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Sylvian and Kel leave campus, being careful not to get spotted, and head for the El station.  It's only a few minutes into the city, but Kel needs a little time to study the map to figure out the best way there.

They ride the El into the city and walk a few blocks to the hospital.  They go in through the Emergency entrance, figuring the ambulances came there.  They don't see Colin or Sarah in the lobby, but they do hear some of the staff chatting about the people brought in from Lawson Labs, so you know you have the right place.

Sylvia braids her hair in two long plaits before they enter the emergency waiting room.  Between that and her long, hippie-rustic patchwork skirt she hopes her Plan B stands a chance.

But first, Plan A.  She goes to the nurse on duty and says, "Hi.  I'm here to see a patient.  Colin Crow.

Kel walks neatly and with authority, it is only as they get into the hospital that he realizes his strong walk and frame of mind do not match the appearance that he has.  He just shrugs and stands behind Sylvia as she speaks with the front desk, keeping an eye out for Colin or Sarah.

The nurse at the desk takes a quick look at Sylvia and then taps a few keys on her computer.  "Sorry ma'am" She begins, "He was discharged about an hour ago."

Sylvia's mouth pulls to one side in aggravation.  "Are any of the Oak Park High kids still here?"

The woman blinks a couple of times, and then her expression changes slightly.  "I'm sorry young lady, I can't release any patient information.

Just then a man walks up to the desk and flashes the nurse a badge, "Detective O'Brian, Chicago PD.  I was told Colin Crow was here in the lobby, but I can't find him.  Is there a record of him having been admitted?"

Sylvia recognizes the man from Colin's photo album as Christopher O'Brian.

Sylvia keeps quiet, but she doesn't hide the fact she's as interested in the nurse's answer as O'Brian is.

"No, he hasn't been admitted, let me check with the doctor that examined him."  The nurse picks up the phone and O'Brian turns around to put his back to the counter.  He looks at Sylvia and Kel and smiles, then looks around the room.  A moment later he looks back at Sylvia.

O"BRIAN:" I recognize you, you're sylvia right?"  He extends a hand, "Colin's friend from the school paper, he showed me the photo."

Sylvia nods and shakes O'Brian's hand.  "This is Kel.  He's from the paper, too," she tells the cop.  Then it occurs to her that truancy is a crime, and her smile drops.

O'Brian shakes Kel's hand and nods, "You guys here to cover the story for the paper or were you down at the lab on the field trip?"

"Uh. . . ."  Sylvia throws Kel a guilty look.  She's a terrible liar.  "Paper."  Then she tries to cover up by diverting O'Brian.  "So Colin was discharged an hour ago, and he said he'd meet you here?"

[OOC:  Kel, don't mean to stampede on without you.  Step in at any time, and let me know if you want me to slow down.]

O'BRIAN: "They called Alex, er, his mom and she called me.  I was closer"

NURSE:"Detective, the doctor said he went up to visit with one of the other students.  Room 317."

O'BRIAN: "Thanks."  O'Brian looks at Sylvia and Kel, "You guys want to come up.  I can't say if it's okay for you to go into the room, but you could wait in the hall while I go in to get Colin."

"Yeah," Sylvia says.  It's good to know they didn't have to schlep all the way out here for nothing.

Chris O'Brian leads the way to the elevators then up to the third floor.  He has Sylvia and Kel wait in the hall while he goes in to find Colin.

((OOC: If Sylvia gets an invite into the room then just post that on the 48 hours thread))

Kel walks along, only making pleasantries with the officer, he hadn't bothered to figure out the stretch of time it'd taken them to get here and if it meant whether or not school had ended, either way he wasn't giving a last name he didn't want him saying anything to his family.  Once they're waiting outside alone Kel says, "Well, at least we could get some answers, if not, it's friday and we're in Chicago...aww, but we have to go back for the football game."  He shakes his head at the prospect.

((Eh, it's no trouble, school started today so my posting schedules have been shifted a bit.

O'Brian steps into the hall.  "She said it's okay, but you should probably keep if brief."  He opens the door for Kel and Sylvia to enter.

((OOC: Take this over to the 48 hours thread now and we can pick up when you leave the room.))

"Football game?"  Sylvia seems dismayed.  "Who wants to hear about a stupid football game when the quarterback's been attacked by ultra-terrorists?"  That ultra-terrorist thing seems to excite her, or maybe it's just the opportunity to write about something more exciting than car washes.

Kel and Sylvia get the accounts of what happened from Sarah, Megan, and Calvin and then make their way back to Oak Park.  They have to make it to the school in time to catch the bus with the band kids to Larkin for the game tonight.