"HUCK!" screamed Betty, as the ambulance pulled into the construction company's parking lot.
"B-Bet-" Henry Jenkins, Junior tried to say, as a trace of blood began to escape his mouth.
"Just hang on honey," she cried, holding him closer. "I'm not going to lose you now!" as a paramedic hopped out of the back of the ambulance before it even came to a full stop.
"When did he change?" the paramedic asked, checking Huck's vitals as he looked over the situation.
"After he was shot," answered Officer West.
"Has he remained conscious up to this point?" the paramedic wanted to know.
"Less as time's passed," replied West.
"We need to drain the chest and re-inflate that collapsed lung, STAT!" screamed the paramedic as his partner appeared out of the back of the ambulance with some of their equipment.
MEANWHILE...
It was a dead end road, bordering part of the untamed woods of Moon Lake that Officer Ward had chased the suspect to.
The man who shot Henry Jenkins, Junior had crashed his car into the guard rail, and the vehicle was now laying on its driver's side.
"COME OUT WITH YOUR HANDS UP!" Ward shouted over his bullhorn.
Trying to crawl out from where the windshield used to exist, the suspect's response was to fire two shots in the officer's direction.
Ward was afraid to return fire, but only because he wasn't sure if the gas tank was leaking since he didn't want to start a fire.
Cautiously, Ward made it to the trunk of his police cruiser, keeping a low profile on the passenger side of his car.
Popping the trunk open with the remote on his key chain got two more shots in his direction, one of which actually hit the trunk lid.
Either very high caliber or armor piercing ammo, observed Ward, since the bullet had gone THROUGH the trunk lid!
Already wearing his bullet proof jacket under his uniform, Ward reached inside the trunk just long enough to grab his police issued rifle and a box of shells from their secured containers, but was forced to duck as two more shots were fired.
A loud hissing sound proved the suspect had hit his intended target: the driver's side tires of Ward's police cruiser.
Then his acute were hearing detected the sound of fading footsteps.
"All units," called Ward over the radio on his belt, "suspect is on foot. Am in pursuit!" he said, adding the details of his present location and direction before giving chase.
"Okay. We've done what we can for him here," realized the paramedic. "Patient's condition is critical, but stable at the moment. Let's get him on the bus and to the hospital, STAT!"
"I'm coming with you!" declared a teary eyed Betty, not caring whether or not it was against any regulations.
"GO!" said Officer West, as another police unit arrived to help him secure the crime scene.
MEANWHILE...
Tachibana no Akane, the leader of the Skulk as well as the head of Tachibana Industries, was going over morning reports of various business interests when her desk phone rang.
"Yes?" she asked, answering it after checking the Caller ID.
"It's bad," began Daisuke Tachibana without any preamble. "Dieter Wilhelm's second henchman managed to shoot Henry Jenkins, Junior under the belief he was assassinating Harry."
"Will the man live?"
"Uncertain. They are rushing him to the hospital now."
"Even if he isn't on duty right now, make sure Tora notifies the hospital that we shall cover all of Jenkins' medical expenses. What about his assailant?" wondered Akane.
"On foot and attempting to flee apprehension even as we speak," replied Daisuke.
"Acquire whatever personnel and equipment you might need, but assist the police and bring that gun man in alive for questioning. Has Jenkins' family been notified yet?"
"Not yet."
"Send a car for his parents immediately. Have them taken directly to the hospital to be with their son. Harry and Jenny are in class right now. I shall collect them personally," announced Akane, before hanging up.
Then she summoned her personal car and prepared for the mission ahead.