Honor Thy Mother & Thy Father Ch. 06

"Thanks Sheriff, do you have your body armor on?"

"We never leave home without it."

"Good! We have called the Radio and TV stations asking everyone to stay off the roads and in their homes, until this is over. I hope they listen."

"Okay Tark, let's take these bastards down, before they hurt anyone else."

Sergeant's and one other car turned left on Foothills Drive, and into the parking lot of the Verde Valley Medical Center. Sergeant parked his car by the front entrance.

Corporal Elmore parked his car by the emergency room. They took their shotguns and extra rounds of ammunition with them. When they entered the room, they asked everyone who is not in a life-threatening situation to leave, until this emergency situation had been settled. Listen to your radios and televisions stations for more information. They told them to go home lock your doors and stay inside.

Several people heeded their warning, but many stayed because of their needs. The Corporal moved them out of the emergency room waiting area and into the hallways where they could be more easily protected. They locked down the emergency room entrance doors. They blocked them with chairs and signs that said closed.

One officer was left to watch that entrance, and the three others went into the area where ambulances brought in their patients. One entryway was blocked with gurneys and other medical equipment. The other had to be left open for true emergencies. This was the door that was going to cause them the most problems, and that was where the three officers were going to station themselves.

Sergeant walked in to the front information desk and asked about Alan Robbins. The aide said she had no information on anyone by that name.

Sergeant exploded in rage. He said that Alan had been brought in here for a gunshot wound to his back. He was being operated on, when he had been notified last.

The aide looked at her computer and said, "Sergeant, are you sure you don't mean Mister Jamieson? He was brought here by the police about an hour ago. The officer that brought him in said he had been babbling, incoherently. He had no picture ID, but he had a picture of his wife and child, insurance and Social Security card."

Sergeant tried not to smile, but it was very hard. "Can I see him?"

"He is in recovery. Is this official business?"

"This is extremely official business."

"Recovery is on the third floor, just follow the signs."

"Miss, did anyone else come in with that police car?"

"I am not supposed to give that information out Sir. However, the same police officer that brought in Mister Jamieson brought in another officer who died en route. We do not have a positive identification on him yet."

"May I see him; I may be able to help with that identification."

"Let me make a call to the morgue, and see if anyone is available Sheriff."

"Sheriff, the morgue is down one floor and to your right. Doctor Marcus will be there waiting for you."

"Thank you very much ma'am."

Sergeant went to the morgue and met with Doctor Marcus. He identified the body as Alan Robbins, and signed the appropriate documents. As long as the men who were looking for Alan did not have a picture of him, or knew what he looked like, their job would be over, and they would try to leave the area. They would be stopped at all costs.

What Sergeant did not realize was that this information was fed directly into the computer, and updated immediately into the hospital's system, and into the statewide database. When the communications officer called for an update on Alan's condition, she received bad news. She called William to the flight deck and said, "Mister Zabo, I have just received word that Alan Robbins has died of his bullet wound. His body was identified by Sergeant Sherwood of the Cottonwood police department. I am very sorry."

William left the flight deck slightly dazed, wondering how he was going to tell Susan of her loss. It wound up that he didn't have to do it.

Susan looked at him as he was walking towards her, and she screamed, "No! He promised he would come back to me. He is not dead. Please tell me he is not dead."

"I am so sorry, Susan. We just got information in seconds ago that he died of his gunshot wound. Your cousin identified his body. I do not know what went wrong. I wish I had words of wisdom to say at a time like this. There is nothing I can say that will erase the pain you feel in your heart at this moment. I am so very sorry for your loss."

Jemma and Patricia gathered around Susan trying to comfort her.

Stephano was stone-faced. He was angrier at his father than he had ever been before. His father had no regard for human life. When his father found out that he was going to testify against him, he would kill him just as fast as he killed anyone else who threatened his reign. His father had to be stopped. He decided to help Patricia stop him. He sat beside her as she was comforting Susan. He whispered in her ear, "I left some things out of my deposition to Alan I should not have. The computer backup sites are in Haifa, Israel and in Guangzhou, China. They both use older model IBM computers, then the one we have in Queens. It made it easier for everything to interface. I am sorry I did not tell you this sooner."

