High Tide // JJ Maybank

Chapter 24

JJ and I sit in the ambulance, waiting. It was dark out by now and we were blocks away from the prison. JJ taps his thumbs against the steering wheel. The vehicle was filled with nervous energy.

"Waiting on your call, John B." JJ says, checking the time on his phone again. "Come on, buddy."

I notice a car pull up behind us. The lights flash on, the siren chirping a few times.

"Oh shit." I whisper, looking at it in the mirror.

"Relax." JJ tells me, wiping his sweaty palms on his pants. "Get in the back."

I climb around my seat, practically throwing my self onto the stretcher in the back.

The car pulls up next to us, putting down their window to match JJ's. "Hmm, I hate when it's slow like this." The cop announces. He definitely thought we were actually paramedics. "You know?"

"Tell me about it, man." JJ replies.

"Hey, what happened to Ricky?" The guy asks, leaning across his middle console to get a better look into our vehicle. "He bang out?"

JJ exhales, looking over at the police man. "Something like that."

The conversation is cut short when the ambulances radio starts going off. "One three Eddie. We got an unknown at KC Detention."

JJ grabs the radio, answering it. "Uh, yeah, ten four. I'll be right there. Thank you so much. Over." JJ looks back over at the cop. "Duty calls. I'll see you later, officer. Uh, you have a good night though, okay?" JJ turns the key, starting the car.

"Hold up."The officer stops him. "Where's your partner?"

I poke my head to the front, looking out the open window. "Right here, sir. Just organizing the back." I say simply.

"Well... I got nothing to do. I'll pace you." The man turns on his light, blaring his siren a couple times before starting his car. He pulls into the street, driving forward.

"Go!" I tell JJ as he hesitates to follow. I crawl back into the passenger seat, pulling the paramedic hat over my head.

We follow the cop to the detention center. Pulling up to another cop that was standing outside at a gate. I put my hand on my face, making it look like I just had it resting there, rather than hiding my face. He shines his light in the car before speaking.

"It's straight ahead to the transfer bay."

"Copy that. Thank you, Sir." JJ replies. He drives forward as the cop buzzes us in, putting the gate up.

JJ drives until he has to back the ambulance into the transfer bay, pulling in backwards. He leans out his open window, tapping on the door.

"Alright, load him up!"

The nurse looks at him incredulously. "Are you gonna get your patient here, chief?" She jabs her thumb behind her.

"Yeah. Right on. I'm gonna get my patient."

"Well come in then." The nurse states.

JJ and I both climb out of the car.

"Am I gonna get my patient?" JJ asks, like it was an obvious question. "Of course I am."

"Where's Ricky?" The nurse asks looking between the two of us.

"Sick day." I answer without missing a beat.

"Yeah, uh, Ricky? Food poisoning." JJ adds. "You know, uh, Ming Dynasty off of Highway 25? Them egg rolls, dude. They'll get you. They'll get you good. So where's the patient at?"