"I told you not to see me in the hospital." Jason Simm's voice was even but his visitor could see the tortous veins in his temples distended and pulsating.
"B . . . but I wanted to talk to you about something," said the visitor, twisting the white handkerchief on her lap.
"That's not the point. The point is I forbade you to see me in the hospital. I told you, I'll call you," Jason snapped, irritably glancing at the door. Anytime now, someone was going to peek in and recognize this deeply-disturbed woman. The phone rang, startling both of them. Hello? Yes-- Jason covered the receiver with his free hand when he saw the woman mumbling and turned to her. Read my lips. Shut up. He turned back to the phone. Ill call you back later.
"Ab . . . bout last weekend ," the visitor's eyes filled with tears, her hands in perpetual motion. The tears spilled uncontrollably.
Jason was nervous now. Putting his hand on his nape to squeeze it tightly, he swallowed the rage that steamed up to his throat and tried to soften his voice. Breaking into a cold sweat, he pulled a handkerchief out of his pocket and wiped his face. He couldn't have a hysterical woman in his office. He had to soothe her with gentle words. Thinking of a fast way to get out of this situation, he said, "Listen, call me tonight. I ll take you out to dinner. That's a promise." Jason hoped he said it soothingly enough. He knew it wasn't convincing but it would have to do for now. It would be a mistake to say too much anyway. Someone could be sneaking at the door listening. He had a reputation to protect. He was a prominent member of the community. He must maintain this at all cost. He must stop seeing this gibbering fool.
"Thank you, Jay. I'm sorry to have come. I'll call you tonight. Bye," she whispered, wiping the tears from her eyes. She was calm once more, convinced again that all was well.
She didnt know what possessed her to come down the basement. It was dark here. But then again, she didnt want anyone to see her crying. She opened her eyes wide, trying to look for a familiar landmark. Then she heard footfalls behind her. She stopped to listen. There wasnt any. It must be her imagination playing tricks on her again. She resumed her walking, trying to find her way back upstairs. The footfalls started again. Her heart fluttered. Pressing her ear against a wall to listen, she didnt hear a thing so she started running again but so did the advancing footsteps that were gaining on her.
He must get to her before she got to the door. He continued his advance. He loved this stuff. It was just like in the movies. His adrenaline was on high and this was a sensation he enjoyed; just like popping drugs. He increased his speed.
The woman was frightened now. The footsteps were getting nearer by the second. Panting, she crouched and held her breath. As she did so, she felt what looked like a broom and prepared to protect herself with it. As soon as her pursuer got near her, she charged at the stalker with the broom. Using all her strength to do it resulted in knocking him down. She started running again, knowing she was only able to shock him. She really didnt put him out of commission. And sure enough, the footsteps resumed with more intensity than before.
Freddie Smith had the presence of mind to hang on to the broom. The shock of the attack on him made him more determined to catch her. He laughed as he pushed her into the broom closet. Seeing fear and panic in her eyes, he laughed that evil laugh again and felt immediate satisfaction when he made someone suffer. He gagged her and felt her all up. Watching her suffer propelled him to finish what he started but just as he was about to take off her panties, the woman fought back. She kicked him in the groin. Freddie yelled out in pain. He doubled over, his hands locked over his crossed legs.
A cleaning woman passing by heard the commotion. She tried to open the door but it wouldn't unlock. She knew someone was inside because she could hear groans. Wondering what to do, she looked up and down the hallway but there was nobody around. She ran to the Chief of Maintenance who got the key and opened the broom closet.
They turned on the light and gasped at the sight. There lay Freddie on the floor bent from the pain. A woman was standing up against the wall gagged tightly. Her eyes were darting wildly from left to right. "Get a doctor and a nurse here, quick," the Chief of Maintenance ordered the cleaning woman.
Dr. Lazarda came quickly and sized up the situation. He ungagged the woman patient. He checked to see if she was all right. He then turned his attention to Freddie. Freddie by now had slightly recovered and was none the worse for his ordeal. "That bitch kicked me! You'll hear from my lawyer, you will, you will!" Freddie's eyes flashed angrily.
Seeing the panic in the victims eyes, Manny tried to soothe her with kind words. Dont you worry, thats his modus operandi. I mean, thats the way he operates. He does something bad and turns the table around.
D . . . didnt mean to kick him, the woman sobbed, unable to think of the humiliations the young man made her suffer.
"I know, what exactly happened?" Manny gently asked the woman who was nervously pulling her hair.
"She kicked me, that's what happened!" Freddie yelled, but he couldn't hide the mischievous grin on his face.
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