Page 42 of Enforcing the Rules

The glass of water slipped from my hand and crashed to the floor as I ran to Bill.

I rolled him over. His face was pale, and he was unconscious.

I scrambled on my knees to the desk phone and, with shaking hands, dialed 911.

It took them eight long minutes to get to us, but the woman on the phone talked me through doing chest compressions until the paramedics burst through the door and took over. I collapsed back, exhausted, and gave them room to work.

They got him in the ambulance, working over him the entire time.

Before they sped off, I promised to contact his wife and have her meet them at the hospital. It was a hard call to make, and I broke down in the middle of it, my hand going over my mouth. I was so choked up, I couldn’t speak.

I’d met Patty a time or two at the café when she and Bill would come in together for dinner. She’d seemed like a sweet woman who loved her husband deeply. They were always talking about taking a trip to Paris when Bill had time. Now I hoped they’d still get that chance.

When I hung up with her, I stared at the bounty paperwork on my father that Bill had discarded on the desk. I pulled out my phone and stared at his response again. I didn’t know if Bill would be okay. Could I manhandle my father and get him cuffed if I was alone with him in my apartment? I didn’t think so. I thought my odds were better if I were in a public place where maybe other good Samaritans might jump in and help me.

With Bill in the hospital, I didn’t want to wait until tomorrow night. If something happened and Bill didn’t make it, Don would yank that bounty back so fast my head would spin. I wondered if I could find him before that.

I stared at the wall, thinking. Then I remembered the one thing my father had always loved. Something he was good at. Something he sometimes made money at.

I dialed Lizzie.

“Can you meet me at the pool hall on McCord Ave tonight?”

CHAPTER FOURTEEN

Kate—

Lizzie stared at the tournament chart. “Looks like he played last night, if the Ray up there is your father.”

“Damn it. I should have come up last night.”

“You were busy with Mr. Best Sex Ever.”

I rolled my eyes, regretting telling her everything. I knew I’d never hear the end of it now.

“Any word on how Bill’s doing?” Lizzie let the teasing go for a more serious topic.

I checked my phone again. It was after 9 pm. “They did an emergency stint a few hours ago. He made it through the surgery, thank God. Otis said he’s doing fine. Claims he’ll be back in the office as soon as they release him.”

“I bet his wife will have something to say about that. Well, what do you want to do now?”

“If my father played last night, then he’ll be up here tonight for sure.” Hope soared through me.

“Only if he moved on to the next bracket. Looks like he lost, though,” Lizzie pointed out, raining on my parade.

I looked again. Dad never lost these things. “Damn it.”

“Too bad.”

“Wait. The next round of tournaments starts next week. He’s signed up for that.”

“Good. Then if he doesn’t show up for the meeting at your apartment tomorrow, we’ll know where to find him. I’m bringing Matt and his buddy when we come back next week.”

“We don’t need to involve Matt or anyone else. I mean it, Lizzie. I shouldn’t have even involved you.”

Her hand landed on her hip. “If you think I’m letting you do anything dangerous without backup, you don’t know me very well.”

“My father isn’t dangerous.”

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