Black Flagged Apex

Chapter 60





8:33 PM

Wayne Memorial Hospital

Honesdale, Pennsylvania



Jessica sat up in the vinyl chair placed in Daniel's sparse hospital room. Daniel had been transferred from the emergency ward less than an hour ago, after they were reasonably sure that his condition had been stabilized. The bullet had passed through his shoulder unhindered, tearing through a few ligaments, but causing no foreseeable long-term damage. The real problem stemmed from his blood loss, which had been categorized as a Class III hemorrhage, requiring aggressive fluid resuscitation and blood transfusions immediately upon arrival. By the time she'd reached the ER, Daniel was still deep in shock and nearly incoherent. The ER doctor estimated that he had lost more than thirty percent of his blood in the "shooting accident."

She heard footsteps approaching the room and tensed slightly. Jessica's hearing had slowly improved over the past several hours, and the ringing had almost subsided, but her ears were still a long way from a full recovery. She was slightly tense, since the ER staff said that Daniel would have to provide a statement to the police. This was standard procedure for any injury involving a firearm. Fortunately, the local police were thoroughly occupied with some kind of major incident at a local business and couldn't take the statement until tomorrow. She had a plan to get him out of here before the police arrived.

Sanderson had assured them that everything had been squared away with the FBI, but they were leery of local police involvement. Neither of them was one hundred percent sure what a background check might reveal about Daniel's involvement in the regrettable incident in Silver Spring, Maryland, two years ago. Their presidential immunity agreement didn't extend to local and state government, though they had been reasonably assured that most jurisdictions would comply. Still, she'd prefer not to test those waters while Daniel was relatively immobile. A short blond nurse entered the room, holding her hand out to stop whoever had followed her.

"Hold on, gentlemen. Mrs. Petrovich? I have two FBI agents who would like to speak with you and your husband. I can request that they return tomorrow morning if you want," she said.

"My husband has had a long day. He needs to rest. I'd prefer if they came back tomorrow," she said, worried that something else had changed in D.C.

"We were sent by Deputy Director Sanderson," someone interrupted from the hallway.

She recognized Melendez's voice.

"All right. You can let them in," Jessica said.

"Are you sure?" the nurse responded.

"Very sure. Thank you for running interference," Jessica said.

"My pleasure. Go ahead, gentlemen, but if you get out of line, I'll have you removed," the nurse said, winking at Jessica.

Melendez and Munoz stepped inside the room and walked past the empty bed closest to the door. They were dressed in the same clothes they had been wearing that morning.

"You guys are getting a little brazen with the FBI badges," she said.

"We're thinking about joining the FBI. Sanderson should be able to hook that up from what I understand."

"I'm sure they'd be really happy to have you after the stunt you pulled in Stamford. Plus, the badge thing would get old really quick," Jessica said.

"Sanderson and Director Shelby apparently have an understanding," Munoz said.

"I'll believe that when I see the two of them shaking hands," Jessica said.

"How's he doing?" Melendez asked.

"Much better. He'll need some surgery to repair the ligaments damaged by the bullet, but beyond that, he should be back on his feet by tomorrow."

"Good deal. We were worried," Munoz said.

"Thank you for bringing him to the ER instead of the house. Another fifteen minutes driving around could have killed him. He'd lost too much blood at that point. The two of you are making a career out of saving our asses," she said.

"It never seems to end," Munoz said.

"You just make sure those kids of yours hear the stories about Uncle Jeff and Uncle Rico," Melendez said.

Munoz looked at him like he was crazy.

"What the f*ck kind of a comment was that?" Munoz muttered.

"Do you know something I don't know?" Jessica said.

"No. I was just saying, that if they ever have kids, they should…I was just making a joke. F*ck."

"Uncle Rico and Uncle Jeff? Did we miss the wedding?" Daniel said, without opening his eyes.

"Well, there he is. Back from the dead when there's a joke to be made," Melendez said.

"Please excuse my partner…my colleague. Damn it, Melendez!" Munoz said.

"The two of you do make a nice couple," Jessica said.

Munoz shook his head. "I'm going to miss having the two of you around, despite the incessantly inappropriate humor."

"Who says we're going anywhere?" Jessica said.

"Sanderson doesn't expect you to return to Argentina," Munoz replied.

"Sanderson's right about that. I have no intention of living the rest of my life on Gilligan's Island, but I never said we were finished."

"What about kids and living a peaceful life in a nice family community? Didn't I hear you talk about that before?" Melendez said.

"In due time, Rico. We still have a few loose ends to tie up," Daniel said.

"Srecko?" Munoz said.

"Among others. Until then, nobody is allowed into our residence. We'll be back sooner than you think," Daniel said.

"Sounds good. We're going to hit the road. We have a two-hour drive to Harrisburg in a stolen Suburban packed with automatic weapons and an Osama Bin Laden look-alike. Did I mention the truck was driven by Mexicans? I'm not optimistic about our chances," Munoz said.

"I'm glad I was shot. Make sure to say thank you to Berg's guy," Daniel smirked.

"This is like the start of a bad joke. Two Hispanics, a black and an Arab meet up to trade machine guns in a Walmart parking lot," Jessica said.

They all laughed for a few moments.

"We'll see you in a little while," Jessica said.

Once they were alone, Daniel turned his head slightly and stared at Jessica.

"I need at least a solid month of vacation before heading back down to Argentina," he said.

"A month? I was thinking more like six months."

"Six months sounds nice. I assume we won't be here in the morning?"

"They're headed right back here after they deliver the weapons. The FBI will need to remove you for national security reasons. I doubt the night shift will ask any questions."

"Back to South Carolina?" he asked.

"That could work. I'm sure they have adequate medical facilities in Charleston."

She walked over and kissed his lips, staying there for a few moments before leaning back. He exhaled and closed his eyes.

"I love you."

"I love you more. Rest up. The Mexican connection will be back around one in the morning," she said.

"Two Latinos and Osama Bin Laden traveling through Pennsylvania with the nation on red alert? I hope you have a backup plan."

"I still have my badge and a few wigs in the Cherokee. You'd be surprised how persuasive I can be."

"I'm pretty sure Nurse Ratched has you pegged."

"I checked. Her shift ends at midnight."