Lake Effect on the Scajaquada Expressway

Buff Gen

As she walked down the hallway of the quiet hospital, Estella Edwards studied the iPad in her hands. She was so intent on the chart in front of her that it took her a moment to notice the long-haired dark-skinned woman on the side of McQuaid's hospital bed with a wheelchair, who was trying to get him up into a sitting position from the bed.

"Whaa? What are you doing?" She harshly asked as she rushed to the bedside setting the iPad on the tray table over the bed.

"Estella, thank god. Help me get him into the chair, will you?" the woman asked.

"Who are you?" Estella asked as she grabbed the woman's arm. "And how do you know my name."

McQuaid, sitting up now, though his head lolled about from the drugs in his system, mumbled "Steeela, is Kitt. My gggggrrrrl." He slowly lost consciousness as his chin fell to his chest.

"Girl!?" Estella looked at the two of them. "Girl?" She asked again, softer this time.

Just then Mandy Valtierra walked into the room with a vase of flowers in her hand, her head down as well. "Here ya go ya old mutt, something to brighten your da...." She looked up surprised at the scene in front of her. The other two women looked at her with relief.
"Thank god Mandy!" They both blurted out simultaneously. Estella looked at Kitt with even more surprise on her face. "How do you know....?"

Her question was cut out by Mandy's curious "Kitt Osborne? What the fuck?"

"You know her?" Estella asked.

"Yeah, she's the main reporter for that online mag Buff-Lo Down." Estella looked at her uncomprehendingly.

"Mickey says she's his girl." she stated.

Kitt sighed heavily and spoke to the bowed head of McQuaid. "I know you said we should tell everyone, but I'm sure glad you're out of it right now so you can't tell me 'Told ya so!'"

Mandy started to chuckle. "I see ya do know him then." Kitt nodded, "And he told me all about you two. Now, will you help me?"

"You can't move him. He's not even conscious and he hasn't been cleared for discharge!" Estella stated emphatically as she continued to hold Kitt's arm.

"Look, I don't have enough time to explain all of this. He's in danger if he stays here."

"How? There is a policeman outside his door 24/7. At least there usually is..." Estella looked worried as she glanced towards the door. "I didn't see one when I came in."

"Neither did I!" Mandy agreed.

"Someone called them off, which means that someone wants him to be left vulnerable," Kitt replied.

"Shit." Mandy set the vase aside and joined the women at McQuaid's side. "We gotta get him out of here."

Comprehension was starting to fall across Estella's face. "Ok, you two get him in the chair. I'll keep a lookout and keep everyone out of your way. Where are you parked?"

"Handicapped parking, near the door." Mandy looked at her with a "Really?" look on her face, to which Kitt gestured to McQuaid and the chair as Estella covered his lap with a blanket. Mandy nodded yeah, true, and they made their way to the door.

Working their way down the hall, with Estella running lookout in front of them they made their way to a freight elevator in a back hall. She used her swipe card to get the elevator moving and as the doors shut Mandy let out a "Shit, cameras! They'll see us!"

Kitt pulled a small silver electronic device from her pocket, the size of a small recorder. "This interferes with the broadcast, the tape stops and won't start again until we are out of range and sight."