Once Frank’s final hourly report was filed after Jen cleared security for her flight back to New York, Vince called him again, this time for a different assignment. “I want you to find me a girl, someone I can employ, to capture Drew Crawford’s attention, and divert it away from Jennifer.”
“A girl?”
“For God’s sake, Frank, I need to hire a call girl,” Vince snarled. “I need a professional, someone who will seduce him and take his mind off Jennifer. This is going to be a long-term assignment, maybe a year or more, so she has to be special. See if you can find someone who resembles Jennifer, if possible. And I want this done right away. I’m willing to pay the right woman $10,000 a month, plus expenses, to give Drew Crawford the full girlfriend experience. Do you understand me?”
“Yes. I’m on it.”
After hanging up with Frank, Vince sat at his desk, brooding. He had enjoyed the hourly reports he’d received on Jennifer, and the sense of control it gave him over her, and over their relationship. It’s not going to be as easy to keep tabs on her once she returns to New York. Other than her morning run, her schedule isn’t predictable, and Brad can’t follow her everywhere, he thought. If only she would agree to move in with me.
Vince’s blood began to boil as he thought back to the numerous conversations he had with Jennifer over the last few weeks in which he had asked her to live with him.
Each time she explained, attempting to reason with him, “I like my independence, and I love living in Brooklyn. Besides, we’ve only been dating a short time, Vince. I’m not saying never, I’m just saying it’s too soon.”
Vince tapped his fingers rhythmically on his desk while staring out the window at Jennifer’s apartment building across the East River, as he weighed his options. I have to find a way to make her move in with me, so I can watch her all the time. A thought crossed his mind, which he dismissed at first, but when he could find no other alternative, he made a phone call to a friend of his late father in Brooklyn, and came to an arrangement that he was sure would make Jennifer turn to him for protection. “I don’t want her hurt, just scared,” he said, as he hung up the phone.
CHAPTER TWELVE
After arriving at Kennedy Airport, Jen called Vince to let him know she was back safely. “I’m really exhausted, but I’d love to see you,” she said. “Want to meet me at my apartment for a casual dinner? I can call for some take-out.”
“That sounds like a great idea, Jennifer,” Vince replied. “I was going to suggest the same thing. I’ve missed you.”
“I’ve missed you too,” Jen said, as she dragged her luggage through the terminal and towards the exit door. “I’m about to grab a cab now.”
“Don’t,” Vince said. “I have a surprise for you. Lou is waiting for you with my limo, so you don’t have to take a taxi. He’ll drop you at your place, then swing into the city to pick me up, if that’s okay.”
“That’s great, Vince. What a nice surprise. Thank you!”
“I’m about to start a meeting, but I’ll see you in a little bit, my love,” Vince said, as he hung up the phone and turned to stare out his office window at Jen’s apartment building across the river. There’s another surprise waiting for you when you get home, Jennifer, he thought. This had better work.
A short time later, Jen entered the lobby of her building, and was surprised to find that the doorman was not behind his desk. She walked to her mailbox, collected her mail and, as she returned to the elevators, was greeted by the doorman. “I’m sorry I wasn’t here when you came in,” he said. “I just took a bathroom break. Do you need help with your luggage?”
“Thanks, Ray, but I can manage it,” she said, as she entered the elevator and pressed the button for her floor.
Once the elevator reached her floor, she juggled her mail and suitcase while searching for her key in the bottom of her tote bag. As she walked down the hallway towards her apartment, she thought, I’m so glad to be home.
Jen inserted her key into the lock, and opened the door. As she entered her small foyer, she was grabbed from behind, and a large, hairy hand clamped down over her nose and mouth preventing her from breathing. Dropping her suitcase, tote bag, and the mail, Jen struggled to breathe and tried to scream, but the hand over her face just pushed into her harder, only releasing when a piece of heavy tape was placed over her mouth and a blindfold was pushed down over her eyes.
Terrified, Jen tried to release herself from the intruder’s grip, but she was pushed to the floor, causing the wind to be knocked out of her momentarily. As she tried to recover and catch her breath, which was made more difficult with her mouth taped shut, she found her wrists being bound with rope that dug into her skin.
I have to try to get away, she thought, as she tried to stand, but just as she managed to get to her feet, she felt a sharp blow to her head and searing pain, causing her to become disoriented and fall back to the floor, before she was picked up and carried a short distance.
Jen panicked and desperately tried to free herself as she was being carried, but was unable to do so. The intruder threw her face down onto her bed, and she felt herself being tied to one of the bed posts.
In an instant, the intruder climbed on top of her, and the force of his body weight pressing into her made it nearly impossible for Jen to breathe. As Jen felt him reach for the waist of her pants, trying to push them down, she fought back as best she could by wildly thrashing and kicking her legs. Oh God, please let Vince get here soon, she prayed as she continued to struggle and try to fight her attacker, until a cloth soaked with chloroform was held up to her face and she felt herself losing consciousness.
