Black Lace [Internet Bonds Series Book 7] Page 18

  "It is going to be a long night."

  * * * *

  Reed felt the weight of a main beam over his legs. He coughed, trying to breathe. He gazed down at Chelsea, unconscious but apparently not hurt by the collapsing floor from above. The major point of impact for the collapse had been in the center of the cellar where he'd found Chelsea strapped to a chair. Jocilynne Sommersby had planned her revenge right.

  "Chelsea, can you hear me?” he asked, getting no response. Painfully, he moved his hand to her neck, his fingertips trying to find her pulse. Relief overtook him when he found it. Thank God...

  "Carrington, can you hear me? It's Captain Jenkins from Rescue 1."

  "We're near the door."

  "Good thing we didn't try coming in first,” Jenkins said, trying to keep things light.

  "Yeah,” Reed said.

  "Can you tell me your..."

  "The beam is lying over my legs and I'm shielding my wife from the debris."

  "How is she?"

  "Unconscious but I've got a pulse."

  "Okay,” Jenkins said. “I'm not leaving you but I have to..."

  "I know. Do what you have to. We're not going anywhere anytime soon."

  Reed knew what their rescue would entail—utmost caution and patience on everybody's part. Thank God, she's out of it.

  "Cap, we're going to try to get around you—two men, maybe three. We have to in order to lift the beam. We don't have time for the tools because of the instability of the building at this point. Don't worry about doing anything."

  "I don't think I could if I tried. I'm feeling numb instead of pain."

  "How about your lady?"

  "I still feel a pulse but I don't like not knowing how long she's been in here."

  "I hear the one behind this stood out there laughing until she heard you might be dead."

  "She's a sick one."

  "I've heard,” Jenkins acknowledged. “Her reputation's around the department."

  "I wished I'd known earlier. It's been hell since she sank her hooks into me."

  Jenkins chuckled, grateful Sommersby might be out of their lives for a long while.

  "I hope Daddy stays out of it."

  "I hear ya. She damned near murdered Chelsea a year ago and the attack caused her to miscarry."

  "Man, I'm sorry. I think I remember that. Didn't it happen at that art gallery on Chestnut?"

  "Good memory."

  "My wife's purchased one or two things from yours. The news really upset her."

  "I'll make sure she hears."

  "Are you ready?"

  "Do I have a choice?"

  "Honestly? No."

  While they talked, three firefighters made their way to the opposite side of the beam. Once they were in position, two would lift the beam while one would try to pull the trapped couple from underneath the debris.

  "We'll pull your wife out first,” Jenkins said.

  "Fine."

  "We are concerned about shock once the weight is released and the pressure is relieved."

  "Just get us the hell out of here."

  "Yes, sir,” Jenkins said.

  A finely honed machine—so to speak—the team took their commands from Jenkins. Their first lift gave them enough room to pull Chelsea out. As soon as they freed her, medics got her onto a stretcher and into an ambulance where they immediately went to work on her.

  The weight of the beam overwhelmed the rescue team, the brunt of it falling back onto Reed's legs. He cried out moments after they felt a tremor and a shift in the debris.

  "Reed?"

  "My leg,” he gasped. “Something went through it."

  "Okay, hold on,” Jenkins said. “Al?"

  "A piece of wood—no metal—about a foot long and appearing to be shaped like a spear went into his leg. We've got a bleeder."

  "Let me see it,” the medic stated, carefully making his way to where Reed's legs peered out from the beam trapping him.

  "It's not wood, it's a piece of aluminum. Looks like it's been holding something up."

  They felt another tremor.

  "What can you do, Doc?” Jenkins asked the medic.

  "I can ease it out and wrap the gash. Worst part is stopping the bleeding."

  "Hurry up. I don't know how much longer she'll hold,” Jenkins advised. It didn't ease his mind knowing the shoring efforts had been unsuccessful.

  "Okay, done,” Doc said. “Let's get him out of here."

