Page 27 of Blackstone's Heart
Krista picked up her cup, moved off her stool and to his side. She leaned in and kissed him. “You’re welcome. Now, I have to go grab a shower. I got a meeting with Jerry to go over the itinerary for New York.”
Ethan stood. “I think I could use a shower myself.”
Catching his meaning, Krista laughed and walked away, adding a little more sway in her hips. Ethan was right behind in a flash.
***
Krista and Jerry sat in his office in downtown Austin finalizing the itinerary for New York. "Okay, you got hair and make up for GM America starting at seven. Your segment will air at eight thirty. After we wrap there, you have a meeting with the publishers just make sure all is good, which shouldn't take too long."
"And then we're free the rest of the day right?" Krista asked.
"Seems that way, but you know how these things can go. Now, onto day two. You'll be at the Today studios from eight till a little after ten thirty, give or take. After there we have that book signing in SoHo. Got us lunch reservations at Tavern on the Green. Then we're off to Howard Stern's studio for his show."
"God, I don't even like his show. Why did I agree again? Oh yeah, cause Danny's a fan." She groaned.
"Well, be glad you won't be expected to play with a robotic dildo on the show." Jerry teased.
"Asshole." She laughed, slapping his arm.
"Yeah, yeah.” Jerry grinned comically. “After Stern, you've got that children's hospital gig. Next stop is..." Jerry was interrupted by his secretary.
"Sorry to interrupt Jerry, but this just arrived."
"Huh, I wasn't expecting anything. Thanks Patsy." Jerry said, taking the box. He sat it on his desk and turned back to face Krista. "Now, where were we?"
“You were just telling me about the children’s hospital.” Krista answered.
“Right. Okay…”
That was as far as he got when the world that was Jerry’s office was uprooted, tossed around and then slammed back to earth. Krista found herself tossed across the room. She heard an earth shattering explosion, felt a surge of heat wash over her before her hearing went all muffled and a ringing sounded faintly. She must have blacked out for a moment or two, because when she opened her eyes again she saw a war zone.
The large, spacious second floor office that was Jerry’s was in shambles. The windows had blown out, part of the windows frames were hanging and swinging in the breeze now blowing into the room. Jerry’s desk was on fire and laying in pieces around the room. Groaning, Krista sat up. Her hearing was slowly returning to normal. She could hear screams and the blare of the fire alarms.
“Jer…Jerry? Jerry answer me!” Krista yelled, stepping over what was left of his ergonomic chair. She let out a hiss when she rubbed at her temple. “Jerry!”
A groan to her right had her turning. Slumped at the base of the wall length mahogany bookcase, was Jerry. Krista began screaming for help as she stumbled to his side. She began coughing as smoke continued to waft through the room and knew that despite the busted open windows, they had to get out of there. Making a decision, Krista grabbed hold of Jerry around his upper torso and began dragging him toward the door.
***
Ethan slammed into his seat when Tony slammed on the breaks. He jumped from the SUV and sprinted for the building. Firemen, police, EMT's and reporters were filling the courtyard of the office building that had housed Jerry's office. He scanned faces, looking for one face in a sea of faces. He had been on a call with Jimmy when Gage had barged in telling him there had been some kind of explosion at Jerry's office. Ethan knew Krista had an appointment that morning with Jerry to go over the final itinerary for New York.
"Ethan. Ethan. BOSS!" Gage yelled. Ethan faced his second in command. "Calm down brother. We'll find her."
"Gage, what if...she..." Ethan tried to speak.
"Don't." Lance spoke up. "Don't do that to yourself. We don't even know what happened here or if she was even still here."
Ethan closed his eyes and called on his steel nerves. His guys were right, letting that icy fear take over wouldn't do anyone any good. When he opened his eyes again, he felt a bit calmer. "Okay, spread out. Tony, check with building security. Gage, Grant, I want you two to take the EMT's and Fire Department. Lance, you're with me. Watch your sixes. If this is her stalker, he's just escalated and big time and he could still be here watching."
Ethan and Lance moved through the crowd. Ethan spotted the one person he knew he could get some information from. "Wilson!"
An older man turned and found Ethan. "Blackstone, what are you doing here?"
Ethan shook the detective's hand. "My current client, Kris James brings me here. Her agent Jerry Summerland has an office here and they were meeting this morning."
Wilson's eyes filled with sorrow. "Our reports say that the center of the explosion was in the vicinity of Mr. Summerland’s office. Building security got Mr. Summerland out, but he was in rough shape. He's been taken to St. David's."
"What about Ms. James?" Lance demanded.
