Chapter 85. Jacob
"She's at Englewood? Are you sure?"
"One hundred percent positive. Logan was badly injured. His arm was shot and hit a vein. A village doctor is treating him.”
"Damn it! How could he possibly escape?”
Cooper cursed angrily. He gripped his phone so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
“Why do you know all about Logan? Who are you?"
"You don't need to know who I am. Just do plan B to finish Logan off."
"Why don't you do it yourself with your hands when you're that close to Logan?" Cooper asked sarcastically.
"I can't. I don't have the power like you to destroy him. I have to go now."
The phone cut off. Cooper snorted and slammed his phone onto the table. He was still curious about the person who contacted him to offer business. He used laryngeal electro to disguise his voice, and there was no sound in the background of his voice. Like he was calling him in a soundproof room.
Thinking about his mysterious caller, Cooper tapped his fingertips against the table. The caller was right. Instead of him thinking about the mysterious caller, he'd better think of the plan B he needed to ambush Logan.
Suddenly, an idea flashed through his head. Cooper grabbed his cell phone and dialed the damn cop's number.
"Roco? Logan is at Englewood. Catch him with his bitch. I'll pay double your usual price if you manage to bring Logan to me with his bitch."
"Deal. I'll do it tonight. You've come to the right person, sir."
Cooper hung up the phone and smiled sarcastically. This time, Logan definitely couldn't escape. He was seriously injured and wouldn't be able to protect himself. Roco and the greedy police would have caught him easily.
\-00-
Riley faintly smelled the hot soup with a thick and savory broth that was appetizing. Her stomach, which had not been filled with anything since morning, made a loud noise and asked to be filled.
She had to open her eyes and end her sleep, which wasn't very restful, but enough to recharge her energy. She straightened herself on the sofa that was narrow and full of patches while staring in a daze at the unfamiliar atmosphere around her. The sky outside the window was darker than the last time she had seen it. The drizzle outside had turned into a noisy downpour. Riley could smell the rain mixed with wet leaves and damp earth.
"How was your sleep? Feel better?"
Riley turned to the source of the voice and was embarrassed to find Doctor Roberto looking at her kindly. She had used his sofa without permission to sleep.
"Sorry I overslept."
"You're exhausted. You deserve to sleep. Are you hungry?”
"I think the smell of your soup woke me up. I haven't eaten anything since this morning because we thought we were going to have breakfast on the plane."
"Eat up. I'm making thick chicken soup in the kitchen. You can have it with some saltine crackers."
"Thank you very much. You've been a great host. How is Logan?"
Like she just remembered the main reason she came to that place. Riley rose from her seat and stared at the tightly closed door beside her.
“Is he okay?”
"Don't worry. I've stitched up all his wounds and given him antibiotics. He's still sleeping. In two hours the effects of the medicine will wear off.”
"Thank God he's okay. I was scared and panicked, seeing him bleeding a lot. I've never seen anyone get a gunshot wound."
Doctor Roberto smiled faintly. He understood Riley's innocence and honesty.
"You want to eat now?"
“Umm… Where is Jacob?”
Riley's eyes moved left and right to look for Jacob. Before she fell asleep, she still saw Jacob sitting in the rocking chair, reading one of Dr. Roberto's old magazines. Jacob had been there for hours reading the magazine and only went to the kitchen to refill his coffee. Now, she couldn't find Jacob in the rocking chair or anywhere else in the room. She would be very upset if Jacob left her to go back to Logan's house while she was asleep.
"You're looking for Jacob? He went outside a few minutes ago. Said he wanted to call."
“Oh ok, I'll go find Jacob. Umm... thanks for the food. I'll eat after I talk to Jacob."
"Then I'll be in the kitchen. Join me when you're ready."
Doctor Roberto smiled kindly, then left her to eat in the kitchen.
Riley rushed out to meet Jacob. She opened the front door and found the rain getting heavier and louder outside. The cold air immediately attacked her body until Riley shivered unconsciously as the strong wind hit her body. She hugged her body tightly with both hands. She poked her head left and right, walking carefully on the porch floor that was wet from the rain.
"Jacob?" Riley shouted loudly.
She walked down the stairs, then moved under the narrow canopy to avoid the raindrops. She walked along the canopy path to the side of Roberto's house, and she vaguely saw the silhouette of Jacob standing with his back to her near the wood storage shed.
Riley suddenly had an idea to surprise Jacob from behind. She crept across Roberto's yard. The rain soaked her clothes, but she couldn't run fast enough to reach the canopy near the woodshed because the sound of her footsteps would alert Jacob to her presence. She had to walk very slowly through the pouring rain, then she jumped under the canopy ready to surprise Jacob. She only had three more steps before she could tap Jacob on the shoulder and surprise him.
But suddenly, Jacob turned around and shouted very loudly in front of her. Riley almost slipped in surprise. Jacob quickly pulled her wrist and supported her back with his left hand before she fell to the wet ground.
Riley slowly opened her eyes to find Jacob staring at her intently. She blinked once, realizing that she hadn't fallen because Jacob was holding her. She winced in embarrassment.
"Hi, sorry to startle you."
"Be careful. You could get a concussion because of your stupidity. The ground beneath you is very slippery and hard."
"Sorry. I just wanted to surprise you. And well... I almost fell because of my own stupidity."
Riley winced, feeling stupid for her childishness. Jacob helped her stand up straight. Riley then stepped back while tucking a strand of hair behind her ear.
"What are you doing here? Your blouse is wet."
"I am looking for you. I overslept, and you left me alone in there,” Riley snorted.
"I need to call Mr. Hatcher’s mansion's line. Still no answer. I think it's weird."
"Did something bad happen?"
Riley looked at the phone in Jacob's hand, the screen was off. What Jacob said worried her because maybe something bad had happened in the mansion.
“I have to go back now. Is Mr. Hatcher awake?"
“Doctor Roberto said that Logan was still on drugs. Maybe he'll wake up in two hours."
"Then you stay here with Mr. Hatcher. I will check the condition of the mansion.”
Jacob looked at Riley intensely. He brushed away the strands of Riley's hair that had fallen around her wet face.
“Ask Doctor Roberto to lend you some clothes. You can get sick if you wear wet clothes like this.”
"I'm fine. But it's a bit cold," Riley smiled sweetly at Jacob.