Columbia Mercy Hospital

Brian-

I couldn't belive it. First day on the job and already I was trapped in a room with a crazy lady weilding a gun. This was just great. I was leaning against the patch of wall between two windows, trapped behind the other interns. One girl was crying, Dr. Parker was on the floor with a gun shot wound, and the crazy lady still had the gun.

I turned my head slightly and could see a sliver of the hallway outside the room. The blinds didn't reach all the way to the side of the window, which I usually found annoying when I wanted it to be dark but thanked God for. There was no one in the hall now, except a few debating police officers.

If we were leaving it up to the authorities it could be hours before we got out of here. The cell phone I had slipped into my pocket after lunch, despite the rules, was burning against my leg. I wanted to somehow pull it out and tell someone what was going on. I had to wait for the opportune moment though.

Corrie-

I had still been following Dr. Morrow around when the gun shot resounded through the halls. I squeezed my eyes shut tight and gripped the sides of my wheelchair. The sound dragged up many bad memories that I had to push aside before I could open my eyes.

"Let's go." Dr. Morrow said turning and heading towards the ER. I followed reluctantly, not really wanting to go towards the gun shot. The other two interns also followed seeming reluctant as well.

When we got to the ER there were police talking outside room 147. One of the officers noticed us and walked toward us, "I'm afriad you can't be in here right now, we have a situation. We have to move you through the hall to a safer location." Dr. Morrow nodded and we followed the officer through the hall.

As we passed room 147 I noticed something. It was small and insignificant but when I looked closer the importance of what I noticed increased. The blinds were down, but on one side in one corner the blinds weren't down all the way. I stopped and continued to stare. I could see something.

It was Dr. Parker, on the ground. Dr. Milan was crouched over her and there was blood.

"I think Dr. Parker is shot." I murmered.

"Corrie come on." Dr. Morrow said, not having heard my discovery.

"She needs help." I siad louder looking to an officer.

"What?"

"Dr. Parker, I can see her through there," I pointed at the opening in the window, "She's shot, she needs help." My voice and hands were shaking. When I looked at Dr. Parker on the ground like that I didn't really see Dr. Parker, I saw someone else. I had to push that aside though. Dr. Parker was in trouble.

The police officer picked up a walkie talkie from his belt, "We have a confirmed victim, gun shot wound. Young, female, she's gunna need help quickly." The other officers ushered us out of the hall and into the cafeteria.

I was terrified and shocked. How was this happening? Why was this happening? What did this gunman want? DId she want anything at all?

Sugar-Beth

I stared in shock as Sydney layed in her own puddle of blood. Her blood had somehow was all over my hands and the spatter was everywhere within a three foot radius. I bent down and looked at Sydney's eyes which were shutting and if hell did I know anything about medical stuff. My hands were shaking I glared at the crazy woman with the gun.

"How dare you." I whispered.

Her eyes went completely wild and she yelled.

"Shut up! Shut up! SHUT UP!!!!" She waved the gun around again.

I felt so helpless, I didn't know what to do. I wanted to scream and cry I wanted to run out of this damn hospital and yelled 'I quit' but I couldn't do that. I had to remain calm even though everyone in the room had turned a pale white.

**Oi, I really don't know what's going on right now. Nevermind about the rest of it - I got my internet back. **

Where did everybody go?

Lily West
I held onto Sugar-Beth's wrist.
"Don't say anything to make her angry," I whispered to her, low enough so that she was the only one who would hear. She bit her lip, tense, her pretty facae pale and sickly looking. I glanced down at Dr. Parker, her eyes flickering open and closed, her face even paler than Sugar's. I wondered if she was going to die. A doctor wasn't supposed to die, that wasn't the way it worked. I calculated, numbly, that if she didn't get out of this room and onto some proper equipment soon she probably would die. Maybe 15 minutes? Maximum. I looked across at the chief, who was talking very quietly and steadily to the gun-holder. She was standing defensively, holding the gun ahead of her like she was at a shooting range. I figured she didn't have a very good idea how to use it perfectly.

"Just stay back and don't... do anything!" she demanded, and the chief kept on talking.
"This isn't helping anyone, listen. You don't want to hurt anyone, do you? You just want to get out of here, right? Well, that's okay, but you gotta put down the gun because no one will let you out of here with that."
"NO! I have to bargain, the police. They're out there?" she seemed to be talking mostly to herself, but the chief answered anyway.
"Yes, they're out there, that's why you have to put down the gun and come out with me."
"Don't tell me what to do!" her face was a mask of fear now, tears were on her cheeks, driven by panic. "No, no... no damnit!" she was pacing, making little growling unhappy noises under her breath. Isabella looked up at the chief, imploring.
"She needs..."
"I know."

