Chapter 34: War Wounds

Detectives Lloyd and Berger had grilled Charlie the desk clerk of the Hanover Motel at length about whether or not he remembered any strangers being in town at the time of Angel's abduction. Charlie hated cops and he had kept no record of Jerry Jones aka Rico's stay because it was all paid for by cash. The police had given Charlie nothing but grief, so as Rico predicted Charlie didn't offer them any information. They weren't offering him any money the way Ethan Parks men had done, so Charlie simply wasn't interested in answering their questions.

When they got back to the police station, both detectives sat down in frustration. "This is useless," Lloyd lamented.

"We may have to drop the rape charges against Bills for lack of evidence," Berger sighed.

Captain McCoy came rushing out of his office and shook his head in frustration. "This is far from over."

"What's up Cap'n?" Berger asked, sitting up in his chair.

Captain McCoy shrugged, "I've taken two calls this morning," he began, "Two women who said Bills raped them when they were students at St. Christopher's similar to what happened with Angelica Pirelli."

"No fuckin' way," Lloyd said.

"It's true," Captain McCoy handed the information to his two detectives. "We better not drop the charges against Bills just yet." It was obvious that others were willing to come forward as soon as they thought the charges against Coach Bills might be dropped because of Angel's abduction.

Berger and Lloyd looked at each other, "Are these women believable?"

"They seemed pretty believable to me," Captain McCoy sighed, "The rape case is far from over. I'm putting two more men on this to help you out and if we don't find Angelica Pirelli soon I'm afraid the Feds will show up here and want to get involved."

"Why would they do that?" Berger asked.

"I don't know, but I got a call from an FBI field agent," McCoy explained. "Get cracking boys, we need to show some progress."

"We need a subpoena," Lloyd said, "That scum bag motel clerk over at The Hanover is holding out on us I can feel it and we need to search his office."

McCoy shook his head. "Do what you gotta do, but if you haven't arrested Bills yet, do it soon. I know Bills knows something about Angel's disappearance, this disappearance is all too neat and tidy."

Rico watched Angel squirm against the ropes, "I made you into what you became," he hissed in a ragged voice. He had just come from the bathroom and Angel was pretty sure he had been in there using some sort of drug.

Rico sat down across from her in an old beat up chair in the corner of the room, guzzling from a bottle of vodka and smoking a cigarette. Angel was dying for a smoke and she savored the smell of his cigarettes. She wished he would take pity on her and offer her one, but she didn't dare ask for one because she was becoming increasingly worried by Rico's volatile state. She couldn't stand to think about Jordan, who for all she knew was dead.

Rico seemed to be able to sit for hours in the same position staring off into space. Angel figured it was likely from the drugs. At least he wasn't agitated the way he could sometimes be. She had to relieve herself again and she squirmed wondering how she could manage to bring up the subject. Angel squirmed uncomfortably, "I need to pee," she pleaded.

"I don't care," Rico hissed, "Pee on the bed for all I care."

"Whatever happened between you and Ethan wasn't my fault," Angel said quietly, in a pleading voice.

Rico glared her direction, "It all started with you Angel," he hissed. "There is something about you that drives men wild."

Angel didn't think he was going to allow her up this time and she didn't relish the idea of wetting the bed. She was happy when Rico stood up a few minutes later and began to untie her wrists. Her wrists were throbbing from how tight the ropes were. Her circulation had been cut off. She rubbed her wrists and took her time as she sat on the toilet, wondering what his next move would be. She didn't have to wait long. As soon as her steady stream of urine stopped he jerked her up by the hair and shoved her back into the next room. "I remember you as a sexy young teen," he hissed.

Angel was becoming more and more afraid, but she didn't see an end in sight, "what are you going to do to me?"

Rico laughed, "Wouldn't you like to know."

"I never did anything to you Rico," Angel pleaded.

