“Honestly, I don’t know, Elliott. I called you as soon as I sawhim.”
"Were you able to get a plate, Jen?" Iasked.
"I got a partial plate. I called the police,Parker."
"Jen, get hotel security to go up to the room with you," Elliott suggested. "We should be there in about twenty minutes." Elliott hung up and spedup.
"Man, I can't take this, Elliott. I hope to God she is okay. I'll never forgive myself if anything happens toher."
Elliott was quiet as he concentrated on the road. I kept dialing her number to keep my mind occupied. I couldn't take it anymore. The phone rang and rang, and I sat there praying that she would answer. Hanging up to dial again, the phone rang once and suddenly she answered. A faint voice was all I heard on the otherend.
"Helpme."
"Tatum?"
Again, the same faint voice came over the phone. "Parker. Helpme."
I could hear my heart beating in my ears. "I'm almost there. Hang on, baby." I looked at Elliott and saw relief wash over his face as he sped up more. I finally heard Jen's voice in the background with paramedics andpolice.
"Parker, it's me," Jen’s voice came over the phone. "They are taking her to Johnson's Memorial over on Fifth Avenue," Jensaid.
Relief washed over me that they had gotten to her. "We’re on our way. Meet youthere."
We had finally arrived andparked in the emergency parking. Elliott and I rushed into the hospital’s emergency entrance. Looking around, we spotted Jen over in the corner, her head in herphone.
"How is she?" Elliott and I called over to her at the sametime.
Jen looked up with tears in her eyes and got up out of her seat. "I shouldn't have waited so long. I didn't get there in time. He got to her first." Her lips trembled. "He was covered in blood, and then I foundher."
Elliott took her in his arms. She was inshock.
"I'm so sorry to the both of you," she said through brokensobs.
Elliott pulled her into him and comforted her. "Where is she,Jen?"
"She was taken for x-rays to make sure nothing has been broken. She may need stitches. She was barely conscious when I found her." She buried her head in Elliott's chest and continuedcrying.
I could feel the anger pulse through my veins. "Fucker!" I began pacing back and forth. "If I get my hands on him, I'll kill him. I should have killed him when I had the fuckingchance."
"Parker, relax, man. The cops have been notified. I'm sure they are on their way to pick himup."
"Doesn't matter. He’s a piece of shit, and you know how I feel about these pieces of shit, Elliott. This is different now. This ispersonal."
"Yes, Parker, I do. He is a piece of shit, but he isn't worth your anger. It’s more important that we deal with Tatum. She is going to need our help. She is going to needyou."
I ran my hand through my hair and sat down on one of the chairs, trying to calm myself down. Elliott was right; I needed to focus my energy on her, onus.
"I'm sorry. I feel like I have let you both down. I should have just gone and picked her up when she first called," Jen said through brokensobs.
I looked at her and smiled. "All that matters, is you found her and she is okay." I reached out and rubbed her shoulder. "How about we grab some coffee while we wait?" I nodded to the machine in thecorner.
We sat down in the waiting area and sipped our coffees. I hated waiting. I never was very patient man when it came to shit like this. I was about to refill my cup when a set of double doors opened and a doctor approachedus.
"Are you folks with TatumBancroft?"
Jen stood. "Yes, I'm Jennifer, her best friend, Elliott, her brother, and Parker, herboyfriend."
"Elliott, may I speak to you in privateplease?"