Knock Knock Knock.

“Hello. I am a detective from Serious Crime Division, Team A. My supervisor is Captain Ford.”

Sergeant King knocked on the door frame again, to let the sound travel in the large hospital room. There were several officer patients admitted and mixed in with the current civilian groups. All the beds were full, they even squeezed in two more extra beds in the space built for four. The sergeant stood next to one of them, waiting for the officer patient to come around.

“PC 9527.” Sergeant King patted the officer’s shoulder to wake him up more. “I’m here to take your statement. You good?”

“...Wh-where is PC 2022, my partner?” The officer gripped at his aching leg, fresh blood seeping through both his bandage and his blanket. He sat up, never breaking eye contact from King. “Will he make it?”

Sergeant King stared, for a long time. All he could do was turn away to clear his throat. Officer PC 9527 dropped his gaze to his blanket, gripping at the sheets. King grabbed a chair to sit down, he gave the officer time as he pulled out his police tablet and opened a new document to write his notes. After a good 5 minute of silence, King started the interview.

“Could you tell me what happened, prior the shoot out?”

PC 9527 hit his bed sheets. It was all he could do. He took in a deep breath, locking up his emotions, long enough to get his words out. “My...partner and I received a call from dispatch. A prisoner from the station wasn’t feeling well, wanted to see a doctor.” He reached up to grip his forehead, wrapped with bandages. “We brought the prisoner to New Lucille, but there was a norovirus outbreak. So we called to dispatch on a reroute, came here to St. Marlene Hospital. It was far from the station so this was our second choice really.”

Sergeant King patiently listened, typed notes, and tapped the back of his thumb to his chin. “Did you, your partner, or even the prisoner make any calls?”

“No.” PC 9527 wave a sharp hand through the air. “No telephones. Nothing. My partner and I were on duty so we kept our phones in our lockers. We only used the radio. The prisoner never touched even a payphone.”

“Did you ever leave him out of your sight? Any chance he used a phone in between then?”

“Definitely not. We arrive to the hospital, escorted him to the waiting room. Hadn’t been two seconds, and he wanted to use the bathroom. He never went out of our sights...” PC 9527 paused, bad memories coming back as he covered his mouth. King gave him a moment, to let him recover to speak again. “As soon as we let the prisoner use the stall, three men all rushed in, armed. They held us at gun point, knocked out my partner with a swipe to the head...he bled all over.”

“And then?”

“Th-then they threw me around, dazing me. He took one of my keys to unlock the prisoner from the chains that bound him to us. I think before they could take off his handcuff, the uh, the detective who helped us noticed and intervened...then the shoot out and then...”

Sergeant King reached over, patting the lonely officer on the shoulder. “No one on the force will let them get away.”

“I-I know, sergeant. I have faith in our men and women just...My partner. It hasn’t been five days from his academy graduation.”

King bowed his head, before asking “By chance, did you happen to know the prisoner? Or anything about him beforehand?”

“No. Not personally. Met him the very first time when he called sick. Given his attitude, didn’t bother to make small chat with him.”

“Any idea as to what lead to his custody?”

“Sorry sergeant. All I know was that he got busted in a bar earlier that night.”