Stephano was shocked when Patricia kissed him and said, "Thank you."

"What else do I have to tell you to get you to do that again?"

"Where do they get their one time pads from?"

"That is easy; The Sunday Times Crossword Puzzle. It is always a 4-word sentence, plus the day of the week in numbers. Now where is my kiss?"

"I did not agree to that proposition; you proffered it voluntarily."

"Patricia, I thought you never lied, or stole anything: 'not even a stick of gum.' You have just stolen an answer to a question you needed answered. Now you are reneging on that promise."

"Stephano, you are going to be the death of me."

"The only way I would kill you Patricia, is with love and kindness. Kiss me again, and find out for yourself."

Patricia went for a quick kiss, but Stephano wrapped his arms around her neck and back. He held her close, touched her lips with his tongue and would not let her back off, until he was ready.

She was glad she was sitting, because her head was spinning and the area between her thighs was very moist. She had to keep her distance from this man. She was too attracted to him for her own good. It could never work out between them. It was just too complicated."

Stephano said, "You can squeeze your thighs together as tight as you want Patricia. You want me as much as I want you. I am going to ask you an open-ended question. You are free to answer it any time your heart desires: Patricia Garrett--Parent will you marry me?"

"Stephano..."

He put his fingers across her lips, and did not allow her to finish her sentence. He said, "Do not answer me now, because you are under too much pressure. When all the stress and strain of this situation is behind you, remember my question. Email me, text me, call me, or see me, and give me your answer. Please, do not answer me now."

She looked at his devilish smile, and said, "Do you play poker?"

"Yes, but I always lose."

"I guess you are the type of man that always tries to pull to an inside straight."

"Isn't that what you are supposed to do, when the cards are all different colors, all different numbers, and it is your only hope of survival?"

"No, there is one other option."

"What would that be, Patricia?"

"Throw your hand in, and fold."

"What fun would that be? You would have to sit there, and watch everyone else play the game."

"Stephano, you are incorrigible."

"When it comes to you, Patricia, you are absolutely correct. You are never out my mind, or my heart. I will not stop trying to get you to marry me."

Patricia looked at one of the Airmen, and asked if there was a parachute on board the aircraft.

He replied, "Yes ma'am, we have plenty of them. Would you like me to put one on him, and throw him out?"

"No, it is not for him, it is for me. I have to get away from him, before I make a mistake that would ruin both our lives."

Stephano laughed. "If I got you pregnant on our wedding night, you could never leave me."

"Have you ever heard of a single-parent home? My mother raised me by herself, and did a very creditable job."

"I wish she was still with us Patricia, then this wall would not be between us, and we could live happily, forever."

"Airmen, can I have that parachute please."

"I am sorry ma'am, I am responsible for them. I would have to pay to replace that parachute."

"How much do they cost?"

"They cost about six grand each ma'am."

"I will send you a check for $100,000.00. You can buy ten of them and give them to the government. You can keep the rest of the money for yourself, or throw a party for the crew. Just give me one parachute, so I can jump out of this aircraft, now!"

"I still cannot do it ma'am. You do not have the training. If you get hurt, I would get court-martialed."

Stephano smiled, "You see Patricia; even the Armed Forces of the United States cannot take you away from me."

Patricia looked at him and steamed, because he was smiling at her. She could not think of anything else to say to him. She looked into his eyes, and they were aglow. He had won this round, and she knew it. No one had ever beat her verbally before, and she was not used to losing. She opened her mouth to say something to him, and no words came out.

Stephano saw this and he laughed out loud.

Patricia turned back to Susan to try and comfort her. However, she was not thinking about Alan's death. She was thinking about killing Stephano, with her bare hands. No man had done this to her before, and she would not allow him to do this to her again. She tried to put up the ice shield between them, but it kept melting. She chided herself for her lack of self-control, when it came to him. I will not marry that man. I cannot marry that man. I will not become part of that family. They killed my mother, and I will never forgive them for it.

