Chapter 40: Emergency Rescue

Inspector Gray was the first to get out of the car and was inquiring about the situation.

"How did the accident happen?"

The slightly overweight county police officer, although injured on the head, seemed to be conscious but was still in shock, stammering as he spoke.

"Uh, a coyote suddenly jumped in front of the car. Graham swerved hard, and we went off the road."

Inspector Gray glanced down the slope and continued to ask.

"How many people are still on the bus?"

Seeing LAPD officers surrounding them, the county police officer calmed down a bit.

"Twenty prisoners and two guards."

Noticing that he was unsteady on his feet, Inspector Gray quickly stepped forward to support him.

"Did any prisoners escape?"

"Some might have."

As the county police officer lost consciousness, Inspector Gray loudly gave orders.

"Go down and count the number of people."

Zoey, standing nearby, picked up the radio and called the command center.

"Command center, this is 7L10. We are at the scene of a traffic accident. I declare the city in tactical alert. We need a lot of ambulances and additional helicopters for search operations."

"Dispatch all available units from Rampart to North Hollywood to conduct a search mission centered around the accident site, with an estimated range of a ten-minute walk."

Jack drew his gun and slid down the steep slope with the others to the smoking bus.

This specially modified bus for transporting prisoners had reinforced windows, so even rolling down a steep hill wouldn't throw people out.

But when they reached the front of the bus, they saw a prisoner in an orange jumpsuit lying outside.

Tim checked the prisoner's carotid artery, shook his head, and indicated that it was a corpse.

Jack and John guarded the overturned bus while the relatively petite Angela and Hannah crawled inside through the shattered windshield.

Inside the bus, about a dozen injured people were lying scattered. Some were still groaning, while others were silent. A wounded county police officer saw the two women and tried to get up, but Angela held him back, signaling him not to move.

"Ambulances are on their way. Can you give us a rough idea of the situation?"

"Seven prisoners escaped. They took my keys and gun."

Angela immediately reported this over the radio.

"All units be advised, seven prisoners are on the run, at least one is armed."

At this moment, John noticed some movement in the distant bushes and shouted.

"Something's happening at ten o'clock!"

Tim signaled, "Go check it out, but be careful."

Jack, realizing he couldn't do much here with so many seriously injured prisoners, signaled to Tim.

"I'll go too. It's too dangerous for John alone with armed fugitives."

He then followed John into the bushes.

Behind the bushes was a path leading into the forest, with a large trail of blood on the fallen leaves and branches. The two exchanged a glance and advanced cautiously.

A few steps in, they heard a man groaning in pain. John was about to shout when Jack, already focused, motioned him to be quiet and quickly moved forward.

They found the third county officer, the deputy, who had lost his left foot and was desperately trying to crawl forward.

"Hey, relax, let us help you."

Jack knelt on one knee, pressed a hand on the officer's shoulder, and used a healing spell. The officer was on the verge of hemorrhagic shock and barely conscious.

John quickly called over the radio, "7A15, I need an ambulance immediately, 60 yards east of the accident site, approximately 50-year-old male, severe injuries."

Jack pulled out his belt to make a tourniquet, holding down the struggling officer.

"I need to get help. Someone ran off. I need to get help."

"Hey, don't move. Support is here. We're right here. What's your name?"

"Graham."

"I'm Jack, and this is John. Are you the driver? Your colleagues are safe. Stay still; the ambulance is almost here."

Graham, pale and shivering, spoke haltingly.

"Will I die?"

Jack signaled John to lift Graham's leg and tie the belt around the stump, answering.

"Not with me here. Hang in there."

Without waiting for a response, Jack tightened the belt around the bleeding stump. Graham convulsed, almost passing out.

"Hey, Graham, stay with me. You'll be fine."

Jack kept slapping his cheeks to keep him conscious. Graham's injuries were severe, and he had lost a lot of blood. Even with Jack's healing spell, it was only barely keeping him alive, and Jack was starting to feel dizzy from the mental strain.

John, distressed by the scene, looked like he was about to cry.

"You'll get better, you will. Just hold on."

"This is 7A15. Where the hell is that ambulance?"

Jack listened intently and heard the faint sound of sirens, patting the anxious John.

"John, the ambulance is here. Go guide the paramedics. I'll stay with him."

John nodded and ran out, returning minutes later with paramedics.

They put Graham on a stretcher and carried him to the ambulance. As he was being loaded, Graham grabbed John's arm.

"Tell her... I love her."

John, about to relax, leaned in closer, asking, "Who? Who should I tell?"

Graham, looking near death, muttered, "Beth, tell Beth."

Watching the ambulance drive away, John stared blankly, then turned to Jack, who was rubbing his temples.

"Do you think he'll make it?"

"Maybe. We'll find out tonight after the mission when we visit the hospital. And maybe you can see your old flame too. Haven't asked her out yet?"

John, embarrassed, almost twisted his back, "I apologized, but I've been too busy to ask her out."

Jack patted his shoulder, "Don't miss the chance. Last time I saw her, her wedding ring was gone."

John grunted and sighed, "Gareth told me she's getting a divorce, which is why she came to LA. But do you really think this is a good time? We haven't been in touch for years..."

___________________

Read Ahead

P@treon.com/Mutter