Shanghai by Joseph Kanon

Author:Joseph Kanon [Joseph Kanon]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Amazon: B0CF6NDMQD
Publisher: Simon & Schuster UK
Published: 2024-05-22T23:00:00+00:00

* * *

Markowski, miraculously, was there, just beginning his night shift, and got Nathan on a gurney with the help of two aides, the Buick almost as big as the ambulance on duty in the garage.

“My god, what happened?”

“Shot. Twice. A lot of blood.”

“I can see that,” Markowski said as the aides began wheeling Nathan in. Swinging doors. “Who is he?”

“My uncle.”

Markowski looked up. “Gunshot wounds, we have to report. It’s the law. I’d get fired.”

“I know. It’s a big favor.” He looked at Markowski. “I’d owe you. Anything. Just save him.”

“God, the car— What the hell happened?”

“He wasn’t the only one. Who got shot. I know, it’s a mess.”

“And all over you,” Markowski said, nodding to Daniel’s face. “You better get washed up before the nurses get a look at you. I’ll get somebody to clean up the car. It’s a specialty we have here. You should see the ambulance sometimes. Not so pretty, the way people die. What name?”

“John Doe.”

Markowski looked over at him.

“I know. It’s a big favor. I’ll get him out of here as soon as we can move him.”

“What about your shoulder?”

“Just a scratch. They missed.”

“Come on. We’ll take a look.”

“Him first. He’ll die.”

“They’re already working. Stabilizing him. It’s the protocol.” He turned to face Daniel. “I’ll do what I can. But if he needs major surgery—”

“We’ll find someone. We’re not going to let him go.”

“What was the shooting about, if I’m allowed to ask.”

“Gangs. Out in the Badlands. He got caught in the cross fire.”

“The cross fire.”

“That’s right,” Daniel said, looking at him.

“You brought him all the way here from the Badlands? Why?”

“Nobody’s looking for him here. And you’re here.”

“It’s nothing—political, is it? Old times. I can’t get near—”

“No, nothing like that. He runs a nightclub. Other things. Come on, we’re wasting time. He’s tough, but he’s been shot. Do this for me, Karl. Please? I’ll owe you.”

“I don’t do it for that. I’m a doctor. So.”

Nathan was already out, hooked up to an IV drip.

“He’s lucky,” Markowski said, bending over him, examining the wound, his face now covered by a surgical mask. “A few more inches and the heart— All right. Let’s get it out and see if we can stop the bleeding. You wait in there.” He nodded to another room. “Orders. I’ve got an open wound here. I can’t risk sepsis. Li, take a look at his shoulder. Make sure it’s clean. He’ll need a dressing. Look at this, right near the artery.”

Sergei came back while the nurse was swabbing Daniel’s shoulder with antiseptic. An examining room with cabinets of bandages and metal trays of tongue depressors, an old EKG machine in the corner, sprouting wires.

“We have to stay here,” Daniel said. “You get Irina? How is she?”

“How is she. The end of the world. She wants to come.”

“What did you tell her?”

“We’re with a doctor. Not where. I’ll call later, when we know how he is.”

“You tell her to go somewhere safe?”

“Then how do I call? I sent some Russians over.

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