When Vince entered the lobby of Jen’s apartment building, he was greeted by the doorman, who immediately recognized him and dialed the intercom. When she didn’t answer, the doorman rang again, and said, “That’s strange, because I know she’s up there. She got home just a little while ago. Do you want to go up, Mr. Moscolo? I’m sure it’s okay with her.”
“I’d rather wait until she answers the intercom,” Vince replied. When the doorman rang the intercom again a few minutes later, and Jen still didn’t answer, Vince said, “I’m concerned that she isn’t answering. I’m going upstairs.”
When he arrived at her floor, he found the door to Jennifer’s apartment ajar, and stepped inside to find her suitcase open and lying haphazardly on the floor of the entry way, its contents dumped on the floor.
“Jennifer?” When she didn’t answer, he took another few steps inside her apartment and called out again, “Jennifer?” As he wandered further inside, he found more of her possessions strewn throughout the apartment. Nervously, he looked around, calling out her name again as he tentatively moved down the hallway.
He entered her bedroom, where he found her face down on her bed, bound, gagged, and unconscious, with her pants pulled down, leaving her backside naked and exposed.
“Oh my God, Jennifer,” Vince cried out as he ran towards her, checking to see if she was breathing. What have I done? How could I have had this done to her? He immediately grabbed the phone and dialed 911, and was told by the dispatcher not to move her, and that the police and an ambulance would be right there.
He then ran to the intercom and called the doorman. “Jennifer is tied up and unconscious – she must have walked in on a burglary. The police and an ambulance will be here soon. Send them right up,” he said, before running back down the hallway to her bedroom. Surveying the scene, Vince looked at her dresser drawers emptied and tossed about on the floor. It certainly looks like a rape and burglary attempt, he thought, before dialing 411 to get the office phone number for Jennifer’s father.
“Dr. LaBella’s office,” answered a pleasant female voice.
“I need to speak with Dr. LaBella. It’s an emergency regarding his daughter, Jennifer.”
“Who is calling, please.”
“Vince Moscolo. I’m Je
nnifer’s boyfriend,” he replied, before being placed on hold.
“This is Dr. Peter LaBella,” a male voice answered. “Who is this?”
“Vince Moscolo. I’ve been dating Jennifer for the past couple of months.”
“Yes, Vince, she’s mentioned you,” Peter replied. “What can I do for you?”
“Jennifer was attacked. I found her tied up and unconscious in her bedroom,” Vince said, before explaining in detail what he found when he arrived at her apartment.
“Have them take her to Long Island College Hospital,” Peter replied. “Grace and I will meet you there.”
As he hung up with Peter, the police and paramedics arrived. While the paramedics worked on Jennifer, Vince answered the police officer’s questions, explaining that he was her boyfriend, that she had just returned home from a business trip to California, and that they were meeting for an early dinner.
One of the officers asked, “Where were you earlier in the day?”
“At my office,” he said, extracting a business card from his wallet. “I was in a series of meetings all day. You can easily verify that I was there. My chief of security will give you access to the surveillance camera footage, and you can speak with my driver as well.”
Peter and Grace arrived at the hospital emergency room, and gasped when they saw Jen, unconscious with an oxygen mask strapped to her face, being wheeled through the hallway on a stretcher.
Recognizing them from photos in Jennifer’s apartment, Vince approached Peter and Grace, and introduced himself. “I’m sorry to be meeting you under these circumstances,” Vince said, shaking their hands.
Vince and Grace sat together in the waiting area of the emergency room, while Peter went into the examining room to speak with the doctors treating Jen and learn more about her condition.
An hour later, Peter returned with the on-call emergency room doctor and the police officers who had responded to Jen’s apartment.
“Jennifer is conscious, now,” the doctor explained. “She has some bruises, and a scalp laceration that we closed with some sutures. We’re going to keep her overnight for observation, but I think she is going to be fine.”
“I arranged for her to be transferred to a private room,” Peter said.
“She must be terrified,” Grace said. “I want to see her.”
“She is,” one of the police officers responded. “Before you go in, though, you should know that we’re looking at both a burglary and an attempted rape,” he said, causing Grace to gasp. Turning to Vince, the officer continued, “Based on the preliminary timeline, it was lucky you showed up when you did because, at this time, we think that the intruder left Jennifer’s apartment when the doorman repeatedly rang the intercom. He was probably spooked, thinking someone was on the way up. You probably saved her from being raped, and maybe killed.”
Jen was resting in her hospital bed when her mother, father and Vince entered her private room. All three gasped when they saw her bruised and swollen face and wrists, and her hair matted with blood.
Grace flew to her daughter’s side. “Oh my God, oh my baby,” Grace cried as tears streamed down her face. “What did that monster do to you?”
Trying to put on a brave face, Jen said, “I’m okay, Mom, just a little stiff, sore and headache-y.” Despite trying to be strong, Jen’s hands were shaking, and her voice was faint. Looking from her parents to Vince, and seeing the concerned looks on their faces, she begged, “Please don’t worry about me. I’m sure I’ll be fine as soon as the doctors let me out of here so I can go home.”