"You bitch," Rico spat, "You have no idea what you did to me." He had come to blame Angel for almost everything in his life that had gone south. She had gotten under his skin. Her beauty was unmistakable, and she had a beautiful body to match. Her skin was always unblemished and clear. If she hadn't had a baby, her body would have been nearly perfect back then.

But Angel's body no longer bore the traces of childbirth. Cosmetic surgery techniques and things like microdermabrasion had erased any trace of her stretch marks. Starvation went a long way toward keeping her from getting any new stretch marks. Any ounce of fat on her body was simply not tolerated. She had been forced to exercise in Ethan's gym daily, but not become buff or muscular. A personal trainer saw to her individual dietary needs and exercise. The remainder of her time was spent entertaining Ethan or one of his clients. The worst issues she had to endure was when Ethan would grow frustrated over the scars Rico had left on her body and he would take out his frustrations on her, blaming her for Rico's uncontrollable actions. Her scars were her only imperfection as far as Ethan was concerned. The scars had been worked on by Ethan's plastic surgeons and although the scars had faded significantly, he could still see them.

Angel had struggled to get away from Rico the entire time she was with him. At least when Ethan took her under his wing, she was able to gain a certain status among his other whores and she didn't have to turn tricks for just anyone. She earned every privilege Ethan gave her. She had been fortunate that she was virtually disease free when Ethan took her in and he cured her of any STD's she had and kept her from contracting any more. He was always having her body monitored and tested.

Rico tied her wrists again, but this time he left her lying on her back and looking up at the ceiling. He knelt above her and then reached down and shoved the butt of his knife up inside of her pussy, "If Ethan doesn't come through with that money soon, the first thing I'll do is insert this knife in you the other way."

Angel looked up at him with pleading in her eyes and wondered when this nightmare would ever end. She wished Rico would just take the knife and slit her throat.

Like most doctors, Jordan was a terrible patient. He had to see every chart and test result pertaining to his own health condition, and he drove the hospital staff insane with his disregard for rules and regulations. He knew his rights as a patient and after a long and restful sleep he stood up and checked himself out of the hospital. He was not at full strength and he was going against doctor's orders, but he was finished being a patient. He was still banged up and his ribs were broken. He had a cast on his fractured arm and numerous stitches in his head. The bandage on his head was blood soaked, but he didn't care. He had to leave and go find Angel before something else bad happened to her.

Jordan managed to get a ride home from a reluctant hospital staff member who was just coming off their shift. When he got home, after fumbling with his key in the lock for awhile, he stumbled inside his house. He realized when he went into the bedroom and saw Angel's clothing that she was really gone. His eyes filled with tears and his chest hurt as he lay on the bed and thought about what had happened to him and how helpless he had felt. He didn't know what he was going to do; he had to get her back.

Jordan had made the mistake of leaving his front door unlocked, so after pounding on it, Martin and Frank burst inside, "What are you doing out of the hospital?" Martin demanded as they stormed into Jordan's bedroom to find him sprawled across his bed. "You're in no condition to be out of there."

Jordan weakly stood up. "I've got to go get Angel," he said.

"Well you're not going alone!" Frank quipped.

Jordan wondered how on earth he could show up in Reno with Martin and Frank and explain who they were to his father. He knew one thing, as he swayed back and forth, he couldn't go alone; he was still too weak. He motioned for Martin and Frank to follow him to the kitchen and he attempted to begin making coffee, but he stumbled over to the table and sat down before he could finish the task. Frank quickly took over and finished making the coffee.

"There's something you should both know," Jordan said, wincing from the pain in his head as he felt the pain medication he had been doped up on beginning to wear off. He sipped his cup of coffee and stared at the two men who were sitting at the table with him.

"What?" Frank demanded.

"It's complicated," Jordan said; feeling overwhelmed at having to explain all about Reno and his father.

Martin and Frank could tell something was weighing heavily on Jordan's mind. "What is it?" Frank pressed.