So sorry its been so long. I work in the ER and it has been absolutely crazy lately. Its flu season. On top of that half of our staff is out sick so the rest of us are working ourselves to death. I have worked the last eight days straight. Now that I finally have a couple of days off I am sick. Kinda sucks. But oh well. I hope this chapter makes up for it. I want to thank everyone who gave me encouragement. And Phoenix was right. As long as I enjoy writing nothing else matters. And I absolutely love this story. I hope you do too. Happy reading.
Tuesday evening.
Jack Evanston walked into his favorite hangout, a bar named Sullivan's. Glancing around he edged carefully through the crowded tables until he came upon his friends. Settling in a chair he groaned loudly causing several people to look over at him.
"Whoa man, Jack what happened to you. You look like you got run over by the el train." Jamie observed as he looked at his best friend.
"Nah man, more like an ambush by that Cena freak and a bunch of his friends." Jack said carefully through his busted mouth.
"Yea he was trying to force his way through Monica's door to get the girl. I happen to come up behind them. When I protested their treatment of my sister they turned on me. You can see the results." Jack added holding up the large cast on his arm.
"Man that's rough. We should return the favor and pay a visit to that little sweet cakes he's fond of." Jamie decided. "I wouldn't mind having a piece of her."
"Yea, that's exactly what we should do." Jack grinned thinking of how much he would hurt the little bitch. "Right after I get rid of this awful headache with a little alcohol. Hey," He yelled out to the harried waitress. "I need a couple whiskeys over here on the double."
An hour later the TV over the bar began playing the ten o'clock news. Popping some more of his pain medicine in his mouth Jack chased the pills with a shot of tequila. Deciding that he was feeling pretty damn good he was about to suggest to Jamie that they grab the rest of their friends and bail when he glanced over at the door. Recognizing the man standing in the doorway Jack paled. Nudging Jamie he quickly got to his feet and tried to slip out the back door.
Turning his head the other man noticed the quick departure and gave chase. Catching up with them in the alleyway behind the bar he grabbed a hold of Jack's shirt and slammed him against the wall.
"Now now Jack. I thought we had a deal. You promised me you would stay away from her. Did you forget that little fact?"
Jack, too scared to say anything, tried to shake his head in denial. The other man ignored him and continued on.
"Do you remember what I said would happen if you touched her again?"
Jack looked desperately around for his friend but Jamie had fled for his life, not looking back at the fate of his cohort.
The other man smiled grimly and began carrying out his threat.
Inside the bar a young female with pink hair walked up to the table. "Hey, has anyone seen Jack? I figured he would be here." She asked the rest of their friends.
"Yea, he went out the back with some dude with dark blonde hair in a marine style haircut." One of the other gentlemen replied
As they waited to be seated at the busy restaurant Nikki turned to her brother.
"This is kinda cozy." She said snuggling in Randy's arms.
John groaned and nuzzled Journey's ear. "Maybe it is, but you two are definitely sleeping in separate beds tonight." He stated.
Randy tightened his arms around the small girl before she could launch herself at her brother. He was grateful the waiter chose to lead them to their table at that moment.
Once they were seated and had ordered the conversation became serious.
"Okay, we have to do one of two things. We either have to come up with five million dollars or figure out how to get Arianna out of that apartment." Journey summed up.
"The most I can get is maybe a million and it will be a tight squeeze to come up with it by Thursday." John informed his friends.
"Most of my money is in my cars. I can get you maybe five hundred grand but that is going to wipe me out." Randy offered.
"You have expensive cars?" Nikki asked surprised. "Anyway, I blew all my money. Don't have much left. And my next advance won't be here for a couple of weeks."
"I'm living paycheck to paycheck. I can barely afford my rent." Journey put forth.
"Okay so we have maybe one point five million. Where in the world am I going to get another three and a half?" John asked despondently.
"Paul, Mark. All you have to do is call them." Randy answered softly.
