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At the hospital, they wheeled my sister into a treatment room, gave me a pile of paperwork, and pointed me in the direction of an empty lounge. It wasn’t empty for long. Jin must have followed the ambulance and soon joined me for the interminable wait.
“I guess you drew the short straw,” I said, scribbling my way through the intake form.
“Nah, I volunteered.”
My brows arched in surprise.
He shrugged. “I’ve had my fill of paperwork for one day.”
I smirked. “Well, thanks for coming.”
“Someone had to. I found that in the ambulance,” he said, holding up the Kevlar vest. “You need to put it back on.”
I’d removed the vest on the ride over. While I’d ditched the vest, my stocked utility belt remained wrapped around my waist. It was probably a good thing I’d been wearing it, because it’s unlikely I would have remembered to grab my purse on the way to the ambulance. I was starting to see the draw in wearing cargo pants—like the pair Jin wore—or a utility belt. They kept your possessions close without the burden of a heavy handbag.
I stared at the vest with the pen poised above the clipboard. “I’m not keen to put it back on,” I admitted. “Don’t you think we’re safe here in the hospital?”
“No, as a matter of fact, I think you’re vulnerable.” He held it out to me.
With a put-upon sigh, I tried to wrestle my way back into the vest. My arms got stuck in the upright position, and I couldn’t seem to get the vest to go up or down. “Uh, Jin, a little help.”
Jin wasn’t as tall as Josh, but his hands were strong, and with a tug and a yank, the vest slid into place, once again squishing my boobs.
I struck a pose. “Sexy, huh?”
“It’s not supposed to be sexy. It’s supposed to be safe,” he replied in a monotone voice while adjusting the Velcro straps.
After I finished the forms, Jin carried them to the appropriate paper pusher. He returned to find me absently picking at nonexistent lint on my yoga pants.
“Is there someone you need to call?” he asked.
“Probably a million people,” I muttered, pulling my phone out of a pocket on the utility belt. I’d turned the sound off after talking to Mike, and to my displeasure, I found dozens of voicemails and texts. Dropping the phone in my lap, I rubbed a hand across my face. Mike was on a plane, so I couldn’t call him. On the other hand, my parents deserved a call. I dialed their number.
Mom answered before the first ring completed. “Hello?”
“Mom? It’s Karina, we found Jilly and she’s going to be okay.”
My mother immediately began sobbing, and I paced the floor as I consoled her.
Twenty minutes later, it had been decided my mom would fly out on the first flight she could get. My father had been teaching classes at the local community college and the upcoming week was finals. Grades would be due afterward, so we determined he would stay behind for the time being.
Not long after I hung up, Mike walked into the waiting room wearing jeans and a black hoodie, wheeling a suitcase. I stumbled into his open arms, so incredibly thankful as his warm embrace curled around me.
“I thought it would take you longer to get home,” I mumbled into his shoulder.
“You can thank your friend Rick. I don’t know who he called, but it must have been someone high up the food chain. I couldn’t find a direct flight, and the next thing I know, an Air Force pilot is knocking on my door with orders to fly me into Andrews Air Force Base. From there I was choppered to the Pentagon, where I got a taxi. I guess you haven’t seen my texts.”
Sheepishly, I shook my head. “Things have been a little . . . chaotic.”
“That’s what I understand.” The deep crease between his brows spoke to hours of worry.
I rubbed a thumb along that furrow and found myself pulled into his embrace again. I welcomed the comfort it brought.
A little while later, he released me enough to allow proper breathing to return. “I spoke with your parents,” he told me.
“I know. I called them just before you arrived. My mom is getting a flight out tomorrow morning.”
“Let me know when she’s supposed to arrive. I can pick her up.”
I smiled weakly at his thoughtfulness, realizing I’d probably have my hands full with Jillian.
A thickset man with thinning brown hair, black-rimmed glasses, and wearing green scrubs entered the waiting room. “Who’s here with” —he glanced at the clipboard in his hand— “Jillian Cardinal?”
“That would be us. I’m her sister, Karina.” I took Mike’s hand in mine and stepped closer to the doctor. I felt Jin’s presence on my other side. “How is she?”
“I’m Dr. Kanter.” We shook hands. “Your sister is in stable condition, but we are going to admit her, and keep her under observation overnight.”
“Can I see her?” I asked.
“After we get her a room, you can go on up. Only family.” He eyed the two men. “Wait here, and someone will direct you once we get her settled. Officially, visiting hours are over, so the nurses won’t allow you to stay for long. You can return tomorrow at nine.”
While we waited for Jillian to get a room, Rick arrived, his gaze alighting on Mike and me. “You made it,” he stated in greeting.
“Thanks to you.” Mike rose and shook Rick’s hand, slapping him on the shoulder with his other one. “I don’t know what favors you called in, or how you knew where I was, but I appreciate it. I owe you one.”