  Everyone helped lift the beam once more, Doc pulling Reed from where he'd been trapped. Once they'd put it down, the team from Rescue 1 helped the medic get Reed out and to the ambulance. From out of nowhere, it seemed, firefighters appeared to line the path from the house to the rig—their brother deserved their protection.

  As soon as the medic could, he began treating Reed's injuries. Following instructions from the hospital, he worked on his patient until they arrived at the emergency room.

  True to Jenkins’ concerns, Reed went into shock because his body couldn't handle the sudden release of weight on his extremities. The trauma team went to work immediately stabilizing Reed while getting him prepared for a blood transfusion.

  Another trauma team worked on the female victim, unconscious and badly bruised.

  "I want a pregnancy test done STAT,” the doctor ordered.

  "Yes, Doctor."

  Outside in the waiting area, firefighters from Engine 11 and the nearby stations started filtering in as they were relieved, needing to lend support for their brother firefighter and his wife.

  It would be a long wait.

  * * * *

  In Trauma 1, Doctor Raines treated Chelsea Carrington's injuries, ruing the fact he was seeing her again under adverse conditions.

  "What the hell happened to you?” he asked. Looking at her wrists and ankles, he noticed ligature marks.

  "I want these cleaned and bandaged. Make sure you get everything out of the wounds."

  "Yes, Doctor."

  "Check her face, neck and head for additional ligature marks also."

  "What are you thinking?"

  "From what I've been able to learn, Mrs. Carrington had been abducted earlier in the evening. The ligature marks came from whatever her captor used to restrain her and I wouldn't be surprised if we find more."

  "Did you see her neck?"

  Raines took a closer look and shook his head.

  "I'd say she had been wearing a very expensive necklace and it was ripped off her."

  "Doctor Raines, thanks for the call."

  "Judith, thanks for coming so quickly,” he said, before updating her on Chelsea's condition.

  "I ordered a pregnancy test done as soon as she came in."

  "And?” she asked.

  "Still waiting on results."

  "Doctor,” a nurse said as she rushed in.

  "Yes?"

  "Affirmative on pregnancy."

  "Thank you."

  "Let me see the report,” Judith Hamlin said. “My God, she's not that far along."

  "But she is and we work as if it's a viable pregnancy and give it every chance."

  "I like the way you think."

  Raines smiled.

  "We've worked together enough,” he remarked. “Besides, she lost one child due to this maniac, I'll be damned if she loses another."

  "Amen."

  "I've done my job, she's all yours."

  "Let's get her upstairs,” Hamlin said, after thanking Raines.

  "Yes, Doctor."

  * * * *

  In the other trauma room, Doctor Macy prepared Reed Carrington for surgery. His patient needed intricate work done on his leg to strengthen the vein while staving off any infection from the piece of metal.

  The medic had bagged it and Macy had it sent to the lab to detect whatever had worked its way into Reed's system. The surgical team had to operate on Reed's left hip, the side taking most of the beam's weight. Macy figured they'd be working for several long tedious hours.

  "Let's get
him upstairs to OR,” he said once Reed had become significantly more stable.

  * * * *

  Dan Wheldon, Larry Fisher and the others from Reed's shift waited in the lounge outside the emergency room for word. Wheldon paced, hating the fact his best friend was in surgery. Deep down he knew one way or another, Reed's career as a Philadelphia firefighter had come to an end.

  Matt Nicholson joined them an hour later.

  "Any news?"

  "She's in obstetrics and he's still in surgery."

  "Chelsea's pregnant?"

  "Possibly."

  "Damn!” Matt said. “God, I hope..."

  "We all do,” Dan stated. “What about the bitch?"

  Matt snickered.

  "I just came from the arraignment."

  "And?” Dan asked, the others gathering around to hear. “Don't tell me she's walking."

  "She's a guest of the city for a while."

  "She's what?"

  "Because she admitted everything in front of several witnesses on numerous occasions and they found Chelsea's necklace in her handbag, Daddy yanked the lawyers and the money. He virtually disowned her on the spot."

