“They alive?”

“Yep. Thank God. Looks like it was a bunch of small charges all over the floor like land mines. They are good at blowing off feet and legs.”

“Oh no.”

“Go to the hospital. See if you can interview any of them before surgery. Then go out to the site. Don’t go in till the bomb squad says it is clean. We don’t need to have some more officers hurt.”

“We don’t want to contribute to that tally.”

By the time they got to the hospital Maria, Carla and Dale were also in surgery. Other surgeons Dr. Davis had trained were being called. As soon as they had another team Deede would be taken, then Larry. Jack and Eva talked first with Deede then when she was taken to surgery they moved to Larry. It was apparent something in the floor exploded. When Larry was taken they left the hospital. In the car Eva looked over at Jack. “We could have left twenty minutes ago.”

“Yep. And we would have left a wounded officer alone. They were stretched thin on the street, they couldn’t spare anyone.”

“But we’re IA. We’re not to care.”

“And we’re still cops. They are still brothers. It doesn’t matter if they see it that way or not we have to. That is why I hate this job.”

“Why?”

“Because every cop on the force thinks I’m his mortal enemy. They hate me more than they hate the crooks.” His voice cracked.

“Do you know why I applied for IA?” Eva had only been with IA three weeks.

“No.”

“I wanted a change.”

“And you thought this would be better?”

“I thought I could be fair. I knew you were here. I wanted to partner with you again. Do you know what they say about you on the street, the cops I mean?”

“No.”

“If you are clean, hope for Jack. If you are dirty, hope for someone else.”

“Huh? Really?”

“I was told you are tough. You are thorough. You ask hard questions. But they say if you are clean Jack will prove it. And that was the Jack I saw eight years ago when we rode together.”

“Damn. I thought they hated me.”

“It is the same as being a street cop only you police the cops. You’re the watchman who watches the watchmen. The good ones will be nervous around you but the guilty hate you. That’s one way to tell the difference.”

About ten minutes after IA left Harry was moved into one large room, Doris into one across the hall. Larry and Dale would join Harry in the one room, Carla and Deedee would join Doris in the other. Anna and Maria were assigned the room next to the other women. Police officers were stationed in the hall. They were concerned for the safety of the wounded. They were under police guard. Dr. Davis was moved to a room on the same hall.

Denise Chapter 01: Success in Hollywood

Denise Chapter 46: The Arrest Goes Bad, Real Bad

Denise Chapter 48: Dr. Davis Tries to Play Patient