Read Online Vanish: A Rizzoli & Isles Novel by Tess Gerritsen - Free Book Online Page A

problem for you, Captain.”
    “What problem?” said Hayder.
    “There’s lead shielding in these outside walls, and there are no exterior windows or doors in that wing. You’re not going to be able to blast your way in from the outside. Or toss in a tear gas canister.”
    “And the only way into Diagnostic Imaging is through this interior hallway door?”
    “Correct.” The manager looked at Hayder. “I take it she’s locked that door?”
    Hayder nodded. “Which means she’s trapped herself in there. We’ve pulled our men back down the hall, so they’re not in the direct line of fire if she decides to make a run.”
    “She’s in a dead end. The only way out is going to be through your men. For the moment, you’ve got her locked up tight. But conversely, you are going to have a hard time getting
in.
”
    “So we’re at an impasse.”
    The manager clicked the mouse, zooming in on a section of the blueprint. “Now, there
is
one possibility here, depending on where in that particular wing she’s chosen to hole up. The lead shielding is built into all these diagnostic areas. But here in the waiting room, the walls aren’t shielded.”
    “What building materials are we talking about there?”
    “Plaster. Drywall. You could easily drill through this ceiling from the floor above.” The facilities manager looked at Hayder. “But all she has to do then is pull back into the lead-shielded area, and she’s untouchable.”
    “Excuse me,” cut in Maura.
    Hayder turned to her, blue eyes sharp with irritation. “Yes?” he snapped.
    “Can I leave now, Captain Hayder? There’s nothing else I can tell you.”
    “Not yet.”
    “How much longer?”
    “You’ll have to wait here until our hostage negotiator can interview you. He wanted all witnesses retained.”
    “I’ll be happy to talk to him, but there’s no reason I have to sit in here. My office is right across the street. You know where to find me.”
    “That’s not close enough, Dr. Isles. We need to keep you sequestered.” Already, Hayder was turning his attention back to the CAD display, her protest of no concern to him. “Things are moving fast, and we can’t waste time tracking down witnesses who wander off.”
    “I won’t wander off. And I’m not the only witness. There were nurses taking care of her.”
    “We’ve sequestered them as well. We’re talking to all of you.”
    “And there was that doctor, in her room. He was right there when it happened.”
    “Captain Hayder?” said Emerton, turning from the radio. “First four floors are now evacuated. They can’t move the critically ill patients from the upper floors, but we’ve got all nonessentials out of the building.”
    “Our perimeters?”
    “The inner is now established. They’ve got the barricades up in the hallway. We’re still awaiting more personnel to tighten the outer perimeter.”
    The TV above Hayder’s head was tuned to a local Boston station, with the sound turned off. It was a live news broadcast, the images startlingly familiar. That’s Albany Street, Maura thought. And there’s the command trailer where, at this moment, I’m being held prisoner. While the city of Boston was watching the drama play out on their TV screens, she was trapped at the center of the crisis.
    The sudden rocking of the trailer made her turn toward the door, and she saw a man step in. Another cop, she thought, noting the weapon holstered at his hip, but this man was shorter and far less imposing than Hayder. Sweat had shellacked sparse strands of brown hair to his bright red scalp.
    “Christ, it’s even hotter in here,” the man said. “Isn’t your AC on?”
    “It’s on,” said Emerton. “But it’s not worth shit. We didn’t have time to get it serviced. It’s hell on the electronics.”
    “Not to mention the people,” the man said, his gaze settling on Maura. He held out his hand to her. “You’re Dr. Isles, right? I’m Lieutenant Leroy Stillman. They’ve called me