  "So she's on her own?"

  "All by her lonesome."

  "Now, that's hot."

  The small group broke out laughing.

  "I understand Chelsea and Reed are here,” a man's stern voice said.

  Dan looked into Martin Strawbridge's eyes.

  "Yes, sir, they are,” he answered.

  "And what's so damned funny?” Strawbridge demanded.

  Dan and Matt filled him in explaining the joke. Snickering, Strawbridge nodded.

  "Is Mrs. Strawbridge here?"

  "She stayed at the house with the baby."

  "Thank God,” Matt said. “I heard what she did to his cat. God only knows what would have happened to the baby. We wondered..."

  "Chelsea spent the afternoon with us. She couldn't wait to meet Reed."

  "When?” Matt asked.

  "Six, why?"

  "So she held Chelsea over two hours before...” Matt figured. “Now, I'm getting a timeline. Thanks, Mister Strawbridge."

  * * * *

  At Jocilynne Sommersby's arraignment before the night court judge, she faced charges of kidnapping, several counts of attempted murder, weapons and explosives charges, theft and stalking for starters.

  "Does the defendant have council?” the judge asked.

  "I'm waiting for my father's attorney to..."

  "Your Honor, if it pleases the court, my office has been notified the defendant will be in need of a public defender,” the district attorney stated.

  "Miss Sommersby, is this true?"

  "No, it's not,” she protested, pouting.

  "It is, Your Honor,” a voice stated from the rear of the courtroom.

  "Daddy, thank God. Do something!"

  "And you are?” the judge asked.

  "Major Sommersby, Jocilynne's father."

  "And you are here why?"

  "To go on record as stating the Sommersby family has disowned Jocilynne Sommersby and as a result, she has no legal or financial support from our resources. We have legally severed our ties with her."

  "Daddy, you can't do this!"

  "I should have done it a long time ago."

  "But..."

  "You are on your own."

  "But what will I do?"

  "To quote Rhett Butler..."

  "Daddy,” she whined.

  The entire gallery watched in silence as Major Sommersby left the courtroom and the daughter he'd disowned. She begged him to come back but the door closed behind him, Sommersby never looking back. The press in attendance wrote furiously, not wanting to miss one juicy detail.

  "Miss Sommersby, do you have representation?"

  "Not at the moment..."

  "Your Honor, the defendant admitted her guilt in front of many witnesses while laughing at her handiwork. She has been implicated in an earlier attack on Chelsea Strawbridge Carrington which resulted in a miscarriage followed by stalking and harassment of the Carringtons and several friends as well as appearances at his place of work which we are ready to prove with documented proof. Due to her current situation, we request remand to custody and surrender of her passport."

  "Miss..."

  "Your Honor, my apologies. I got here as soon as I could."

  "And you are?"

  "Alex Mack, public defender's office. I've been assigned to represent Miss Sommersby."

  "And are you up to speed?"

  "Yes, Your Honor."

  "How does your client plead?"

  "Not guilty, Your Honor,” Jocilynne stated. “I haven't done anything wrong. I just got rid of a social outcast. She doesn't deserve him..."

  "This court finds for the prosecution. Miss Sommersby, you are remanded without bail and you will surrender your passport.” The bang of the gavel echoed in the room. “Next case."

  The press people fought their way out of the room in order to be the first to file their stories on the socialite criminal. Flashbulbs flashed as photographers tried to get shots of her being led out of the courtroom in handcuffs.

  An officer escorted Jocilynne Sommersby from the courtroom to the holding area where she would wait to go to lock-up.

  "But I didn't do anything wrong."

  * * * *

  Reed made it through surgery with no problems. The graft to his vein took without complications and they found a simple break in his hip. After a quick check for anything additional, they sent him into recovery where he would be under constant monitoring due to his condition at the time the medics brought him into the hospital.

  The nurse assigned to him gave Macy regular reports. She watched the monitors at her desk as well as keeping an eye on her patient. Once Reed's vitals stabilized and he seemed able to breathe on his own, Macy removed the oxygen mask and replaced it with the lighter weight tubing.

