Nuclear Jellyfish

TALLAHASSEE

A uniformed police officer stood guard outside a hospital room door. Two detectives returned from lunch and peeked inside. An unconscious young man, IV tubes, wires, electronic monitors. A nurse wheeled a ventilator out the door.

One of the investigators touched her arm. “Still improving?”

“Doctor said a complete recovery.”

“When can we talk to him?”

“He’s heavily sedated.”

“But it’s important.”

“So is his rest.” She pushed the medical cart down the waxed hall.

The detective looked at his partner. “We don’t have the luxury of time.”

“Three hotel robberies in one week.”

“That other guy, Ralph-what a worthless witness.”

“And the third is dead.”

“This kid’s the only one who got a good look.”

“We better double the guard. Once they killed that last guy, our patient here became their ticket to death row.”

“But we already moved him from the other hospital and registered him under a fake name.”

“Can’t hurt to be safe.”

“Why don’t they use armored cars anyway?”

“I don’t know shit about the diamond business. Guess these couriers try to blend in as the last people you’d suspect to be carrying a fortune in stones.”

“They’re right in this case. Just look at the guy.”

“Same as the other two victims: unassuming faces, low-key attire, fake business covers that would throw anyone off.”

“So how did the gang nail three in a row?”

“Only one possible answer. Someone on the inside’s feeding information.”

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