by Alice Cooper
He paced until he was frustrated, he hadn’t heard anything yet. Rico went up to the desk and demanded to be told what was going on with the girl he had come in with.
“I’m sorry sir, I don’t know. I’ll see if I can find out anything for you though.” The young man said and walked off.
Rico watched for him to come back, but after another 20 minutes the man hadn’t come back. Rico got worried that Lalena had died in back and they just didn’t want to tell him.
His nerves were raw and on edge. He wondered what had happened in the accident. The police walked in the door to talk to him about it as he was waiting for news about her.
Rico kept watching for the man to come back as the police talked to him.
“Mr. Mayor I need you tell us what happened.” One of the officers tried to get Rico to focus on the questions.
“I’m sorry; I’m just really worried about her. We were driving; she had driven because I drank some wine at dinner. Someone hit us hard from behind and the next thing I knew I saw blood all over her. Here we are now; I’m waiting to make sure she’s okay. Do you know who did it?” Rico asked.
“No sir, it was a hit and run, we’ve gotten no reports yet on anything. Do you know the color of the car that hit you?” The officer asked.
“It’s dark out and it happened so fast honestly.” Rico stated.
“Do you know anyone who might want to hurt you or the person who was with you?” The other officer asked.
“The person who was with me is Officer Lalena Swan; I don’t know anyone who would want to hurt her. But me on the other hand, we have a list of people who might want to get me.” Rico admitted.
“It was Officer Swan?” The younger of the two officers asked.
“Yes it was.” Rico answered.
He walked away and got on his radio. Rico couldn’t make out what was being said, but when the officer came back he said. “Okay sir, we’ll get right on this, we might have a few more questions but for now that’s it. Thank you for your time.” He tapped the other officer on the shoulder and they left.
Rico walked back up to the front desk, the young man had finally reappeared. “Did you find out anything?” Rico asked him.
“She’s in surgery right now. They’ll be done as soon as they can.” The young man said.
“Is she going to be okay?” He asked.
“Honestly, it’s touch and go right now, their trying to stop the internal bleeding. But please don’t tell them I told you, I could get into serious trouble.” The young man explained.
“I won’t say a word.” Rico walked away and looked out the window. He tried to think of who on the list might be the one to do this. Who hated him so much that they would hit his car and injure an innocent party?
“Excuse me Mr. Mayor.” He heard a voice from behind. Rico turned to see one of the doctors who must have been in the room with Lalena.
“Yes, is she okay?” Rico asked immediately.
“We don’t know yet. We’ve done all we can, now it’s up to her body to fight for her. She’s in recovery, if you want to see her.” The doctor said.
Rico practically ran to her room. He looked at her on the bed, her head was wrapped in bandages, and she looked so pale. He walked over to the side of the bed and put his hand on hers.
“Please fight to wake up. I need you in my life. I love you I can’t lose you when I’ve just found you.” He said to her.
He sat and talked to her about nothing and kept telling her how he felt. He hoped that she was hearing this and it would help her recover.
“The police are looking for whoever hit us. I think it might be someone on the list. They didn’t hit us right, or know that you were driving. I should be lying there where you are right now. I’m so sorry; I never wanted you to be hurt. Lalena please be okay, I don’t want to lose you.” Rico cried.
Chapter 7
This is Cindy Louis reporting for WXYZ news. Today there was an accident involving the Mayor and his head of security, Officer Lalena Swan. Ms. Swan is reported in critical condition and in intensive care at the hospital. Anyone witnessing the hit and run accident today is requested to please call the police.
Jake had stopped his car as he listened to the report on the radio. “Oh shit, Lalena.” He said.
He was still angry about her having kissed the mayor, but he would never want her hurt. He wondered if his Uncle had anything to do with this accident. But it didn’t make any sense Uncle Ray’s plans were all something completely different. He wanted to blow up the mayor or shot him, or anything violent.
Still there was a nagging in the back of his mind about this accident. “A hit and run?” He thought and wondered if his Uncle was capable of doing this. The report hadn’t said anything about the mayor’s condition.
Jake turned his car towards the hospital and called his work. “Hey Josh, I’m heading up to the hospital, Lalena is up there, she was in an accident. No, she’s not okay; they say she’s in critical condition. Right I’ll let you know. Sorry about such quick notice on this. Yeah thanks man.” He hung up the phone and thought about Lalena.
He parked his car in the parking lot of the hospital. Jake didn’t even think whether or not the mayor would be there, he just wanted to see if she was okay.
“Yeah I was wondering where Lalena Swan’s room was.” He questioned the girl at the front desk.
“She’s in room 3a. You can’t stay very long though, I’m sorry.” The girl said.
“Okay.” Jake said and walked towards the elevator.
He walked into the room and looked over at Rico. Jake could tell that the mayor had been crying the streaks were still showing on his face.
“Did they say if she was going to be okay?” Jake asked Rico.
“It’s touch and go right now. It’s just a waiting game to see if she wakes up or not.” Rico stated. “Look, I’m really sorry. I could never apologize enough to make it up to you. But she’s really special to me.” Rico explained to Jake.