  "I see his coloring is better."

  "Yes, he's doing extremely well."

  "We're lucky they didn't take in too much bad air."

  "That is good,” the nurse agreed. “How is his wife doing?"

  "Resting but Hamlin decided to be overcautious with her case."

  "Judith Hamlin is good at what she does."

  "She may have to work miracles with this one,” Macy stated, “But if anyone can, she's the one."

  They walked to the desk, Macy notating Reed's chart. God, I hate waiting.

  * * * *

  "Reed?"

  Chelsea woke up calling her husband's name. Unable to recognize where she was, she panicked.

  "Reed!” she screamed.

  "Shh, it's all right,” Suni, her nurse, tried to assure her. “You're in Jefferson Hospital..."

  "Where's my husband? Is he all right?"

  "On another floor in recovery."

  "Recovery? Why?” Chelsea whispered, terrified by what she might be told next.

  "He had surgery, Chelsea,” Judith Hamlin said. “Thanks, Suni, you can take a break."

  "Yes, Doctor Hamlin,” Suni said before quietly slipping from the room.

  "Tell me what's happening."

  "What do you remember?"

  "I was being held in the basement of a house near ours. I went there thinking I would be meeting Reed—one of his many romantic surprises. I heard explosions but I couldn't escape. Reed freed me and we tried running for the door but we heard another explosion and the floor above us came down. Reed threw himself over me and ... My God, he took the weight of it all to make sure I didn't. How is he?"

  Judith Hamlin went on to explain what Reed had gone through. She held Chelsea's hand, trying to help her patient through the horrifying memories.

  "Reed comes from strong stock. From what Raines tells me, he came through the worst of it. He'd gone into shock between blood loss and the release of the massive weight on his legs. The doctors would have preferred him to be more stable but they had to fix the bleeder."

  "And
he's..."

  "Going to be fine."

  "I need to see him."

  "Not yet,” Judith said. “We need to talk."

  "About what?"

  "You—you haven't even asked about your treatment."

  "My injuries are nothing compared to..."

  "Chelsea, you have no clue, do you?"

  "About what? Judith, what..."

  "You're pregnant."

  "I can't be—not after all that bitch did to me."

  "Tell me what happened."

  Chelsea took a deep breath and tried to recount everything she could remember. Judith listened, making mental notes of their conversation so she could add them to Chelsea's chart after they finished.

  "Judith, the smoke, the physical attacks..."

  "From what we can tell, you both made it through without any complications or ill effects but I'm going to treat you as high risk,” Judith told her. “Chelsea?"

  Chelsea became very quiet, unsure about everything happening to her. She wept, everything overwhelming her all at once. Judith held her, knowing Chelsea needed this.

  "Does Reed know yet?"

  "Not that I know of. Raines does because he ordered the pregnancy test to be on the safe side."

  "Why?"

  "He wanted to make sure you didn't lose a second one to that maniac's schemes."

  "I owe him a lot."

  "Do you feel up to eating something?"

  "I guess."

  "Then let's get you something. You're eating for two now."

  * * * *

  Reed came to, groaning. He felt every bit of pain in his legs from the collapse, ruing his impatience. Why didn't I wait? Because it was Chelsea...

  "Chelsea..."

  "Easy, Captain Carrington, you don't want to rush things."

  "My wife..."

  "She's fine and in excellent hands. We have to make sure you don't undo any of the repairs we made."

  "What?"

  "We had to repair a bleeder in your leg thanks to a piece of metal. That was the touchy one."

  "What else?"

  "We fixed your hip where the beam rested. With some therapy, you'll be as good as new."

  "I want to see my wife."

  "Soon,” Macy said. “As soon as we get you out of here and into a room."

  "How badly hurt..."

  "Bruising mainly. You saved her life by doing what you did."

  "Damn stupidity. I know better."

  "Stop beating yourself up over it. You did what you had to do."