"Hop out and stay here. Try to find out what happened. We'll talk by phone." He looked confused, but did my bidding as Paul made a quick U-turn and followed after the speeding vehicle.
"He's headed to Cottage Hospital, on Pueblo," my accommodating chauffeur announced as he wheeled around a car and trailer. "It's only two or three miles." While we couldn't keep up with the ambulance but we held our own and kept the emergency vehicle in sight.
The hospital was much more extensive than I expected. I learned later the facility was the largest between Los Angeles and San Francisco and contained five hundred and ten beds and a fully equipped trauma center.
We caught up to the ambulance at the emergency room entrance just as attendants were removing a stretcher. Nauseous from panic, I elbowed my way close enough to see a female figure, her face covered with an oxygen mask. She was anxiously administered to by several white coated escorts. I could barely make out the emblem on the front of the Harvard Tee shirt it was so drenched in blood. I sank to my knees at the sight of the unmoving figure of Julie O'Malley.
"I know her," I blubbered, or at least that's how it sounded to me. "She's a . . . friend." A Hispanic woman in green pajamas took my arm and I was led to a small cubicle. Pual followed a few steps behind. She sat behind a desk and began asking me questions which I interrupted. "Look," I said. "The woman in there was with my wife and a young child! I need to know where there are!"
"I just have a few questions . . ." she continued as if I hadn't spoken. I turned and left the room with Pual behind me as I searched left and right until I saw a policeman by the door. I grabbed him by the arm, startling him. He reached his hand back toward his gun and I released my grip like a hot fry pan.
"Look," I said as I took a gulp of air to steady myself. "It's my friend in there who was assaulted. I think the man who did it may have taken my wife and a young girl." I couldn't tell if the look he gave me was incredulity or concern but he grabbed my arm and led me outside where a suited man who must have topped six foot five was walking toward us.
"Lieutenant," the uniformed officer said to him, "This guy has information on the victim." He turned and returned to the hospital, as if glad to be rid of me.