Page 47 of Bold Encounter
His shoulder slammed into the wall.Pain shot through his shoulder and ribs.Above him, he saw the man taking a step closer.
"Oh man, you okay?"The man's voice was laced with false concern."You really got to be careful."He appeared at Abe's side, offering his hand."Here, let me help you up.That looked like a nasty fall."
Abe accepted the help, knowing that any attempt to arrest the man would be his word against someone who would claim it was an accident.His shoulder throbbed, and he could feel discomfort along his ribs, but nothing seemed broken.
"Thanks," he said through gritted teeth.
"No problem.You sure you're okay?Should I call an ambulance?"
"I'm fine," Abe said, though he was definitely not fine.
"Good to hear.Well, the exit's just down those stairs.You have a safe day now, detective."
By the time Abe reached the ground floor, the man had vanished.The building's actual security guard—a much smaller, older man who clearly had nothing to do with what had just occurred—approached with genuine concern.
"Sir, are you all right?You look like you're in pain."
"I'm fine," Abe said, straightening his uniform jacket."Unfortunately, I just slipped on the stairs."
"Those stairs can be tricky.Would you like me to call someone?"
"No, thank you."
As Abe walked to his car, he could feel eyes watching him from the building's windows.Jason had sent his message loud and clear: stay away, or next time it would be worse.
But the message Abe understood was different.Jason Thornton was dangerous enough to order violence against a police officer, which meant Genevieve was in immense danger.
*****
After the incident, Abe went to pick up Genevieve.He sat in his patrol car for several minutes, taking inventory of his injuries and trying to decide on his next move.His shoulder was probably strained, and his ribs stung.Injury wasn't new to Abe.During his military term and his police career, he'd had to deal with injuries.
He pulled out his phone and texted Genevieve:Outside Cadie's.Ready when you are.
A few minutes later, Genevieve emerged from the apartment building.She was halfway to the car before she noticed something was wrong with the way he was holding himself.
"What happened to you?"she asked as she slid into the passenger seat, her eyes immediately focusing on how he favored his left shoulder.
"Nothing serious," Abe said, attempting to sound casual as he started the engine."I happened to slip on some stairs."
Genevieve wasn't buying it."You're hurt.Where were you when you slipped on the stairs?"
He hesitated, knowing she wouldn't like the truth but unwilling to lie to her."I went to see Jason."
"You what?"Her voice rose in alarm."Abe, please tell me you didn't confront him alone."
"I needed to make some things clear to him."
"And he hurt you?"Genevieve's hands were shaking now."Oh God, what did he do?"
"It wasn't Jason directly," Abe said."I had a conversation with him, then someone on his payroll made sure I understood the risks of asking too many questions."
"This is my fault," she said, her voice breaking."You got hurt because of me."
"No," Abe said."I got hurt because Jason Thornton is a dangerous criminal who thinks he's above the law.But that conversation told me everything I needed to know about him."
*****
Back at Abe's house, Genevieve insisted on examining his injuries despite his protests that he was fine.In his bedroom, she helped him carefully remove his uniform shirt to see the extent of the damage.
