“I don’t like this one bit,” dog-stealing man said. “This place gives me the heebie jeebies.” He was the thinner of the two and could have doubled as the bad guy in a western, shabbily dressed and with a cigarette hanging out of his mouth.
Without warning, drug guy grabbed hold of Lexi’s hand and pulled on the ring.
Lexi screamed loud and shrill, stretching her vocal cords to the limit, and considering her talent, being able to project her voice came natural to her. The man pushed her to the floor where they struggled. She balled her fists, hitting him until he pinned her arms to the floor. She was no match for the man.
“I kinda like this position,” he leered.
Lexi grimaced and rolled her head to the side.
He stuck out his tongue and licked the side of her face She recoiled, closed her eyes tight, and struggled, kicking and thrashing. Beads of sweat on his forehead trickled down the side of his face, and a drop of sweat fell on Lexi’s cheek.
The man forced Lexi’s hands above her head and held them tight with one hand. With the other hand, he undid his belt buckle—
A powerful force jerked the man off Lexi, and before he knew it, a solid punch landed square on his jaw. The man fell to the floor like a brick. He was out cold.
“What about you?” Joe asked. “You want some of what your friend got?”
“Nah, man. He ain’t my friend.” The man slowly backed away, and when he was a safe distance from Joe, he bolted, disappearing down the corridor.
Joe looped his arm under Lexi and helped her stand. “Are you alright?”
“I’m a little shaken up, otherwise I’m okay.”
Joe righted the chair. “Sit here, and let’s put ice on your ankle.” He reached into his pocket and removed a pair of women’s hose. “These will do in a pinch for compression stockings. I’ll wrap them around your ankle then tie them off.”
“Where’d you get a pair of panty hose?” Lexi asked.
“Do you really want to know?”
“What? Did you find them on the ground?”
“Sort of,” Joe replied. “I removed them from someone who wouldn’t be needing them anymore.”
“Oh.” Lexi grimaced, understanding Joe had removed them from a dead woman. “As long as they don’t have any blood on them, I’m okay with it.”
“Only the best for you, Lexi,” Joe teased, winking. He failed to tell Lexi the hose did have blood on them. A quick rinse with soap in the restroom remedied the situation. He had squeezed as much water out of them, then held the hose close to his chest to dry further from his body heat.
Joe sat opposite Lexi; her leg propped on his lap. He wrapped her ankle as tight as he thought was necessary then applied the pack of ice to her ankle.
“I appreciate you helping me,” Lexi said.
“My pleasure.” Joe meant it.
“I haven’t even asked if you’re okay. Did you get injured?”
“Other than being knocked out I’m okay. What about you? Do you have any other injuries or soreness?”
Lexi thought for a moment. Traumatized from the blast and the man who attacked her, she had completely forgotten about her sore tooth. She ran her tongue over the sore molar, testing its sensitivity. She took a swallow of the soft drink.
“My tooth hurts.”
“Do you have sensitive teeth?”
“Normally I don’t have any problems with my teeth. I have to go to the dentist regularly because it’s in my contract. I’ve had no time to make an appointment with a dentist because of the preparations and rehearsal for the game.”
“How bad is it?” Joe asked.
“Honestly, it’s getting worse.” Lexi massaged her jawline. “My mom said she would make me an appointment for me once this was over. Obviously, it’s not going to happen.”
“Where’s your mom?”
“She was at one of the luxury boxes, eating—”
“Your mom’s here?”
Lexi nodded. “I hope she’s okay. I really don’t know.” Lexi paused, unsure if she should verbalize her thoughts.
“What is it?” Joe asked. “Something’s on your mind.”
“If my mom was alive, she would have found me. I’m the only person she has.”
Joe visualized the luxury boxes located above the nosebleed section. Considering where the jet crashed, it probably clipped part of the upper stadium, and if it did, the people in the luxury boxes would have taken a direct hit. Taking into account the ordeal Lexi had been through, he decided not to voice his thoughts.
“Let’s try to get some shut-eye,” Joe offered. “I found a few coats and blankets we could use as a mattress.”
Lexi was skeptical regarding where Joe had found the items. “You didn’t take them off dead people did you?”
“No. I found them in the stands.” He handed a coat to Lexi. “How’s this one?”
Lexi pulled back the collar, inspecting the label. “This one is quite expensive. I might even like to keep it. I hate to get it dirty on the floor.”
“The temps will drop as soon as the sun goes down, and the concrete will not only be hard, it’s gonna be cold. If I was in your shoes, I’d rather be warm than have the latest fashion.”
“You’re right,” Lexi acknowledged. “Regardless, it’s still a nice coat.”
Joe gathered the rest of the coats, mulling over the options regarding where to sleep. He needed a space protected from the elements, and one where he wouldn’t be trapped in case more unsavory characters approached them. He decided hunkering down in one of the food vendor spaces would satisfy their needs. They would be hidden from survivors and others walking along the concourse. They’d have access to food not requiring refrigeration, and after they got settled in, he’d search the backroom for anything useful, especially knives.
He helped Lexi hobble over