The woman spun, suddenly, yelling out:
"You!" It took me a minute to realise she was pointing at me. "I have to bargain with them, give me your phone, I can see it."
I handed her my phone, my hand shaking, and she fumbled with it, switching it on.
"I need a number of a doctor," she said, her voice firmer now, but still stuttered with anger. "out there. Tell me the name!"
"I don't have any!" I insisted, "It's my first day..."
She grabbed hold of a little metal table on wheels that was perched near to her and flung it to the floor.
"Someone!"
The chief held out a hand.
"I can give you a number, but you have to let Sydney go, she needs medical attention. Equipment we don't have in here."
The woman's breath was coming harsh and rattly, she didn't look well at all, like she wasn't all there. She seemed to be considering...

There hasn't been a reply for a day? Keep it going guys!

Sugar-Beth

"If she dies, your going to wish that you never had that gun." I threatend.

"Shut up!!!" the girl yelled again, she shot a bullet that went straight through my shoulder.

I let out a cry. I put a hand to my shoulder as blood started pooring through my fingers, it wouldn't kill me. I fell to my knees where I looked down at Sydney, her eyes were fluttering.

"C'mon Sydney open your damn eyes.... We need to get the bullet out." I said, ignoring my own pain. "We need to get the bullet out damnit!!!!" I yelled.

then came no response....

>>PA, Incan or Fand have to post before I can do anything. *sits, waits*

Isabella Milan - hospital room with crazy woman - time unknown

"Sugar, there's nothing more we can do right now anyway," I murmured, keeping my eyes on the woman with the gun. Sydney would be okay for the moment, I had made sure. "I'll give you a number," I said, quickly prattling off the first doctor number that came to mind.

She nodded, lowering her gun for a brief second to dial the phone.

Please let them answer...please let them answer... I thought.


Evan Kensington - gathering outside hospital room - time unknown

Someone's phone went off.

"It's one of the interns numbers!" someone cried.

~ Sorry I’ve been away so long. I remind you all there’s a discussion thread.

Emily Jane Darcy

Stupid, stupid girl! The thought ran over and over in her head as she watched Sugar Beth crouched over Sydney. What kind of idiot is she? The sickly red spotted her hair now, so the pretty little thing was somewhat carnal as she screamed over Sydney.

Enough was enough. The woman had the blasted number she’d wanted and was calling. No doubt it was an intern’s number and therefore useless unless someone sensible was out there. She hoped to God there was.

Emily straightened her shoulders and strode past the woman – mid ring - ignoring the chance she had to grab the gun again. Heroics equated to stupidity in this environment. She’d learnt her lesson easily. The most important factor was getting the patients and Sydney out of the room. Sugar Beth would have to go with them.

The woman straightened and snapped the mobile shut. The gun slid quickly in Emily’s direction.

“Where are you going? Did I say you could move?”

Emily’s eyes flared, but she continued to where Sydney lay. “Did I say you could shoot my interns?”

The woman’s voice wavered. “Go back.”

Her sporadic bouts of intense anger and instability appeared to be triggered in main form by rash shouting and actions. Emily kept her body tall and strong and made all her movements definite, she had a purpose and was filling it out. Moving toward one of the cabinets she got out some towelling and surgical pads. She thrust some pads in Sugar-Beth’s direction with the command of pressure and moving back from Sydney’s prone form. Waiting until Sugar-Beth shuffled back, not without glancing at Emily balefully, she handed all the quick supplies to Isabella.

Sydney didn’t look good, her face pale and her eyelids fluttering slightly. Emily brushed the hair away from her forehead lightly, watching Sydney blink rapidly at her. “You’ll be right, Syd, just hang in there a short while. We’re getting you out.” Sydney closed her eyes and sighed against her hand. Emily nodded towards Isabella before standing up again.

The woman stepped back slightly, watching Emily as she stepped forward to look at her directly.

“You want to make your phone call to someone sensible now. You’re to call Doctor Keating-Parker.” She glanced in Aaron’s direction. “Give her the number, Lancer, I don’t know if off by heart.” Her lips were turned in a bitter sneer as she spoke, turning back to the woman. “Now, what you’re going to do is tell them you’re going to send out all the critical patients in return for their assistance. Do you understand this?”