Then she saw her father looking at her, dazed and confused. Her shield came up, immediately. Here was the man then put her mother in danger and did nothing about it for twenty years. Regardless of his protestations, he could have done something to protect her. If he knew he was in danger in the United States, why didn't he take them out of the United States? He gave them a very good life, until it was taken away from them in the most hideous manner. Now, she would go to her friends, and lead them in their computer search and destroy mission. He could go his way and destroy them with whatever evidence he wanted to put on the table. She looked at Gemma and already missed her companionship. Maybe one day, when this was all over, she could see her without her father at her side.

Sergeant took the elevator to the third floor, and went to the recovery area. He asked the nurse about the condition of Mister Jamieson.

The nurse asked, "Are you here on official business?"

"When it comes to Mister Jamieson; I am always on official business."

He was shown to Mister Jamieson's bed. He looked like he was peacefully sleeping. Sergeant drew the curtain around his area, and said loud enough for everyone in the area to hear, "You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say can and will be used against you in a court of law..."

Sergeant put mouth to Alan's ear and said, "You can't fool me you son of a bitch. Open your eyes you polygamist."

Alan opened his eyes. "It was the best I could think of on such short notice. That SUV opened fire on us with no warning at all. How the hell did they know I was in the car? I am glad they did not go after the car with the girls in it, but how the hell did they know where I was?"

"They probably had police scanners, and were listening in to all their conversations. They knew which car to look for. You are now officially dead. I just identified your body downstairs in the morgue, Mister Jamieson. I still think we need to do a little change to your appearance. If they get in to the hospital, they will find out that someone was operated on, and come to look in the recovery room for anyone who has a bullet wound. We have to get you out of here and into a different room. I have an idea, and you will go along with it. This is a perfect time for me to start to get even with you for my dress."

"Oh shit."

"Nurse, come here please."

"Yes officer, what can I do for you?"

"If you have been listening to the radio or TV, this is the man they are looking for. We have to alter his appearance and get him out of this room for his safety. Shave his head completely, and get him into an area of the hospital they will not think to search thoroughly. "

"Right away Sergeant, I will get the razors now."

Allen said, "You son of a bitch, you are going to enjoy this."

"You can bet your ass on that Alan. The first thing I am going to do is email it to Susan. I will tell her you are alive and not listen to the reports of your untimely demise."

The nurse was very efficient. It took less than thirty seconds to remove all of Alan's hair. Then she took a razor, and brought it down to scalp level.

Sergeant started taking pictures as soon as the nurse started. Stroke after stroke, Alan made faces that would make Susan smile.

When the nurse was finished, and Sergeant had emailed the pictures to Susan's cell phone, Alan asked if he could send her one also.

Alan's email was a little funnier than Sergeants. "Darling, although reports of my death are extremely premature, I would like you to remember a little shaving project of your own. I would also like you to remember our discussion of bagels, with and without cream cheese. I cannot wait to get back to you and sample both. I love you more than you will ever know. Please take care of yourself, and our little one."

The staff transferred Alan to the area of the hospital for patients with terminal diseases. They made his chart reflect he was in Stage 4 of Acute Myeloid Leukemia.

Sergeant felt better leaving Alan where he was, and gave him his second weapon, just in case. He walked out the front door of the hospital, and he came under automatic weapons fire. His three men dove for cover behind the police car, and Sergeant hid behind one of the concrete barriers that prevented cars from crashing into the hospital windows.

The bullets were tearing the squad car to shreds. Sergeant yelled to his men to get behind the concrete barriers. He shouted that they had to be using armor piercing shells, because nothing else could do that to a vehicle. He got onto his radio and told Tark Walberg what they were up against, and where they were. He called his men at the roadblock and told them the same thing.

He said, "We are outmanned, and outgunned. Do not be heroes; I want you to go home to your wives and sweethearts tonight."

