hospital right away. The village appeared deserted tonight. The street outside the hospital had finally slowed to just a few hospital employees smoking cigarettes. He’d given up smoking a few years back after his high school friend developed lung cancer. Now. After today. Riley would give almost anything to feel the soothing effects of nicotine in his body once more.

Instead, he focused on
the scene around him. A good sign he hoped. Maybe the worst was behind them.

He wondered how hard it was going to be getting Jordan
away from her patients with the seriousness of the situation. When the moment came, she wouldn’t have a choice. They’d have to act quickly. He hoped after today she was up to it.

Before he
’d made it inside again, the phone he’d jammed back in his pant’s pocket shrilled once more.

“This is Jersey. I hear you’ve
gotten yourself into quite a jackpot down there.” Riley had to smile in spite of the circumstances. The raspy sound of Frank Burbeck’s voice had never sounded more welcome.

“You could say that
. Is the line secure?”

“Whatta you bubba? My first day on the job?”

Riley breathed a sigh of relief. “Got anyone in mind to help?”  

He
heard the familiar snort that served as Burbeck’s laugh. “I might just at that. If this is about what I think it’s about then you’re in big trouble just by being there, bubba.”

“Hey, I’m on vacation
.”

“Hell of a way to
spend it, don’tcha think?”

“
Yeah well at least I can say it wasn’t dull. What do you need from me?”

“Depends
. What’s the ‘big cheese’ saying?”

“Could be
a few days before we get the go ahead to get out of here.”

“You don’t have that. The way I see it, you’re gonna be lucky to make it through the night.”

The no-holds-barred way Burbeck laid out the facts without sparing niceties was a surprising relief. Second guessing. Wondering. What ifs. Those non-tangible things made this job the hardest to deal with.

He’d been partnered with Burbeck
long enough to know the man as well as he knew himself. Frank would have a plan in place before he picked up the phone. “So. What is it?” Riley added when Burbeck was strangely silent.

“Three
A.M. at the old pier on the opposite side of the island from the hospital. Don’t be late. He won’t wait. And your ass will be as good as grass.”

“How’d you swing that?”

“Easy enough. You gotta wonder why the friggin’ U.S. Attorney couldn’t accomplish the same. It only took me a couple of calls. Makes me wonder who he’s really concerned about.”

“You
’re thinking--”

“Don’t know. But it
’s a bit peculiar don’tcha think? I mean, if a low level grunt like me could accomplish it with a few phone calls, looking at the situation totally blind, why couldn’t the big guy do the same?”

Before Riley could form the words to
answer, his cell went dead. Straight to the point. Just like Burbeck.

But he’d gotten
Burbeck’s message loud and clear. Tread carefully. And watch his back.

Riley glanced at the phone’s clock
. Almost seven. He needed to find Jordan.

C
hapter Sixteen

“When did the symptoms first begin…” Jordan repeated the question she’d asked at least a hundred times that day. Someone parted the curtains in the makeshift exam room. Jordan glanced over her shoulder expecting one of the nurses to have come in to assist. Instead, Riley stood with the curtain draped over his shoulder.

His eyes met hers. He looked
bushed, but even so, she found herself fighting an attraction that had no place here amongst the dead and dying.

He knew something.
It was there in the serious expression transforming the blue in his eyes to midnight. Her hand knotted into a fist pressed against her stomach. Riley left and she excused herself. Momma Lizbeth could finish the patient history without her.

“What is it?” She dreaded his answer. Jordan’s gaze searched his but he shook his head
as if to say, ‘not here’ then headed toward the back entrance.

Riley didn’t say a word until they
’d almost reached the sands of the beach.

“We’re leaving tonight.
You need to wrap things up as best you can and find an excuse for leaving. There won’t be much time. ”

“So soon?” Jordan said the first thing that came to mind
.

“Yes. They’ll be someone waiting for us at the old pier.” He announced without emotion.

It took a moment
for those words to sink in. A myriad of conflicting emotions chased through her thoughts. Relief. Fear. Guilt even. She would be leaving the hospital understaffed during the worst crisis in its history.

“When? How?
What happened? You’ve spoken to the U.S. Attorney again.” She struggled to understand. “But I thought--”

“No. Not
David Enfield. I spoke to my partner.” He told her quietly.

“
You did what?” She rounded on him in disbelief. “Please, tell me you didn’t.” His unyielding gaze answered the question for him. “How could you do that without talking to me first? You know that Caesar probably has half the NYPD on his payroll. You can’t possibly believe—“

“I trust my partner.” He
challenged.

“
Well, I don’t!”

He stepped closer trying to take her hand. She pushed it away. “Jordan--”

“No. No. I can’t believe you of all people would do that. We’re as good a dead thanks to you!”

“Jordan—“

“I’ve got to get out of here.”

“Jordan, don’t worry, I won’t let anything happen to you.”

He didn’t understand. “I’m not worried about me! Don’t you see? If he finds us here with me, he’ll kill you.”

Riley sucked in a breath.
He stepped closer and cupped her cheek, his eyes dark with emotion. “Don’t worry about me. I can take care of myself.”

She
struggled to breathe. Fear threatened to cause her to hyperventilate.

“Jordan, Frank would
never
set me up.”

“
Can you swear to that? Are you willing to bet your life and mine on it?”

“Yes
, I am,” he told her calmly.

“Well
, maybe you are, but I’m not. He’s a cop. He’d have to have told someone where we are. He couldn’t do this alone.”