Her eyes were wild, but calming down, “You don’t tell me what to do. I’m in charge here.”

Emily nodded quietly. “You are in charge, you’re making this decision on your own. I’m sure you’ll factor in the moveability you’ll have once all those bloody, moaning patients are out of your way. The fact that Those two women you shot could die without aid. That a murder charge is so much worse than just a bit of assault.” Sugar-Beth wouldn’t die. But Sydney needed immediate attention. The pressure and tension in the room meant that Isabella was just trying to keep the bleeding down, Sydney needed more. “Maybe you’ll even consider how much easier it is to threaten people who are walking and talking, rather than a bunch of people who are probably going to die anyway.

Emily could feel the horrified looks from the interns and patients at her words. Aaron would understand, hopefully. He’d given the woman the number and was now standing on her right side. A movement in the corner of her eye told Emily that Sugar-Beth had stood up and was making to charge forward, her mouth gaping. Emily turned a steely eye on her, jerking her head at the girl to make her sit down again.

The woman was nodding slightly, and the hand gripping the phone was loosening. She understood Emily’s points, was keeping them in mind. She kept the gun raised and pointing at a point on Emily’s sternum as she dialled with her thumb.

The mantra that ran inside Emily’s head paused for a moment and she tightened her lips; Des had best be the one to answer.

Roxanne Peters; 3:30; the lounge.

Roxanne drained the last of her coffee and then stood, ready to try and take command of the huddle of doctors, patients and interns clogging up the lounge. A phone began to ring. A sharp reprimand and the threat of confiscation hovered on the tip of Roxanne's tongue.

"It's one of the interns' numbers!" someone cried. Roxanne blinked, surprised and then tried to push forward. The owner of the phone stood holding it, nervously, not answering it.

"Answer!" Roxanne shouted but it suddenly went dead. She swore under her breath and took the phone from the still frozen, shaking intern it had belonged to.

"Called from a phone belonging to... Lily West," Roxanne mumbled. "Does anyone know who Lily West is and if she's in there?"

"She's an intern," someone mumbled. Roxanne nodded thoughtfully, tucking the phone into her pocket.

"My phone-"

"Will be taken to the police," Roxanne said. "Okay, listen up everyone. This is a hospital and not just any hospital, we're a darn good hospital. I want you to show everyone just how good we are and get to work. You all have busy schedules, patients in need of care and attention, patients who are worried and probably not far from dying of heart attacks." Roxanne paused. The room was silent. Doctors and interns alike refused to meet her gaze.

"Alright, if you're an intern, find someone who isn't and pair up with them. I don't want anyone moving about this hospital without someone else at their side. First, get these patients back to their rooms. I don't want any patient out of bed. Then carry on with your schedules and pick up those of anyone who's in the room. In fact, Jeremy, make me a list of anyone who's definitely in there and divide up their emergency patients. Anyone who is not an emergency is no longer a priority. This situation could last hours or it could last minutes but I want everyone working and working hard. All surgeons be on alert and keep the second surgery room open. I don't have to remind you that two bullets have been fired. Now go." Roxanne's heart was thudding as people began to move about the room, trying to find someone to pair with or already heading for the door. They were efficient, she'd give them that.

"I'm coming with you," Evan said. "To take that phone to the police. If it rings again-"

"Yes, alright," she snapped.

"Roxy..." Daniel drifted over with doctor Raynor and one of the interns.

"Either go to your room or help Jeremy write up that list," Roxanne said. "And get those patient files distributed." She hurried out the room, striding back to the front of the hospital with the phone clutched in her hand like a torch, lighting the way through this disaster. She knew she had to keep herself (and everyone else) moving or she'd fall to pieces and be of no help to those inside.

Corrie-

I looked up at Dr. Morrow, "Do you want me to help you out?" I asked him. He seemed to be deep in thought. Maybe he was thinking about who could be in that room, maybe he was thinking about which of his patients were a priority at the moment, maybe he wasn't thinking about any of those things at all.

