Weekend Special Short Tales California 2.4 Chapter 7

 7.

 

“Don, you will be fine. Take your antibiotics.” The nurse had the wound bandaged on the third level. The Doctor was efficient in her works that the bullet was removed and the wound treated fast. It was all over in minutes. The clock was at 2335hrs.

The patient sat up on the bedding and looked at the nurse. She saw the other patient rolled in with what looked like a bad wound compared to her own but she did not see the face. There was also another patient behind the curtain to the right of the hall, while she was at the left side. The other patient was in the middle. That was the maximum beds there.

“What was ---”

“We don’t discuss the patient’s condition. You can leave by the back door.” Don was offered that by the nurse.

“I would like to stay for the duration. The lockdown had increased surveillance.” Don made the request. “I will be arrested if they see the bandages.”

“I will check with the Doctor but she is with a patient.” The nurse stepped away to attend to the patient behind the curtain.

Don had her legs dangled loosely there and contemplated her moves. She could leave but she saw those downstairs. She identified them as the Delagi Famly. The Delagi Famiky ran the trade down the coasts from the Ports to the Unions, and they ran human smuggling to contraband, but they don’t deal in drugs. The leader is Franco ‘The Man’ Delagi with his son, Danny ‘The Hood’ Delagi. His gang was huge but there was nothing compared to the New Triads of the continent headed by one named Charlie Sang aka Dragon Nine.

Don heard of the conflicts between the two gangs on some bad shipments, and if Danny is here, that means the father may be in the next bed. That was on her mind.

She could go up the rank if she works for the Delagi, or served the Triads, which was also honorable to those who helped them.

Or there was the rule in the hotel. You don’t hurt anyone there, or start a fight there. You will be branded an outcast by all like a wanted person but the difference was the hunters will be the criminals.

Don was undecided, and unarmed. Her gun was removed when they took her. She looked around and saw the treatment tray which include the scalpels. Her gun was there on the tray. It’s a Glock 17 Fourth Gen with the ammo clip removed. She preferred the double stacked magazine with seventeen rounds on it. It was down to thirteen after the shootout with the officer. She saw her KA-BAR or combat knife tucked into her right boot was there. It was her farewell gift from the Army.

Don smiled. She still has her other dagger; the small and hidden ‘Katar’; the push dagger with a T-Handle hidden below the back of her back in her blouse. The Doctor maty had missed it for her wound was on the leg.

It was tempting but then nurse arrived.

“Don, the Doctor said you can remain here.” It was the Nurse. “You will be assigned a room on the upper level. Do not leave your room. You will be sent food and drinks.” The Nurse had pushed a wheelchair in. “Get on it. You will be sedated and please remain in bed.”

Don obliged, and was wheeled out. Once in the corridor, she asked the nurse.

“Was it the Man there? Delagi old man?” Don asked. The nurse refused to answer her and pushed her to the lift. He pressed ‘4” on it.

Down at ‘G’, Glenn had walked to the window, ignoring Danny’s threat. He looked out and then back at Danny.

“You will need more guys and guns. They are coming at us.” Glenn said to Danny. It was 2340hrs.

“I have more men coming in. They are the best. They are mercenaries in my payroll. They are sent to do the bad jobs.”

“I heard of them. Your Merry Melody Men, I heard there are eight of them. Among them was one was Bugs Bunny, one was Daffy, another Piggy, and Doc, and even Coyote and Road Runner. The other two were ladies; Bitch and Dyke. They talked too much at the parties you hold and when drunk, they talked more than they should.”

“You are very observant, Glenn. I like that. My father liked you and wanted you to join us first but you refused.”

“I don’t want to. I was to retire.” Glenn replied. “Get the nurse. We may need to get higher up when they come in.”

Higher up, the Doctor had just done the delicate surgery on the last patient with the GSW in the chest. She wiped her hands on the apron she wore in surgery. The apron says ‘Happy Mother’. She felt like one taking care of the sick there.

“Doctor, I have sent the second patient upstairs. She will be fine.” The nurse reported to her. “The first patient is in the secured room on the Fifth Level.”

The Fifth Level was the top most and from there it was to the rooftop. There was a helipad there.

“How are our uninvited guests on the Ground Level? They are still there and so are the bodies.” The nurse continued the report. “I have activated the beacon. We will be assisted in minutes.”

“Shut the beacon down. We are Hotel California. This is a sacred place. You know the law here. Anyone intruding here will be prosecuted by the whole fraternity with extreme measures. No one had dared to intrude in the Hotel. Not here and not in any of the other eight locations. They all know the law.”

“They are here outside the hotel.” The nurse told the doctor.

“Who is outside?” The Doctor asked the nurse. “I saw the vid feed. Are they the Triads?”

“Yes, they are here for the old man. He is upstairs.” The nurse reminded the doctor.

“I asked on the Triads. You are getting old, nurse. So, the Triads are here.” The Doctor smiled. “Then there will be a family reunion. He finally showed up to see me.”

“Move this patient to Four. Marked her bed as the old man. If they overrun us, then they will stop at the Fourth.”

“This patient is important. She is connected. Her men will also be here soon. They have the law on them.” The nurse told the doctor.

“I know but she may live but will the respirator for the rest of her life. She is a cripple there. Her left lungs are gone and so will her heart.” The Doctor smiled. “She will be the bait. Activate the defense system.”

“Shall we go into the safe room? It will be the best option.” The nurse told the doctor.

“No, I will stay with the old man on the Fifth Level. He needs monitoring.” The Doctor made up her mind. “Be kind to do the needed from the safe room.”

The doctor left to take the lift.