“You’re a playboy how could she be special to you? Couldn’t you be happy with all the other women you’re always linked too?” Jake asked. He was angry at Rico, but more worried about Lalena.
“I know it’s hard to imagine that I could fall for someone. But honestly I love her.” He admitted.
“Does she know this?” Jake asked. His eyes softened a bit and his anger dissipated a little bit.
“I didn’t get a chance to tell her those exact words. I just told her she was really special to me. I wish I would have said them though. I don’t know what I’ll do if she doesn’t make it. The one time I’ve fallen in love with a woman and I lose her. I guess that would be karma paying me back.
“Do you always go after other guys girls?” Jake asked.
“No, I usually have my secretary check them out. The kiss yesterday with Lalena was out of anger and frustration. Come on I know you’re going to be out of this town one day soon, and you’ll leave her here. I didn’t mean to move in on her. But you don’t understand it was just a feeling between us, a strong pulling towards her. Before I knew what I had done I was kissing her. When I realized what I had done I left. I am so sorry; I know that doesn’t make up for it.” Rico explained.
“So what happened between you and my Aunt Shelly then? Was it the same way?” Jake asked.
“Aunt Shelly? Do you mean Raymond Stock’s wife? She’s your aunt, how is that?” Rico asked.
“Yeah she was my aunt. Uncle Ray said that you dated her when they were just getting a divorce and ruined it for him.” Jake asked, his anger coming back a bit.
Rico shook his head. “It was nothing like that at all. You know your Uncle was abusing her right? He used to beat her and leave her bleeding on the floor in their house. I didn’t date her, but tried to help her find a safe house to move too. We were in the process of having it set up when she disappeared. Raymond was questioned about it and said she had moved to Florida. A few months later I got an email from her, it said she had
found someone to help her. She thanked me for everything. No one ever heard the story though. She didn’t want to charge him and without her testimony he would win. He’s a rich man and has a lot of influence in the county. I hate to say it, but my hands were kind of tied when it came to dealing with him. When he approached me in my office with that loaded gun, I laid it on the line with him. I was never physically involved with your aunt. She was a very scared woman who wanted to get lost and quickly.” Rico explained.
“What? Shit.” Jake thought back to all those times he had gone over as a child to visit his uncle and aunt. He had often heard them fighting and her crying, but had never seen anything. When he’d gotten older and seen bruises on her, she had said she’d run into something, or something fell on her. He had never even noticed that she was crying out for help. He had always thought of her as a whiner in fact. Now he felt like a complete idiot.
“Do you know what the car looked like that hit yours?” Jake asked.
“No it was dark out.” Rico said.
“I’ve got to go to the police station. I have some information they need to know.” Jake left quickly.
Rico stared out the door as Jake left and wondered what that was all about. It was true he had never told anyone the real story of Shelly Stock. She had been embarrassed and didn’t want a soul to know in town. Even Sally didn’t know the real story about Shelly.
Chapter 8
Jake walked into the police station. He knew without a doubt that it was his uncle who had committed the hit and run. While Rico had been telling him the story of his Aunt Shelly, it had clicked.
“Hi, I have some information about the hit and run that happened today, and a disappearance from several years back.” Jake said to the officer sitting at the front desk.
The man looked up at Jake and grimaced. “An old case and the hit and run?” He questioned. “Well I can take the report on the hit and run, but the old case, you’ll need to talk to Detective Dan Snyder.” The man stated. “But you probably should just give him all the information. Too much paper work floating around it’s sure to get lost.”
Jake shook his head sounded more like the cop just didn’t feel like working. But he didn’t care, as long as Uncle Ray was caught.
“Hello I’m detective Dan Snyder, how can I help you?” Jake watched as a distinguished looking man approached him.
“Hi, I’m Jake Newton; I have some information about the hit and run today.” Jake began.
“You can just give that report to good old Bob there at the front desk.” Dan turned and pointed at the man who had hemmed and hawed his way out of taking the report.
“I also have some information about a disappearance from four years ago.” Jake stated.
“Oh okay. Come back to my desk, I’ll take the report.” He led the way to his desk.
Jake sat down and looked around. He knew that his Uncle Ray had done this; he could feel it in his bones.
“So tell me what you know.” Dan said.
“Well first off, the disappearance of Shelly Stock, I know what happened to her.” Jake began.
“Okay. Yeah I remember investigating that one. She moved to Florida.” Dan stated.
“No she didn’t, did you ever check with them?” Jake demanded.
“I don’t know I think my partner at the time did; let me pull the file up. Hold on. Yeah here it is Detective Browning called and checked, and she was located.” Dan explained.
“Is that Chad Browning?” Jake asked.
“Yeah sure is, good man.” Dan said.
“Well I think you may have a bigger problem than you thought then.” Jake said.
“Why is that?” Dan asked.
“Chad Browning is my Uncle Ray’s best friend. They grew up together. He would protect my Uncle with his life, and seems like he helped to cover this up. My Uncle Ray told me the other night that he chopped up my Aunt and fed her to the pigs.” Jake stated.
