A Dozen Deadly Roses by Kathy Bennett Read Free Book Online

into the terrified eyes of the little boy before he’d lost his hold on the step.  All she could think of was what if it was Donnie in the water?  If the child weren’t saved, the look in those eyes would haunt her for the rest of her life.
    On the other hand, Jade couldn’t bear the thought of losing her partner.  She’d always thought it was best if Donnie knew nothing about his father.  Now she wasn’t so sure.  At least Mac should be told he had a son...if only she got the chance.
    Another officer on the overpass holding binoculars to his eyes yelled out.  “There he is.”
    In a tense flurry of activity, the rescue team readied themselves.
    Jade squinted as her gaze searched the agitated waters.  There!  A shapeless form bobbed in the water as it careened down the ravine.  Jade realized the figure she was looking at was actually two people.  The boy sat high on Mac’s chest, his head well above the turbulent water.  Mac fought to stay upright.
    Her hands flew to her mouth as her knees went weak with relief.  “Good job, Mac.  Hang on.  Please, hang on,” she whispered through her fingers.
    As they disappeared under the bridge, Jade ran to the other side to look over the metal railing.  On each side of the channel several swift water rescue team members stood ready.  Each team member was tethered by a rope, which was connected to a fire truck or a tree.
    Mac sped by, the child still on his chest.  Water rescuers timed their approach, threw lines and jumped.  The first four men missed.  The last man jumped in and snatched at Mac’s arm, almost causing him to lose his grasp on the boy, but the police officer hung on.  A cheer went up from the crowd.
    Jade exhaled with relief.  She clapped and cheered with everyone else as she made her way to where Mac would be brought up.  The trio was slowly pulled to the side of the canal.  One by one they were pulled from the treacherous water.
    The boy was the first one to make it to the top of the channel.  She didn’t get a good look as he was placed on a backboard and loaded into an ambulance, which immediately sped away.
    Mac was the second person up.  Jade ran to him as he was assisted onto a stretcher.
    She threw her arms around him.  “Thank God, you’re alive.  Good job, partner. ”
    “Well, I feel awful.  I think I must’ve drunk half the Los Angeles River.”
    “You’re going to be all right,” she said.
    A paramedic stepped between them.
    “Officer, we need to check him out.  We’re going to take him to Valley Hills Hospital.  You can meet us there.”
    Jade nodded and gave Mac’s shoulder a squeeze.  “I’ll see you at the hospital.”  She gave him a smile and a thumbs up. “Outstanding job, Mac.”
    # # #
    A half hour later, Jade couldn’t believe the number of people who crowded the trauma center waiting room.  Patients fidgeted in their seats as reporters crowded the already full room.
    She tried to push her way through the throng into the area of the treatment rooms.  Due to the water rescue and accompanying media attention, the lobby was standing room only.  The hospital staff was understandably short with anyone trying to gain access to the rear emergency rooms.
    Jade stood aside, waiting for a lull at the admission desk before she tried to get back to see Mac.
    “Yo, Donovan.”
    Jade turned to see who was calling her name.  Callie Lasko.
    “Hi, L.T."  Jade said, using cop slang to keep things neutral.  "What’s up?”
    “Have you been in to see Stryker yet?”  Callie tucked some loose strands of frizzy blond hair behind her ears.
    “No, ma’am.  It’s a madhouse in here.  I’m waiting until the clerks have a minute before I bother them to go in back.”
    “Nonsense.”  Lieutenant Lasko stepped to the front of the line of people waiting to speak to the admission clerk.  Moving ahead of a woman whose arm was held in place by a dishcloth forming a sling, the lieutenant knocked on the glass