Rick gave him a calculating look as he replied, “One day, I’ll collect.” Then he moved past Mike to me and gestured to the vest. “You can remove that.”
“Oh, thank goodness, it’s making me sweat.” I loosened the straps and Rick helped wrench off the bulky vest.
“Did the hit get called off?” Mike frowned as I readjusted my shirt.
“The hit was put out by Hector Cortez.” Rick tossed the Kevlar onto nearby bench. “Since he’s dead, no one has offered to pay the bounty.”
“Are you sure everyone knows?” Skepticism filled Mike’s question.
Rick nodded. “Cops have put word out on the street that there’s no money in it. The gang took a big hit tonight.”
“You mean all the drugs and money in the house?” I asked.
“That, and the warehouse the taskforce raided. Drugs, cash, guns, and military weapons.”
“Military weapons?” I exclaimed.
“M252 mortars, MK19 grenade launchers, cases of M-16s, XM25 Counter Defilade Target Engagement System—” Rick listed half a dozen more weapon systems that was all military Greek to me.
Jin crossed his arms with a deep frown. “That sounds a lot like a shipment to Afghanistan that went missing last summer.”
Rick stuck his hands in his pockets. “Looks like they’d already sold off some of the larger equipment.”
“How’d they get ahold of it?” I asked.
“Inside job,” Mike and Rick answered at once.
All the men exchanged looks that made me feel left out.
“They also confiscated a computer system.” Rick tilted his chin at Mike. “Your people will have a field day.”
Mike rubbed his jaw and held back a yawn. “Maybe we can identify our Pentagon arms dealer with it.”
“I believe that’s the hope.” Rick rocked back on his heels. “Whatever the case, MS-13 took a big hit tonight. It’s my understanding they arrested two of Montoya’s top lieutenants along with a dozen soldiers at the warehouse. Nine more were killed on site, and four went to the hospital. Cops rounded up over a dozen more gang members tonight. Word on the street—Montoya’s on the run and a rival gang is already positioning themselves to move in on his territory.”
“A productive evening,” I murmured.
“Jin—” Rick addressed his subordinate. “You can go. I’ll want to see your report tomorrow, but you can clock out tonight.”
“Wait, Jin, before you leave—” I placed my hand on his sleeve “—what happened with Tazim?”
“He went to fence the diamonds. Once the police entered the picture, Tazim crumpled and was more than willing to squeal on anyone he could think of.” He gave a knowing grin. “They didn’t even offer protection, he was spouting names as they put him in the squad car. Gambling ring bosses, loan sharks, even some guy who deals in counterfeit cash.”
“So, Sadira had nothing to do with the original diamond theft?”
He gave a head shake. “Doesn’t look like it. She was an easy target for Tazim.”
“Why did he do it? Was it just the money to pay for his gambling habit?”
Jin’s scar elongated as he frowned. “They threatened his wife and kids. The mix-up with the manager at the jewelry store simply made Sadira an easy target.”
“Hm, just think,” I mused, “if Tazim had pinned the theft on another one of his employees, all of this never would have happened. MS-13 would be selling those weapons to the highest bidding military junta.”
“Most likely,” Jin agreed.
“Huh, my sister, in her quest to help an at-risk youth, brought down a little gang empire.”
Mike put an arm around my shoulder and squeezed. “She deserves a medal.”
A nurse came in, breaking up our little coterie, to direct me to Jillian’s room. She reiterated the doctor’s orders that only family would be allowed. I gave Jin and Rick a hug, thanked them for everything they’d done for me tonight, and told them I’d contact them tomorrow.
“I’ll wait here,” Mike said, “and take you home afterward.”
I squeezed his hand, then followed the nurse’s directions to Jillian’s room.
The room held two beds, but Jillian was the only one in it. IV tubes and wires monitoring her heartbeat snaked out from beneath the covers. They’d intubated her, and the breathing machine wheezed quietly. Her left eye was swollen angry red and her cheek, a mottled purple. She slept.
I took her cool, limp hand in my own and murmured a prayer. The nurses kicked me out, in the kindest tones, after what seemed like five minutes, but checking my watch, I found I’d stayed with my sister for more than half an hour.
Rick had remained behind with Mike and drove us both to my condo. Utter exhaustion took over as I sat in the back of his car.
The next thing I knew, Mike was in my face, shaking my shoulder. “K.C., we’re here. Do you want me to carry you?”
I made it to my apartment on my own volition. Kicking off my sneakers willy-nilly, I dropped the utility belt as I walked to the bedroom, where I collapsed on my bed. I’m not even sure if Mike followed. At that point I didn’t care. All my body craved was rest, and my mind, the blinding numbness of sleep.