“What? Why would he do that, they just got a divorce.” Dan looked shocked. “Raymond Stock is a big businessman in the city; he wouldn’t do something so bad.” Dan was trying to process what Jake had told him still. “Hold on a minute. First off we need to talk to the Captain, come with me.” Dan stood up and led the way into the Captain’s office.
“Captain Case, we need to see you now.” Dan said.
“Sure come on in, what’s up?” The Captain said.
“This here is Jake Newton and he has some information on a possible disappearance case that was cleared four years back.” Dan explained.
“Okay.” Captain Case looked at Jake.
“My Uncle killed my Aunt and fed her to the pigs. He told me the other night as he was telling me his plans to kill the mayor. Detective Snyder here said that Chad Browning was on the case too. He’s my Uncle childhood friend, best friend, and he covered it up to keep my Uncle out of jail.” Jake explained.
“Wait did you just say he was talking about plans to kill the mayor?” Dan sat forward in his chair.
“Yeah I hadn’t gotten to that part yet. That’s why I think he was the guy driving the car that crashed the mayor’s car today. He blames the Mayor for my Aunt not wanting to get back with him. But the truth was that he was beating my Aunt and she was afraid for her life. The mayor was trying to help her get out of town. My Uncle stopped her though, he killed her. You know someone had to have seen that today; it’s in a busy area. Why didn’t anyone report seeing that accident? Have you guys thought about this?” Jake asked.
“Who’s on the desk?” The Captain looked at Dan and asked.
Dan closed his eyes and shook his head. “Browning is on the desk today.” He said.
“Go get him now.” Captain Case ordered Dan.
“Yes sir.” Dan left the office.
“Now son are you sure about all of this. You could be sending not only your Uncle but a man who I thought was a really good cop down the river.” The Captain looked at Jake.
“I wouldn’t make it up sir. Up until today I would have protected my Uncle with my life too. But I learned a few things about him, and now know that he’s not the man I thought he was. Sir it’s not right, you know Lalena Swan was the one injured in that accident, she may not make it.” Jake told the Captain.
“Yes I had heard she was in the car, she’s the mayor’s head of security now. It’s a horrible thing indeed, and if we find out that your Uncle is the person who committed this crime he will be arrested. I just can’t believe that Browning was a part of this.” He commented and shook his head.
There was a knock on the door and Jake looked back to see Chad Browning walk in with Detective Snyder.
“Hey Jake, everything alright?” Chad asked Jake.
Jake shook his head. “No Chad it’s not. I know you lied to protect Uncle Ray. He told me what he did to Aunt Shelly last night. How could you protect him? He killed her?” Jake asked.
Chad’s face hardened quickly. “I don’t know what you’re talking about. I called Florida and talked to her myself.” Chad stated.
“So you won’t mind taking a lie detector test to verify that?” The Captain spoke up.
Chad turned to the Captain quickly. “What? You believe him?” Chad asked.
“Just answer my question, are you willing to submit to a lie detector test right now?” The Captain asked once more.
“I think I want to call my lawyer.” Chad stated.
“Lock him up after he makes his call.” The Captain said to Dan. “Send the squad out to pick up Stock too.” He ordered.
“Yes sir.” Dan led Chad out of the office.
“Son I want to thank you for coming forward today that was a really brave thing to do.” The Captain stood up and shook his hand. “You know you’ll have to be present to testify in court though, right?” He asked.
Jake shook his head. “I’ll be there.”
Chapter 9
Rico sat beside the bed it had been ten days now and he had barely left her side the whole time. He held her
hand like every other day he had been beside her.
“Please baby pull through this, if you do I’ll give you anything you want in this world.” Rico said.
He felt her fingers move against his hand. Rico looked up and saw her open her eyes slowly. He hit the nurse button and let them know she was waking up.
The nurses came in and checked her vitals and welcomed her back to the real world. Finally they left and Rico resumed his spot by the bed. He leaned over and kissed her on the cheek. “I’m so happy you’re awake. Oh my God I thought I had lost you.” He kissed her again. “Please don’t ever leave me again. I love you.” Rico said.
Lalena looked up at him and smiled a tear formed on her eye and it slowly slid down her cheek. Rico wiped the tear up and kissed her again on the top of the head.
“I love you too.” She said.
“Will you marry me?” Rico asked, and pulled out a ring box from his pocket. “It’s my mother’s ring, I hope you like it.”
“Oh it’s beautiful.” She cried. “I love it!” She tried to sit up and give him a hug.
“No don’t try to sit up so quickly. Here let me raise the bed up.” Rico hurried to hit the button.
She wrapped her arms around his neck and hugged him. “Rico Zess I love you so much. I swear I fell for you that first night when you whispered in my ear.” She admitted.
“You had me under a spell as soon as I looked in your eyes that night. I tried to fight the feelings. But I had to have you for myself, forever. I love you.” Rico commented.
They kissed.
“Excuse me.” They heard a voice and pulled apart.
“Jake, what are you doing here?” Lalena looked shocked.
“I was checking on you. Glad to see you woke up. Hi Rico, how are you?” Jake said.
Lalena looked between the two men confusion on her face. “I’m not sure I understand.” She said finally.
