Page 79 of Trick
Randy made notes as I talked, occasionally exchanging worried glances with the other men in the room.
I swallowed, and my throat felt like I’d been gargling with glass. I adjusted the makeshift icepack again, then reached for the bottle of water and took a small sip.
“He’s the one who attacked Dustin, too,” I told him. My voice was reduced to a quiet rasp, and I was starting to think I needed to write all of this down after all. Then I remembered the recording.
I sat up, dislodging Jase’s arm from my shoulder. “I was in the middle of a session when JD came in. I was so shocked to see him that I didn’t hit the button to stop the recording.”
That got everyone’s attention.
“Can you tell us how to access it?”
I nodded at Abby’s dad. “It’s on the laptop in the sound booth, I can show you.” I started to stand, but he stopped me at the same time Jase reached for me.
“That room is part of an active crime scene, Lauren. I can’t let you go back in there. One of my officers will need to collect it and log it into evidence before we can listen to it.”
He asked if they needed to do anything special to back up the recording before unplugging the laptop, and I explained that it automatically saves everything to cloud storage. My voice gave out just as I finished speaking.
“That’s it, darlin’. We need to get you to the hospital to be checked out. That fucker could have damaged your windpipe, or crushed your esophagus, or who the fuck knows what else. The cops can listen to the whole thing, and then Randy can get with you later to ask any more questions.”
I didn’t bother arguing, mainly because I couldn’t make a sound without causing myself more pain.
“He’s right, Lauren,” the detective said. “The suspect isn’t going anywhere so there isn’t any imminent danger. We’ll be here for hours collecting evidence, so any questions I have can wait for a little while.”
The second ambulance arrived then, and Bull said he would follow it to the hospital and stay with Tony until they made sure he was OK.
Jase helped me to my feet. I swayed slightly, and he scooped me up against his powerful chest, then carried me out to my car. I was startled to see news vans from two local TV stations parked on the other end of the lot, with a police officer standing by to make sure the reporters and camera crews didn’t get too close to the building. I cringed as I thought about this nightmare being broadcast to the entire city.
As if reading my mind, Jase said roughly, “Don’t worry about the reporters. Let’s just focus on making sure you’re OK.”
As I got into the passenger seat, I glanced questioningly at his Harley, which was parked next to me.
“One of the guys will bring the club’s van to collect it.”
When we got to the hospital, we learned that Abby’s dad had contacted them requesting that I be treated immediately, since I was a victim of a crime that they were investigating. Because Tony had been brought in by ambulance, he was able to go straight into an exam room as well.
Jase left my side only when I was taken to radiology for an X-ray and CT scan to check for bone and soft tissue damage and he was pacing back and forth in the exam room when I was wheeled back into the room. As soon as the nurse locked the wheels of the hospital bed in place, he pulled up a chair next to the bed and reached for my hand.
“Once the images are read, the doctor will be in to speak with you. In the meantime, she did write orders for you to have IV meds for the pain, since we don’t want you to have to swallow pills. It will help with the inflammation as well,” the nurse said, pulling supplies out of the cart in the corner of the room. Within minutes, she’d inserted an IV into my right arm. “We’re also going to give you fluids through the IV to make sure you stay hydrated, and you can have ice chips to suck on if you’d like.”
“Thank you,” I rasped, and Jase squeezed my hand.
“Don’t talk, darlin’. You can use my phone to type notes to us.”
I raised my brows questioningly, and luckily he understood what I wanted to know. “Your phone is still back atthe studio, along with your purse. Randy said they’ll get it back to you as soon as they clear it for evidence.”
I nodded, then rested my head back on the thin pillow. He pulled his phone out of the pocket in his cut, then laid it next to me on the bed.
“I need you to keep this on your finger, so we can monitor your oxygen levels.” The nurse clipped a small device onto the tip of my left index finger. She got out two ice packs, draping one against the side of my neck where the worst of the redness was. She used an elastic bandage as a makeshift headband to secure the other one in place over the bump on the back of my head, then said she’d be right back with the ice chips, a warm blanket, and an extra pillow.
“Let’s make you as comfortable as possible while you’re here.”
As soon as she stepped out of the room, Jase stood up and leaned over the bed, then gently kissed me. He rested his forehead against mine for a fleeting moment, and took a deep breath, then sat back down and took my hand again.
“I’ve never been more fuckin’ scared in my life, darlin’. I’m so sorry I didn’t keep you safe.”
His hazel eyes glistened with a sheen of tears, and I shook my head as I awkwardly reached to cup his jaw.
“Not…your fault.” I managed to whisper.
