Silence settled between them, thick and tense.
"How bad is he?"
"My officers aren't combat medics, but those who saw him go down estimated that he'd lost a catastrophic amount of blood between the first shot and the moment he broke the line. Whatever's keeping his heart beating, it isn't ordinary biology."
"...All right."
"We're expanding the perimeter. Air support should be in position within the next forty minutes. Realistically, if he manages to find a rat hole in that industrial district, we won't pull him out before daylight." Hale paused. "You asked to be informed. Consider yourself informed."
Stan stared down the empty hallway. "I appreciate the call."
"Mr. Harrison."
"Yeah?"
"I don't know the exact nature of your history with this man, and frankly, I don't want the paperwork of asking. But as the officer who authorized the flag on his file at your request, I would appreciate advance notice if your interest in Damien develops into something... operational."
