Read Online VIABLE by R. A. Hakok - Free Book Online
Authors: R. A. Hakok
Tags: Science-Fiction, Medical, Thrillers, Crime, Military, Science Fiction & Fantasy, Mystery; Thriller & Suspense, Genetic engineering, Serial Killers, Thrillers & Suspense
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make sure he was disarmed, although they way he was tied to that bed they could have just left the gun in the room. They may even have taken the opportunity to rob him while they were at it, might even have taken a shine to the cheap digital watch he was wearing. But one thing I am pretty sure of is that anyone planning to bust an injured man out of here would have organized transport ahead of time, and not relied on stealing something we can put an APB out on.’
He looked at Whitley.
‘No, Doug, I think our man’s managed this by himself.’
The administrator turned to his surgeon.
‘Lionel, I suggest you have a look again at his charts to see whether anything explains this guy’s recovery. And get one of the nurses to retrieve whatever they can from the monitors. I forget how much of a patient’s history they store but you may get blood pressure and heart rate for the last few hours if nothing else. I’ll speak to Sue when she gets in and see if she found anything in his blood work. Lars, we’ll let you know the moment we find anything.’
Lars had already put out an APB on the missing man on his way back in to the hospital. When he got back to his cruiser he updated it with details of the security guard’s Ford, although he was sure that the car would soon be switched, if it hadn’t been already.
This was getting out of hand. He now had two armed men on the loose, a body in the morgue and a conspiracy theory that threatened the very future of his town. He desperately needed something to break, some piece of information that would make everything else fit into place.
8
HECHECKEDINTO a small motel just off I-50. He had abandoned the security guard’s Taurus in long-term parking at Carson City airport, switching the license plates with another Ford parked nearby. A taxi from the rank outside had dropped him two blocks away. He knew he hadn’t covered his tracks well, but it was all that he could manage for now. He had paid for the room for four nights, using most of the cash he had stolen. Thankfully the clerk at reception had seemed more interested in the talk show on the small TV behind her desk, barely looking up as he had filled out the form.
He found the room easily. Once inside he closed the blinds, the small, tired accommodation appearing only marginally more inviting in the dim light. The clerk had told him that the maids wouldn’t be cleaning until after Christmas but he hung the faded ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door handle anyway. The effort of overpowering the guard and escaping from the hospital had exhausted him and he longed to collapse on the small, musty bed. But there was one more thing he needed to do first.
He removed the jacket he had stolen from the security guard, letting it fall to the floor. The dressing they had applied at the hospital was still in place but blood had seeped through the bandage, soaking the shirt. He had considered finding an all-night pharmacy but that would have been too dangerous; he had to hope that the room would have what he needed. He staggered into the small bathroom, grabbing a grey, threadbare towel from the rail, and tore it in two. Wrapping his fist in one half, he broke the mirror bolted to the wall above the sink, carefully picking up a large fragment of the glass from the basin. Then he headed back into the bedroom. A small tray with a kettle and provisions for coffee and tea. A mug with teaspoons, dirty but stainless steel, not plastic. Good. He grabbed a handful of sugar sachets and laid them with the teaspoon on the bed next to the broken shard of glass and the torn pieces of the towel. The minibar was stocked and he grabbed a handful of plastic miniatures. An ice bucket sat on top of the small fridge. Ice would help numb the wound. Should he try and find the motel’s ice machine? Too risky to venture out again. Besides, in a place like this there was a good chance the machine wasn’t even working.
He lay back on
He looked at Whitley.
‘No, Doug, I think our man’s managed this by himself.’
The administrator turned to his surgeon.
‘Lionel, I suggest you have a look again at his charts to see whether anything explains this guy’s recovery. And get one of the nurses to retrieve whatever they can from the monitors. I forget how much of a patient’s history they store but you may get blood pressure and heart rate for the last few hours if nothing else. I’ll speak to Sue when she gets in and see if she found anything in his blood work. Lars, we’ll let you know the moment we find anything.’
Lars had already put out an APB on the missing man on his way back in to the hospital. When he got back to his cruiser he updated it with details of the security guard’s Ford, although he was sure that the car would soon be switched, if it hadn’t been already.
This was getting out of hand. He now had two armed men on the loose, a body in the morgue and a conspiracy theory that threatened the very future of his town. He desperately needed something to break, some piece of information that would make everything else fit into place.
8
HECHECKEDINTO a small motel just off I-50. He had abandoned the security guard’s Taurus in long-term parking at Carson City airport, switching the license plates with another Ford parked nearby. A taxi from the rank outside had dropped him two blocks away. He knew he hadn’t covered his tracks well, but it was all that he could manage for now. He had paid for the room for four nights, using most of the cash he had stolen. Thankfully the clerk at reception had seemed more interested in the talk show on the small TV behind her desk, barely looking up as he had filled out the form.
He found the room easily. Once inside he closed the blinds, the small, tired accommodation appearing only marginally more inviting in the dim light. The clerk had told him that the maids wouldn’t be cleaning until after Christmas but he hung the faded ‘Do Not Disturb’ sign on the door handle anyway. The effort of overpowering the guard and escaping from the hospital had exhausted him and he longed to collapse on the small, musty bed. But there was one more thing he needed to do first.
He removed the jacket he had stolen from the security guard, letting it fall to the floor. The dressing they had applied at the hospital was still in place but blood had seeped through the bandage, soaking the shirt. He had considered finding an all-night pharmacy but that would have been too dangerous; he had to hope that the room would have what he needed. He staggered into the small bathroom, grabbing a grey, threadbare towel from the rail, and tore it in two. Wrapping his fist in one half, he broke the mirror bolted to the wall above the sink, carefully picking up a large fragment of the glass from the basin. Then he headed back into the bedroom. A small tray with a kettle and provisions for coffee and tea. A mug with teaspoons, dirty but stainless steel, not plastic. Good. He grabbed a handful of sugar sachets and laid them with the teaspoon on the bed next to the broken shard of glass and the torn pieces of the towel. The minibar was stocked and he grabbed a handful of plastic miniatures. An ice bucket sat on top of the small fridge. Ice would help numb the wound. Should he try and find the motel’s ice machine? Too risky to venture out again. Besides, in a place like this there was a good chance the machine wasn’t even working.
He lay back on
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