He nodded and I followed him out of the lounge and into another wing of the hospital. We went into a room where there was a teenage boy laying on the bed.
"Hey Jacob." Dr. Morrow said, "How are you doing?" The boy shrugged. Dr. Morrow turned back to me and spoke in a whisper, "This is Jacob, he is 16 and he has a brain tumor. We were supposed to do surgery in ten minutes but I have a few other patients to check on and I don't feel comfortable going into surgery right now. I don't know exactly what is going on but if we have to be evacuated I would rather not be in the middle of brain surgery." I nodded.

"What do you want me to do?"

"Could you just stay with him and keep him calm, he was already anxious about the surgery." I nodded and Dr. Morrow left the room, pulling the door shut behind him.

"Hi Jacob, I'm Corrie." I said rolling up next to his bed, "How are you feeling?"

"Just great." He replied staring at the tv and flipping through the channels.

"What are you watching."

"Television." I sighed, this wasn't going to be easy, "You I don't need you babysitting me. I'm not six years old anymore, despite my parent's beliefs."

I nodded, "Parents can be really over protective some times. Mine were no picnic basket after my accident. They just do it because they love you. It feels unfortunate sometimes but someday you'll realize how important they are." I said feeling like such a dope.

"Do you really believe that?" He questioned, glancing at me sideways. He had black hair that swooped to one side, hiding his right eye from my view. He had a strong face, but the bags under his eyes betrayed him.

I shook my head, "I'm not sure. I havn't talked to my parents in a while. We didn't leave each other on good terms." I wanted to change the subject, "Are they going to make you cut off your hair before the surgery?"

He shrugged, "I supposed they'll shave it off once I'm nocked out. That's the only way they will get if off of me anyways." I laughed a little and glanced up at the tv. He had a news channel on, and CMH was the headlining story.

"On the news on my first day." I mused.

"This is your first day?" I nodded and rested my head in my hand. I began to realize that I was tired, "Where are you from?"

"Chicago." I replied with an expression of distaste on my face, "But I was born in California."

"That's where I'm from, Apple Valley."

"Do you surf a lot?"

"Yeah sometimes, when I'm not sick. This is the third round for me." Wow third time. My heart broke a little bit. He seemed very optimistic for a brain cancer patient, "They told me if you talk on a cell phone too much you can get brain tumors, I just didn't listen." He laughed a little and I managed a smile.

"You should rest, if we don't get evacuated I suppose that they'll take you into surgery."

"I've been resting all day. A person can only sleep so much you know." I nodded, "Besides I'll be asleep when they cut me open anyways." I cringed at the thought. He talked about it so casually, like getting his head cut open was just a normal daily thing. He seemed so strong.

Evan Kensington - 3:37 - Following Roxanne Peters

"Roxanne, what are we going to do?" I asked, feeling extremely nervous.

"You heard my orders," she answered, glancing back at me for a moment.

"Yes, but...you must have some sort of plan. We can go about our normal day, but that's not going to help the possibility of the people in that room being killed."

"And what do you want me to do, Evan! Do you propose I walk right into the room and attempt to take the gun from that woman?! Do you really think that's going to help anything?!"

I noticed the look in Roxanne's eyes. I had been stupid, thinking she wasn't as nerved up as I was.

"Sorry, I was spazzing..."

"I know." she replied, her face tense with worry.


Isabella Milan - 3:39 - Hospital room

I knelt nervously beside Sydney, doing everything I could to keep the bleeding down while the woman with the gun held the phone to her ear.

Why isn't she speaking? I thought, my breath catching.

They weren't going to answer...

I could probably get the gun...if necessary. If no one picked up, Emily was probably going to be shot.

I was close enough...all I'd have to do would be jump for it. Someone might get shot, but it wouldn't be nearly as bad as if this woman actually targeted and shot each of us individually...

Sugar-Beth

I saw the look in Isabella's eyes. I looked at her our eyes locked I had to distract the crazy woman. I might get shot in the process but what the hell was another shot going to do?

"You don't want to hurt anyone else." I shook my head. "Don't shoot."

"Yeah might as well hand the gun over to you am I right?!" The woman yelled.

"You can't hold us in here forever." I said.

"I can sure as hell try." The woman yelled. "And if I'm going to kill anyone it's going to be you barbie." She aimed the gun and Isabella jumped, a shot went off. The gun was so close my ears were ringing. Someone screamed.... Then there was darkness....

Emily Jane Darcy.

“That. That was a warning shot, Barbie.” Sugar-Beth collapsed on the ground, crumbled next to Sydney’s shoes.

