Free Copp In Shock, A Joe Copp Thriller (Joe Copp Private Eye Series) by Don Pendleton

there when a disturbance outside the nurses' lounge attracted our attention. A youthful voice yelled, "Get down! Get down!"
    We flew into the corridor to investigate the ruckus. Two men carrying sawed-off shotguns had invaded the waiting room and were moving swiftly toward the Intensive Care Unit. People were scattering in panic as though they had been ordered to hit the floor and were complying with all possible haste. The gunmen were professionals; there was no hesitation or confusion as they swept through the waiting area and unerringly along the hallway leading to the I.C.U.
    They spotted us the moment we emerged and they were tracking down on us instantly. The Chief and I moved together almost like a team and hit the deck beneath a narrow ledge as two quick rounds exploded from both shotguns and shattered a window directly behind us. The shooters were experts and were not playing for effect. These were automatics and were limited only by the agility of the shooter. Two of them were laying down on us with murderous intent and the only thing that saved our day was the Chief's big .357 Magnum, which was bracketing them instantly with return fire. I yelled at him, "Toss me the bag!"
    There were no standing targets out there. These guys were firing on the run. The Chief had already anticipated my play. He tossed me holster and all from the evidence bag and snarled, "You got it, bud!"
    And just in time. I caught it on the slide and executed a perfect pirouette worthy of the Bolshoi Ballet and came up firing at the precise moment that two other deadly blasts shattered the doorway I had just vacated. After that stunt, I would recommend a twirl or two of police training with the Bolshoi ; that one undoubtedly saved my life.
    We were a pretty good team, each selecting his own target with calm precision and withering accuracy. The Chief cried, "These turkeys are ours, bud."
    That much was obvious, and they knew it. They had already broken for a quick retreat. They did not make it. In a running firefight, the advantage is with the cooler hand. These two had made the mistake of trying to run and fight at the same time. I am proud to say that John Terry is a very cool hand under fire. His man took two big hits from the .357 that blasted him through a glass wall of the building onto the sidewalk outside. My target caught it at a dead run and was catapulted into a death slide that came to rest inside the waiting room.
     
    The first one off the floor was Douglas's young cousin, Danny. He yelled, "Is everyone okay?" A sharp kid who wasn't wet behind the ears anymore. He ran toward me as I cautiously approached the fallen body of the gunman I had taken down.
    I warned the kid, "Careful there, careful, let's be sure this one is out of it."
    But there was no cautioning this kid. I believe he would have attacked the dead body if I had not intervened. I firmly pushed him away and confirmed that the gunman was no longer a threat. The Chief had gone through the shattered window to verify his hit. Jean Douglas and other family members rose on shaky feet and were trying to get themselves together. Several of the women were weeping while others were nervously chattering about their close call.
    A number of hospital workers were beginning to come forward and take charge of their hospital again. They were running from room to room, reasserting their control, professionally reassuring and calming frightened patients. A young doctor, who may have been an intern, was checking vital signs of the assailants. I could have told him with no medical training whatever that there would be no vital signs to record here.
    The Chief vaulted over the window sash and back into the room, then quickly verified the condition of my man. He snorted, "Jesus! I think I'm flashing back to Vietnam!"
    I told him, "Pal, I always want you on my side. That was a sweet shoot."
    He replied, "Ditto double, bud. Obviously your rep is not all hype. Were you in 'Nam?"
    I said, "No, I