White Night

Chapter 40

Connors drove to the hospital early, before Brooklyn woke up. It was time to move Michael, without her partner's knowledge, and without Reyes' approval.

The captain had been less agitated about the orderly's escape than expected, but her "kindness" was infinitely worse.

If you feel you're up to the job, then you have my support, but I urge you to take a moment and assess what's really best for your future.

A kidney punch would've been less painful and left her insides feeling less bruised. The message was clear: It's on you, Connors, if anything goes wrong on this case.

And now she was secretly transferring a witness in a double-headed move designed to safeguard Michael and entrap Ross.

She needed Ross to make a move or clear himself. Once Michael was safely settled into The Brooklyn Hospital Center, she would tell Ross he was at Kings County. If another attempt was made on Michael's life at Kings, then she'd have something solid to take to Reyes.

Of course, if an attempt was made on Michael's life during the transfer, then she would be responsible for the death of an innocent witness, and the end of her career would pale in comparison. Tejo was assisting her with the move, but concealing it from her partner and Reyes was career suicide if it didn't go perfectly. Even Tejo's presence was questionable, but she couldn't risk Michael's life by attempting it solo, and he was the closest thing she had to someone she could trust.

She arrived at the hospital, her stomach already churning; she needed to get this done quickly and quietly. Fortunately, Michael was all ready to go. The nurses had disconnected the IV line in his arm, taped up the loose end, and prepared notes for the Kings County staff. Even the nurses had to believe the transfer was to Kings. Only Tejo, the Admissions Coordinator, and she knew Michael's actual destination.

With Tejo on one side of Michael and her on the other, they marshalled him to the elevator. She'd managed to get Michael's doctor to agree that a medical transfer via ambulance wasn't necessary. Michael was stable, it was a short journey, and she didn't need griping, gossiping EMTs knowing about the move.

As she helped Michael into the back of her car, she turned to see Grinair exiting his own vehicle. "Twice in one week, Connors. You following me?" His smile disappeared when he saw her face. "You look wiped out. You okay?"

"Just a busy week."

"What's going on?"

"A patient transfer," she said, her heart accelerating.

"Without a bus?"

Grinair had her. Patient transfers were done with ambulances (or buses, in cop slang), but before she could think of a lie for that question, Grinair asked the bigger one. "Where's your partner?"

Safely back at the precinct.

She smiled, regrouping. "He's working on some leads. We're stretched a bit thin at the moment."

"Yeah, I get that. The thin blue line's getting thinner every year." Grinair laughed. "Hey, you want some help?"

"No, we're good, thanks."

"Tejo, give us a second," Grinair said, pulling her over toward his car.

She lifted her arm out of his grip."Grinair, I'm in the middle–"

"Connors, I've heard the buzz in the house. You're already under a microscope. The captain know about this move?"

She quickly looked away. Lying was useless. Grinair knew as well as she did that Reyes would never approve a move like this.