Emily swore violently under her breath. That girl was trying to get herself killed, after this she was going to recommend she see Gerty, that kind of stupidity can’t be normal. The woman calmly turned her gun back on Emily and smiled “Now that the loud one is out of the way...”

“She could be dead, and you could be on a murder charge.” Her eyes widened and the gun in her hand wavered. “But why the hell would you care about that? I mean, you’ve wounded a resident and maybe killed an intern. You should be happy, you’ll get nice publicity. I assume that’s what you want?” The woman’s eyes narrowed and the hand steadied.

“Don’t judge me, woman... Check if she’s dead.” Emily nodded toward Isabella and watched as she scrambled over Sydney to fuss over Sugar-Beth. It didn’t look serious, well, very serious. There was blood from her original wound spotting the floor and her jacket, but she certainly wasn’t dead. The bullet had missed her by a mile, really, slamming into the cabinets behind the girl. Sugar-Beth, however, had already passed out.

Isabella looked up and nodded slowly at Emily. “She’ll be okay. She’ll need a transfusion before she’ll wake up, I’d say. But she’s not going to die.”

Emily thanked Saint Peter in her mind; the gatekeeper had rejected another one. Least now the girl wouldn’t be in the way, acting out more fantastical heroics that no one needed. The woman sighed lightly, Emily doubted anyone but herself and Aaron heard it. Her relief was in each shake of her limbs, the gun she held was steadier for knowing she’d not killed anyone. Yet.

The woman’s gaze swept back to Emily, and she smirked. She was calm and collected now that no one was shouting, or pressuring her, and the difference was obvious. Emily smiled back, easily, startling the woman slightly.

“If you’re going to make that call again, I’d suggest you do it. I assume the police are outside, they’ll be working out how to get in here.” The woman backed away slightly, forcing distance between herself and Emily, moving so that Emily and Aaron shielded her from the interns and patients. “They’ll be working out how to take you down.” She glanced back at the door as her lower back hit the metal of the handle, eyes searching for the possibly intruders.

“You’re lying.” Her eyes swept the room again, calculating. “Get me that chair.” She pointed toward one of the metal seats that sat next a hospital bed. Emily wandered over to it, keeping purpose but also uncertainty in her walk, and brought the chair to the woman. She grabbed it and wedged it under the door handle, taking one other chair to sit on herself. “Now no one is moving anywhere without my say so.”

Emily almost sighed with relief. The woman was now too far away from the other occupants of the room for any of them to do anything spectacularly stupid. The day was, finally, looking up a little.

Jeremy 3:40 ER (outside) I didn't add Aaron to my list here... but that's only because Jer wouldn't know him at all...

I was glad Roxy managed to sort us all out, she's a great woman to have in a crisis, and despite the fact that the ER isn't really my beat I knew the way around okay. Maybe it was the adrenaline, but I was starting to feel a little bit less like I was only half alive. I got myself a clipboard with the interns on it and checked them all off, missing four.
"Sugar-Beth Casey, Kelly Catrovaci, Lily West, Brian Ledger..."
I looked around... Sydney definately wasn't here. Unless she'd gone out somewhere... and that was unlikely, she have been in there as well. I wandered around, looking out for any faces that should have been there and weren't. Danny helped me out, tired though he was. We came up with the information that the chief resident Emily Darcy wasn't there either, and I would have imagined she'd have come running. So Emily as well... I asked a few people if they hadn't seen anyone for a while, and Isabella Milan came up. I hoped I hadn't missed anyone out. I tried to find Roxanne to tell her what I'd found out - see if she'd heard any other names, but I wandered around for a while and failed completely. She must have found herself something important to do out of sight. I found myself searching for her on the way up to the ER, in case she had gone outside to talk to the police or something.

