Chapter 50
Evelyn rushed out of the car in a hurry, with Brooks following close behind. He took an umbrella from his assistant and opened it for her, creating a small oasis of clear sky just for her. Seconds ticked by relentlessly.
The appointed time had come and gone, yet the man they were waiting for was nowhere to be seen.
Growing increasingly anxious, Evelyn couldn’t wait any longer and pulled out her phone to call John. Just as the call connected, a ringtone sounded from the alley behind them.
Initially, Evelyn didn’t pay it much mind. But when her third call attempt was automatically cut off, coinciding with the cessation of the ringtone from the alley, she sensed something was amiss.
She exchanged a look with Brooks, who had also sensed the anomaly, and they both headed into the alley.
Just a few steps in, they spotted a man lying motionless in a pool of blood not far away. Blood was flowing from his body, staining the ground beneath their feet.
At first sight, Evelyn was shocked and instinctively stepped back, but Brooks was right there to steady her with his hand.
Swallowing hard, Evelyn, with trembling hands, tried calling John’s phone again. The ringtone emanated from the man lying on the ground.
Evelyn’s face turned ashen. She stumbled forward, falling to her knees beside the man. Her hands shook as she tried to lift him from the ground. Her voice was breaking as she cried, “You can’t die! Get up! You haven’t told me who it is!” Brooks couldn’t catch her in time and quickly moved to her side. Holding the umbrella with one hand, he knelt beside Evelyn and helped lift the man off the ground, not minding the mud staining his expensive clothes.
Brooks used one hand to prop up John, who weighed over 200 pounds. He instructed his assistant, who had just called 911. “Press on his wound.”
“Right away.”
The assistant immediately knelt down, pressing on the man’s wound, which was still profusely bleeding.
John’s eyes were half-closed. He had lost a lot of blood, his complexion was as pale as paper. He was barely breathing in more than out.
Evelyn clutched John’s arm. “I have the money. I’ll transfer it to you right now. Please, tell me who it is?”
Her hands trembled as she input his bank account number.
John stared at Evelyn, his lips parting as if he wanted to say something. But just as he opened his mouth, a gush of fresh blood spurted from his lips. He passed out once again.
…
Less than ten minutes later, the ambulance arrived. John was rushed to the hospital for emergency treatment.
Evelyn followed to the hospital. Standing outside the emergency room, she stared at the glowing red light her body shaking
uncontrollably.
She kept praying silently, hoping John would be alright.
Brooks was talking to the police on the side. The police had already gathered that the man’s name was John.
He was a compulsive gambler. The suspect who had injured him was already in custody and also a gambler.
The two had a deep-seated grudge over gambling. This time, their grievances had flared up again. The suspect had drunk a bit too much and impulsively stabbed John in a moment of heightened emotions.
QUMS
After briefing them, the police left, and Brooks returned to Evelyn’s side.
“Go change your clothes. Be careful not to catch a cold.” Brooks handed
Eve that his ass.”
just bothes that his ad
“I’ll stay here
His words preempted any refusal from Evelyn. She took the bag and went to the restroom to change into clean clothes. When she came out, Brooks handed her a cup of hot ginger tea. “To ward off the chill.”
“Thank you.”
Evelyn’s voice was hoarse with gratitude. As she held the ginger tea, her gaze never left the firmly closed door in front of her.
…
Evelyn didn’t know how long she had been standing there, but eventually, the light that had been on all this time went out. The door opened from the inside.
With her eyes red from worry, Evelyn immediately rushed forward, grabbing the doctor’s arm and asking anxiously, “Doctor, how is he?”