“Don’t be ridiculous, Jennifer. Of course we’re worried about you. Your brother and sister are worried about you too,” Peter said solemnly, as he picked up Jen’s chart and read through the notes. “If it wasn’t for Vince arriving when he did, who knows what would have happened to you.”
Vince waved his hands dismissively, and said, “I’m worried about your safety, Jennifer. I’m going to arrange for you to have a bodyguard outside your room tonight.”
“Really, that’s not necessary, Vince,” Jen protested.
“Yes, it is,” Peter replied.
Grace chimed in, “Jen, honey, please. It’s for your safety.”
Realizing she couldn’t fight both her parents and Vince, Jennifer reluctantly agreed to accept the overnight bodyguard. “If it will make all of you feel better, and if it’s okay with the hospital, then all right,” she said, with a heavy sigh.
“The hospital will be fine with it,” Peter said. “Trust me, the last thing they want is someone attacking a patient. They’ll be happy to allow you to have the extra security.”
“We’ll all sleep better tonight, knowing you are safe,” Vince said, as he excused himself from the room to make the arrangements for the bodyguard.
Once Vince was out of earshot, Grace touched Jen’s shoulder and said, “He’s very concerned about you, and wants to do everything he can to protect you.”
“But…,” Jen said.
“No buts, Jennifer,” Peter said, cutting her off. “You mother and I spoke with Vince at length in the waiting room, and we’ve all agreed that, for your safety, you shouldn’t go back to your apartment once you are discharged from the hospital”
Jen stared at her father, confused. “What are you saying?”
“We think that you need to stay someplace where you will be more safe and secure,” Peter replied as Vince returned to the room. “Don’t you agree, Vince?”
“Absolutely. Jennifer, your safety is our top priority.” Vince took one of Jen’s hands into his, and lifted it to his lips, lightly kissing her. “We all love you, and care about you, and we’re all in agreement that you should move in with me, at least until the creep who attacked you is caught.”
Jen cringed, but otherwise said nothing, and turned her head to look out the window at the Manhattan skyline in the distance. After a few moments, she turned back towards Vince and whispered, “But I love my apartment. What if I don’t want to move?”
Vince felt his pulse begin to race, and tried to calm himself before speaking. “Jennifer, I know that you are upset, and you probably aren’t thinking clearly. But you need to understand just how close you came to being raped, and maybe killed, today.” Jen made some noises in protest, which Vince ignored. “We all think you need to stay with me, at least for a while. I have the ability to protect you. I have live-in staff so you won’t be home alone, and I will make sure you have a bodyguard, and a car and driver at your disposal, for whenever you need to go out.”
“I don’t know, Vince…” Jen’s voice trailed off.
Peter jumped in and said, “Well, I do, Jen, and I have to agree with Vince.” Peter put his arm around Grace, and continued, “Your mother and I think that you should move in with him, at least until your attacker is caught. You should be thanking him for his generosity.”
“But…can’t I just move back home with you for the time being,” Jen pleaded.
Every muscle in Vince’s body tensed, and didn’t relax until he heard Peter reply, “Jennifer, our brownstone doesn’t have a security system, and there isn’t time to install one before you are discharged.” Vince nodded his head, as Peter continued, “You’ll be much safer staying with Vince.”
The following day, Jen was discharged from the hospital, and was accompanied back to her apartment by her mother and Vince. “Oh my God,” she said, overwhelmed, as she entered her apartment and saw drawers emptied and overturned, and black marks everywhere from the fingerprint dusting the police performed during their investigation.
Grace put an arm around Jen’s shoulder, and said, softly, “I’ll call your housekeeper and have her come in this afternoon to clean everything up.”
Jen didn’t reply, and instead just nodded her head as she walked down the hallway towards her bedroom, stepping over the contents of her suitcase which had been emptied
and tossed about. She leaned down and picked up a box of See’s chocolates laying on the floor, the same one that Vince saw her purchase on the video he had received from Frank Webb. Jen handed the box to Vince, explaining, “These are for you, Vince. I bought them for you in San Francisco.”
“Thank you, my love.” What did I do to her? I can’t believe I allowed my need for control over a woman get out of hand again, he thought.
Jen continued to walk down the hallway, with Vince and her mother following her. As she entered her bedroom, she was startled when she saw the remains of the medical supplies used by the paramedics scattered on the carpet, as well as a small piece of rope. Jen gestured towards the rope and whispered, “Is that the rope the attacker used?”
Placing an arm around her shoulders, Vince replied softly, “Yes, part of it, anyway. The police took the rest of it as evidence. Your wrists were bound, and you were tied to the bedpost when I found you, blindfolded and with some sort of heavy tape over your mouth. You were unconscious, and your pants were pulled down.” He paused, before adding quietly, “I was so afraid, Jennifer. I thought you were dead.”
Anything But Mine Page 10