"Where are we going to, Jer? Are you leading me away from people to take advantage of me in my weakened state?" Danny asked me, wandering along behind me, his face a grim image of exhaustion and humour.
"You should go back to your room," I told him, stopped to steady him with a hand on his shoulder. "You shouldn't be hanging around here anyway."
"You sick of me?" he mumbled, his voice little and wheezy.
"No," of course not "but you're too tired to be following me around."
It was then that we heard the voice, apparently coming from nearby.
"Help! Help me!" it was a female voice that I knew but couldn't place immediately.
"What the hell?" Daniel was glancing around the same as me. He was the one who figured out it was the cupboard a little further down the corridor on the right.
"Hey, can you hear me in there?"
"Jeremy? It's Rebecca, I got locked in here and I hurt my leg!" she sounded panicky and pissed off, her usual bored and irritated tone changed to one of pain and fear.
"Bec, I'm here." I tugged at the door, trying to get in, but it was locked.
"Daniel, is there a key here anywhere?" He shrugged.
"I'm bleeding, Raynor." she sounded angry now, as though I was being too slow for her.
"Move away from the door!" I shouted through. I heard shuffling and clanking as something was moved around.
I took a little run up and smashed the door open. That was the fourth time I'd tried that trick and it had worked only two out of the four, this being one of them. The other time it had worked I'd been breaking into Christian's place, dragging his ass to the hospital to get his wrists sewn back up, I don't know if he'd ever forgiven me. I had a flash of nausia from the memory, the blood all over the floor of the little closet didn't help with that much.

"Shit, Bec, how did this happen?"
"Some idiot left a razor in the floor."
It was there on the floor nearby her, bloodied and shiny. Another slam of memory, I felt dizzy. Daniel's hands held me up, I pressed me head to the wall.
"What's up Jer, you scared of blood now?"
I let it pass, pushing the memories away slowly, slowly. This never would have happened any other day, I don't know what was wrong with me.

There were bandages in the closet, I used them to wrap around Rebecca's leg wondering why she hadn't bothered to do that herself.
"We're gonna get you to a room and I'll sew that up. I don't think it's so bad so you probably won't need any blood. I'll check your BP though, right." I realised me voice sounded funny, all the exhaustion coming flooding back. I hated having all my personal problems messing me around at work, but that's all that seemed to be happening these days. Maybe I needed some time off. A break from people.
"Right."
"What's got into you, Jer, you're all over the place." Daniel jumped back from me as I turned to him, suddenly angry without knowing why.
"Just go back to your room, Daniel, and mind your own business."
He looked sullen, his eyes narrowing.
"Fine."
I helped Rebecca to move, lifting her from the floor. We went towards the nearest free patient room to fix up her leg. I didn't look round to see if Daniel was following. I was fuming, not really angry with him but more at myself. More at Christian for letting me get like this, for always thinking of himself and expecting me to look after him.

Daniel (And Roxanne.)

"Fine." Dan watched wearily as Jeremy helped Rebecca to move down the hallway and then looked thoughtfully at the piece of paper in his hand. The list of names. The list of names he had tugged from Raynor's pocket and he didn't quite know why. His chest hurt and every time he tried to breathe, the air seemed to push against his lungs, threatening to break out. And he was so tired, his limbs all stiff and heavy, aching worse than ever before. Black spots danced before his eyes but he rested a moment and felt better.

Daniel headed off at a stumble, moving steadily in the other direction, towards the ER. It wasn't far now and he made it, a relieved little smile on his face. There was one name on the list that meant the world to him. One name that he couldn't ignore and that name was causing him to act irrationally. And that name was Sydney Parker.

The sooner the police got the list the better, right? He spotted Roxanne and Evan just a little further down the hall. Roxanne was hissing at a policeman and wildly shaking a phone in his face. As Daniel got closer, he could hear her quiet words:

"...to do something. If you let me call, there's a chance that we can sort this out with no one else hurt and-" She paused. The officer looked relieved and opened his mouth to reason with her but she pushed past him towards Daniel.

"Don't keep all the hot men to yourself," Daniel joked, smiling vaguely as Evan's eyes opened wide. "I've got the list," he added. "And it's yours for a kiss." Roxanne scowled, reaching for the list impatiently but Daniel caught her hand weakly, in his, and kissed the fingers before releasing both her and the sheet of paper. He laughed a little, leaning heavily against the wall and sinking to the floor.

"Where's Jeremy?" Roxanne demanded, reading the list.

"With a woman," Daniel said with a snort. "I'm not good enough for him anymore."

"Is Syd on that?" Evan demanded, trying to look over Roxanne's shoulder. She nodded before handing the list to the officer.

"Okay, that's who's in there and look, these dots by some of the names? Those people are doctors and specialists. Now can we make the phone call?" The officer nodded, beckoning some of his colleagues closer. They talked in low, inaudible voices and then one explained that it was better if Roxanne made the initial contact. "But tell them the police are with you," he added. "The suspect might be ready to bargain."

Roxanne dialed the number. The line was busy. What did that mean? She looked to the officers, her anxiety barely kept under control as she tried again.