Heart Race

“I am just glad you made it home safely. Go give Bella her nightly romp in the snow. I will talk to you tomorrow. I need to get with Jack when he returns to figure out our next defensive strategy against Evans. Truly this man is making it too easy for us. Maybe to easy if you ask me. I just want you to be careful because if Evans knows that someone has been asking about his business ventures and tailing him, he may retaliate and I don't want you getting hit in the crossfire. So please when you take Bella out remember to take your cell phone and a can of pepper spray. That would be comforting to me," Rick said in a worried tone.

Rick hung up the phone and watched ESPN until Jack returned from his meeting. Rick heard someone approach the door but it didn't open. He knew that Jack had a key to open the door himself and Rick had not ordered room service either so who could have been by the door. There was no knock but he could tell that someone was directly outside and up against the door. Rick tiptoed across the room and looked out the peep hole. He could not see anyone standing there. Just then he heard a gasping noise coming from the hallway. Rick opened the door to his surprise to see Jack slumped over at the waist. He had been beaten pretty badly. He helped Jack to his feet and half carried him to the bed. Jack fell to the bed with a loud thump. He screamed in pain. Rick ran to the bathroom for a wet towel. The blood on Jack's face had already begun to dry and crust in dark red streaks. His left eye was swollen shut and he was clinching his right side.

"Jack, Good Lord what happened to you?" Rick asked as he wiped his face.

"Oh my God. Two guys jumped me as I was spying on Evan’s down by the large warehouse near the river. I was hiding in an alley behind a dumpster when they tackled me from behind. They beat me until I blacked out. Damn is it cold waking up in a three foot snow bank in the dark," Jack said as he told Rick of his brutal encounter.

"Are you hurt badly? I only see a few small scrapes on your face but nothing major," Rick stated.

"I really think they broke a few ribs." It hurt to breathe. He was just hoping that the ribs hadn't punctured a lung. That could be why he was having difficulty taking in deep breaths. He knew the next few days would be horrible to deal with because of the pain. He would feel like a Mac truck had run him over.

"Can I get you anything for the pain? I can call the front desk and see if they can send up some aspirin or Tylenol. I know you probably need something stronger, but I am not sure if they have a doctor on staff to prescribe Percocet or Vicodin. I could get a strong drink for you but I don't think you should be drinking until you know about the lung."

"No, I’ll be fine now that I am lying down in a comfortable bed verses the cold, wet, snowy ground. I just really hope that Evans doesn't know that you hired me. He could try to hurt Kasey," Jack told Rick in a caring way.

Just then Rick got a knot in his stomach. What would happen if someone did this to Kasey? He would certainly hunt them down and make them pay dearly for hurting the woman that he loved. Rick decided he should call Kasey just to check on her. These men were obviously ruthless and following orders from Evans and if Evans feels threatened, no telling what he is capable of. Rick grabbed his cell phone punched in Kasey's home number. The phone rang six times and the voicemail came on. He hung up without leaving a message. He then punched in her cell number. It also rang six times and her voice mail came on there as well. Rick was beginning to get nervous.

"Damn it Kasey why aren't picking up?" He said out loud. "Jack what do you think the odds are that they would attack Kasey the same night as you? Should I be concerned or am I overreacting?" He looked at Jack with fear in his eyes.

All he could think of was Kasey lying in the frigid cold hurt. Surely Bella would put up a fight for her master. But then he thought what about the dog. They could easily trap or kill Bella too. His fear grow immensely now. He picked up his phone and tried both numbers again. Still nothing. This was not like Kasey to be out of cell phone range. He knew that phone was pretty much attached to her at all times.

"Jack are you going to be ok here for a while? Did you need me to drop you off at the emergency room or anything? What about calling in a private doctor? I am sorry but I'm going to have to go in search of Kasey. I cannot sit here and wait." He started pacing the floor at a greater speed.

"Rick I will be fine. I will call the front desk and have them send up a first aid kit. As long as I have some antibiotic ointment and an ace bandage I will be fine. I can wrap my own ribs tightly and that should help. If I need to call a doctor I am sure I can get someone here at the hotel to find me one. Go to her Rick. Make sure she is ok." Jack stated as Rick grabbed his coat and hat from the chair by the desk.