"And what exactly should I tell them? That my daughter is probably going to get killed if I don't get the money? They don't even know I have a daughter." John pointed out.
"Tell them exactly that. They will help you and beat you senseless later." Randy pointed out.
"Ya know the beating senseless part is what I am worried about." John replied sarcastically.
"Do ya not think they are going to find out eventually?" Nikki spoke up.
"Well yea, but I kinda figured on a slow introduction, not by begging them for money." John explained.
"Do you really have a choice?" Journey asked softly.
"No." John sighed and accepted the phone Randy handed him. Deciding to face the lesser beast first he dialed Paul's number.
"Paul, you remember yesterday when you said you would be there for me if I needed help? Well I need help." John started when the other man had answered the phone.
"First off are you all right? Nobody's hurt?" Paul asked, concerned by what he heard in John's voice.
"So far. But I need some money." John answered quietly.
"You need money? How is that possible? You are worse than JBL about investing. How can you need money?" Paul asked incredibly.
"That's the thing. All my money is tied up. I need cash now." John replied, laying his head on the booth behind him.
"How hard is it to take your money out of the stocks and bonds?" Paul asked warily, knowing there had to be a catch.
"I can liquidate some but at the most I can only get one million and I would be losing twice that in doing so." John explained.
"One million dollars isn't enough for what you need?" Paul asked shocked.
"Not even close." John groaned.
"John man, what kind of trouble are you in?"
"If I don't pay a little girl is going to get seriously hurt, maybe even killed. I know it's a lot to ask but is there any way you could loan me some money?" John questioned softly.
"How much do you need and by when?" Paul asked.
"Around three and a half million by Thursday, but I would be thankful for however much you could spare." John said as Journey grabbed his hand for support.
"I can have it by tomorrow and rest assured I will be delivering it in person." Paul informed him menacingly.
John sighed. "Yea I kind of figured that. And Paul, thanks. You don't know how much this means to me."
"You can pay me back by explaining what the hell is going on. But tomorrow, when I get there." Paul stated before hanging up.
Handing the phone back to Randy John related what had been said. "So the only problem we face now is who exactly Paul is going to bring with him." Looking pointedly at Journey he added. "If Dave comes I might not even make it until Thursday."
Journey groaned and put her head in her hands as the others laugh.
"Listen, it's only ten o'clock. How about we go over to the club across the street, Sullivan's, after we eat. I think we could all use some fun." Randy said.
"Sullivan's huh. You'll start eating. I'll be right back." John said as he got up from the table. "Umm, I've got to go to the bathroom." He said before taking off.
"Okay that was weird." Nikki said as the waitress served their meal.
They were halfway through their meal when John returned. Journey looked at him curiously.
"I am not going to comment on the time it took you in there, but what in the world did you step in?" She asked looking down at his shoe. "On second thought, maybe I don't want to know."
"Huh, oh I slipped on some ketchup." John answered distractedly. Picking up his napkin he hurriedly wiped the red streaks off his shoe.
Very early the next morning.
"Hey Jerry, you about done?" The cook at Sullivan's asked his young helper. He was anxious to lock the doors for the night.
"Just got to take the trash out." The helper called back as he went out the back door.
The cook, waiting impatiently for him to return, was startled by the loud scream. Hurrying out the door he was confronted by a grisly sight and his young helper puking his guts up. Swallowing his own bile he rushed back in to call the cops.
Some time later the chief detective in charge, detective Brooksbank, walked over to the lead member of the crime team. "What have we got?" He asked, his eyes taking in every detail.
"Young man, approximately age 23, identified as Jack Evanston. Found lying behind the trashcans. Missing several body parts, including all fingers, genitals and ears. Cause of death seems to be from blunt force trauma to the head. According to the coroner the blow occurred after the removal of the body parts. The perp must be one sick freak."
"Or someone who is extremely angry about something. Usually the removal of genitals indicate that a sexual act was involved. This might be revenge." Detective Brooksbank informed him. "Round up witnesses, family. Find out everything you can about him."