The Pole Dancer

Chapter 20

"Lily?" Nikki turns around instantly, Jenice's neighbor is standing in front of him.

The woman has a worried and confused look, looking behind him, at the room. She looks like almost crying.

"What happened here?" Nikki asks her, trying to quell his heart palpitations.

"I know almost nothing," the woman sighs and looks down, at a certain point, desolate. "It happened so fast. She didn't come back to tell me what happened."

"What happened? Please, Lily," Nikki is looking more and more desperate. "Tell me everything you know."

"It happened the day after Sarah's birthday... In the evening..."

"Right after I left..." Nikki whispers looking blankly.

"I heard police sirens. And then I stood up and saw on the window cars and an ambulance. I thought I was having a heart attack when I saw that they stopped in front of Jenice's house. I realized that something horrible had happened. I immediately went outside and wanted to know what was happening. If Jenice and Sarah were fine. The police did not allow me to approach. So I waited.

"From what I understood, they were looking for someone who ran away from Jenice's house. They couldn't catch him. I thought that maybe someone broke into Jenice's house, with the intention of stealing anything. Even now, I still don't understand what happened.

"I caught some peeks with Jenice in the ambulance, Sarah was on her lap and the little one was crying non-stop. I couldn't have a clearer view of Jenice. Her hair was lying on her face.

"The police told me that they had to take Jenice and Sarah to the hospital for some medical investigations. I was scared. I thought both Jenice and Sarah were hurt. But I was told to calm down that Sarah was not hurt. Thank God. But Jenice?

"I didn't know anything about her until she returned home two days later. I was going to the grocery store then. When I turned around, I saw Jenice hurriedly throwing some luggage into the car, Sarah was in the back, in the car seat with the kitten in her arms. She had such a sad face. Jenice was wearing a black hoodie, with the hood over her head, her face could not be seen well. I don't know if she saw me. Probably not. I wanted to go towards them, but Jenice had already started the car and it was too late. They had already left. So many days have passed and I still don't know what happened. I guess you don't know either..."

"No..." Nikki shakes his head completely disturbed by the new information. "Who would dare to break into Jenice's house and hurt her?!" His blood boils.

If he lays his hands on that guy! He would teach him a lesson! But now what to do about Jenice and Sarah? Where are they? Are they really safe? Did the Police find that bastard? Is this guy after them? No! He can't leave it like that! He must first find out where Jenice and Sarah are located.

And why didn't she tell him what happened and why did she choose to distance herself from him and the other people dear to her. Not even Lily knows anything. It's not good at all.

"I will find out what happened!" Nikki says with a frown and steps forward, going down a few stairs.

"Let me know too, please!" Cries Lily. "I want to know that Jenice and Sarah are fine."

"Don't worry. I will tell you everything."

About half an hour later, Nikki's car stops in front of the nightclub where Jenice works. Already inside, he saw Sandra and the boss of this place.

They seem to be the only two in this dark place. They have some blurry looks when they see him heading towards them.

"Nikki?" Sandra says surprised.

"Please tell me that you know what happened to Jenice."

"We were talking about her now," says the boss. "We were all concerned that she stopped coming to work. Sandra explained to us everything that happened."

"What happened?" Nikki asks the brunette for clarification. "I only heard that someone broke into her house. Who is? Please tell me she's fine and sound! Are she and Sarah in a safe place?"

Sandra shares a sad look with her boss, sighing and answering Nikki:

"Don't worry. Jenice, Sarah and even the kitten are fine. She isolated herself from us just to protect us."

***

With his hands clutching on the steering wheel, Nikki is looking for the address that Sandra gave him a few hours ago. He had to drive in another state, in Utah. It seems that Jenice took refuge in a town called Cedar City. She wanted to be as far as possible from the one who attacked her. And by him. He says to himself.

Nikki can't help but think about the fact that the incident happened after he left Jenice. If that bastard had come earlier, he would have confronted him and Jenice would not have run away.

Nikki reaches the address. He stops the car in front of a small and shabby house. He takes out of his pocket the paper with the address written by Sandra to check that it has reached the right place. This is.

He looks in front of the small garage. Jenice probably keeps her car there, hiding it so that the registration numbers are not visible. It reduces any risk of being found.

He opens the door and jumps out, slamming the door. He takes reluctant steps towards the house, because he doesn't know how Jenice will react when she sees him, so she doesn't expect a visit from him. Has she already seen him? Did she probably see him through the window? He looks at the windows and the shutters are in place. Maybe she's not even home?

He stops in front of the door, catching his breath and knocking on the door. He waits for a while and the door cracks open and Nikki gasps.

A frightened Jenice is now gazing him. Something is wrong with her. With her face.

"Nikki?!" She shrieks in shock.

"Oh my God, Jenice! What happened to you?!" Nikki raises his hand on her bruised cheek.