Siege

Fifty-two

‘DID YOU MANAGE to get the insulin pens?’ Abby asked groggily. She looked tired but in OK shape, and was drinking from a bottle of water while Ethan knelt beside her, holding her hand.

‘I’m afraid they weren’t there,’ said Scope, shutting the door behind him and putting the chair back against it.

‘But they were in my black handbag by the side of the bed. I’m sure of it.’

‘Your handbag was on the floor, and it looked like someone had been through it.’

‘Who?’

‘I’m guessing one of the terrorists. He was probably looking for clues about who killed his friends.’

A wave of panic crossed Abby’s face, and Scope could see that Ethan was scared too.

‘Don’t worry,’ he said. ‘We’ll sort something out.’

‘What, though? This siege looks like it’s going to go on a ways longer yet, and I’m going to need that insulin soon, as well as something to eat, otherwise my blood sugar levels are going to start getting way too high.’

‘What happens then?’

Abby looked down at Ethan. It was clear she didn’t want to worry him. ‘If they keep going up, then it could be a problem, but I should be good for a few hours yet.’ She squeezed her son’s hand and forced a smile.

‘Mom, you’ll be OK,’ said Ethan quietly, before turning to Scope. ‘Won’t she?’

Scope nodded, but something in Abby’s expression worried him. He didn’t know a lot about Type One diabetes, but he was pretty sure the consequences would be serious if she didn’t get her insulin soon. ‘Leave it with me,’ he said. ‘I’ll sort it.’

He grabbed the hotel phone, walked it as far as possible from the bed, and dialled the emergency services.

As soon as the operator picked up, Scope asked to speak to a paramedic. At first, the guy on the other end was reluctant to put him through, but Scope wasn’t taking no for an answer. ‘This is a matter of life and death,’ he hissed into the phone. ‘If this woman dies because you wouldn’t help, then I’m going to come looking for you, and you’re going to pay, do you understand that?’

‘There’s no need for that kind of attitude, sir,’ said the operator indignantly, but clearly there was, because two minutes later he was through to a male paramedic who identified himself as Steve.

Scope briefly explained the situation, keeping his voice low. ‘We need that insulin fast. She told me she thinks she’s good until about ten, so we’ve got an hour and a half maximum.’ This was a lie, but he knew he needed to inject a sense of urgency into the situation.

‘Where’s the patient’s supply?’

‘She dropped her bag when she was shot,’ answered Scope, avoiding telling the truth, ‘and it’s not there any more.’

‘How much blood has she lost?’

‘I don’t know, but I got the bleeding under control fast, and I’ve only had to change the dressing once, so I don’t think she’s lost that much. Will the blood loss affect how soon she needs her next dose?’

‘I honestly don’t know, but it might have some effect.’

‘So we need to move fast. In a hotel this size they must keep medical supplies somewhere on-site. I just need to find out where.’

‘I can’t help you there,’ responded Steve.

‘That’s where you’re wrong. You can find out for me.’

‘But I’m nowhere near the Stanhope.’

‘One thing I can guarantee about this siege is that someone in the emergency services will be in touch with the hotel’s owners, and they’ll know. You’ve got to ask to be put through to someone at the scene.’

‘It’ll take time.’

Scope looked over his shoulder and saw mother and son staring up at him expectantly. Abby still looked OK, but for how much longer was anyone’s guess. He gave them both a reassuring smile before turning away. ‘We haven’t got time, Steve,’ he whispered. ‘There’s a woman in here who’s going to die if she doesn’t get her insulin, and her eight-year-old son’s going to have to witness it.’

Steve sighed. ‘I’ll see what I can do, but it’s not going to happen just like that. This whole thing is bedlam at the moment, and I’m only a lowly paramedic.’

‘Just do what you can, and do it fast. Have you got a number I can get you on?’

Steve hesitated for a moment, then gave Scope his mobile phone number.

‘I’ll call you in fifteen minutes,’ Scope told him, hanging up the phone before Steve had a chance to protest.