A jet aircraft landed at the Sedona Airport, and raced to the terminal. Thirty FBI agents in full combat gear raced out of the aircraft. They commandeered every truck and car that was available. The Special Agent in charge called Sheriff Walberg on the police frequency.

"Sheriff Walberg, this is Special Agent Gibson of the FBI. I have thirty agents with me; we are on Airport Road on our way to Alternate 89A. Where do you want us to go?"

"Agent Gibson, set up a roadblock at Airport road and State Road 89A. Leave half your men there. There is a firefight going on at the hospital at Foothills Drive and 89A. These perps are using armor piercing shells, use extreme caution. Police are at the scene and more are on the way."

"All right Sheriff Walberg we are on our way."

Walberg called the roadblock at Sunset Drive and told them to proceed to the hospital and try to help Sergeant.

The men from Cottonwood were on their way in a matter of seconds.

Sergeant called Elmore to see what was happening by the emergency room.

Elmore said, "There is nothing going on here boss. The docs are nearly out of patients to treat. They are not complaining, and they are not looking for any bullet wound patients, so do not volunteer."

"Elmore, if I was going to volunteer anyone with a bullet wound, it would be you."

"Thank you, boss; I knew you cared about me."

"Elmore, send Wriggs here. Tell him to stay behind one of the pillars inside the lobby. If they get by the four of us, they may get sloppy and he can take a couple down."

"Will do, Sheriff; does that mean I get a raise?"

"No, and they will burn my chair, too."

"Roger that."

Sergeant and his men were taking fire from three positions. However, those men were not moving in, they were stationary. He knew this was a set up. While they had him trapped here, other men were entering the hospital from different positions, and he could do nothing about it. He called Elmore, told him the problem, and asked him to find out about other entry points into the hospital. What he found out appalled him. He had left two staff entry points unprotected. These men were probably already in the hospital, looking for Alan, and he was pinned down outside the hospital.

Six heavily armed men entered the hospital from the north side. Each of them took a female hostage as they walked in towards the center. Wriggs saw them coming, but there was nothing he could do but hide.

Rodriguez had a woman sit down at the information desk and put in the name of Alan Robbins and William Zabo.

Alan Robbins name came up in the file as being in the morgue, dead of multiple gunshot wounds.

There was no entry in the hospital by the name of William Zabo.

The leader picked up the woman by her hair and told her to lead them down to the morgue.

She said, "I don't know where it is; I have never been there."

He shot her in the head. She died on that spot.

He turned to the other five women, who were screaming and crying, and said, "Does anyone else not know where the morgue is?"

One woman replied, "It is one floor down, and we can follow the signs. Elizabeth was new to this hospital. She did not know where the morgue was."

"She will now, won't she?"

They took the stairs down and when they entered the hallway, everyone there scattered to the four winds. They followed the signs to the morgue and walked in to find Doctor Marcus performing an autopsy.

He asked, "What do you want?"

"Where is Alan Robbins body?"

"Why, are you going to kill him again?"

"Watch your mouth Doc, or you will join him."

"He is in draw six. I have not done the autopsy on him, yet. He is a mess."

The doctor opened the drawer and pulled the tray containing the body out, so the men could view it.

One of the men said, "Boss, I only shot him once in the back. I don't know where all the other gunshot wounds came from."

Doctor Marcus replied, "He had one gunshot wound from a large caliber bullet that hit him in the kidney and brushed his spleen. He would have survived those injuries. The officer that drove him here said they were hit by automatic weapons fire on their way to the hospital. He was hit by eight more rounds; that is what killed him. "

Another member of the group said, "That would have been us boss, we got that car good, before they forced us off the road."

Rodriguez looked at toe tag and confirmed at it said that Alan Robbins. He looked at the other documentation and saw that everything else about the body checked out. The only thing he did not like was the fact that the body was identified by Sergeant Sherwood. He read the dossier on Alan and Susan on his way to Phoenix and although Sherwood was a Sergeant in the Cottonwood police department, he was also the wife's cousin. He could be trying to pull a fast one on them. He told his men, "Search the entire hospital, for another bullet wound patient. Anyone gives you a problem, kill them."