Race With a Heart
Chapter 107: The Terror of Uncertainty And Waiting

Chapter 107: The Terror of Uncertainty And Waiting

"STEVE !!!"

Martin’s exclamation was full of terror and despair. He had a warm, sticky liquid in his hand - blood.

Martin began to tremble. He knew he should do something, but he was so scared that he could only put his hands on the bleeding wound in a desperate gesture to stop the bleeding and repeat haphazardly:

"Steve, don’t die! I am begging you, do not die! Steve ... "

Desperate, Martin began to look around for help. He saw Alston hanging up the phone.

"I called an ambulance," the third driver announced and crouched to the side. "What’s with him? Is he...?"

Martin was too scared to check, but still looked at the face of the lying man. The artery in his neck was teeming with life.

"He’s alive," he replied in a hoarse voice. "But he’s bleeding so much ..."

"It’ll be okay," Alston said. "You’ll see, Martin, everything will be fine."

Jack and Kevin showed up at the hospital together, but while Lambert ran to Martin right away, Moore approached Lieutenant Sullivan and Paul Denning. The lieutenant was just shaking his head and grumbling:

"What a week. First murder, now attempted murder. All year only fights, manslaughter, some assault, some rape, and now ... "

"Are you sure this was an attempted murder?" Moore asked anxiously, glancing at Martin sitting in the corridor. The boy looked as if he had lost all his blood in terror and was now pale as a corpse and almost as if sitting stiffly in a plastic chair. Only his hands showed traces of blood. It looked as if someone had rubbed or washed his hands, but not thoroughly.

Martin was not alone in the corridor. Although Kevin had not been formally introduced to anyone but Karl Walton, he recognized everyone. The older man, accompanied by a nervously walking Karl, was Abe Allen, chief mechanic of the Fergus Stables, and, bending over Martin, trying to console him, the young man was Don Alston, the third driver. Jack sat on the other side of the young mechanic and hugged him unceremoniously as if he were his older brother.

"Yes, I’m sure," Sullivan agreed. "One witness testified that the victim was held down by two men and was probably unconscious when he was stabbed. Damn it! In addition, the victim is a public figure. The journalistic vultures will appear any moment. I can already see the commander ... "

"One of the witnesses?" the professor asked.

"Yes, third driver. Apparently he was there by accident. Paxton was having a beer with a friend, that boy with bloody hands, Martin. Martin went to the car, Paxton to the bathroom. When he did not return for a long time, Martin went looking for him and on the way ran into Alston. They both saw the incident, but the mechanic is still in shock and we won’t get much out of him. "

"He will calm down after surgery," Denning noted. "Then I’ll talk to him."

"Would you let me do this?" Moore asked. "Martin is my friend. He will be calmer if I interrogate him. "

"Properly..."

Denning’s hesitation was justified inasmuch as Moore was only a consultant, not a police officer, and the questioning should have been made by an officer.

"I don’t mean an official witness statement that you will give the prosecution," said Kevin. "I want to open his mouth and catch those who did this to Paxton. By the way, in what condition he went on the table? "

"There is still the possibility that we will not be dealing solely with attempted murder."

The professor looked at Martin again. The boy tried his best to remain brave, but it was evident that he was barely in control. It is one thing to find out that a loved one has been attacked, and it is quite another to witness this attack, which could prove fatal. Poor Martin. Two days ago he experienced similar tortures when he saw Paxton’s car launch into the air like from a catapult and then, just like a toy car thrown by a child, it rolled on the ground, threatening the driver’s life.

Then it was a moment, terrible, scary, but a moment after which a track staff member showed a thumbs up. Hours had passed now, and no one was sure that the thumb would not be pointing down this time.

"In Fergus’ stable they say," Kevin kept his eyes on the young mechanic, "that someone has Paxton in the gun sight."

"Really?" Denning asked.

Moore nodded and looked at the young policeman.

"Are you watching car racing? GP2? " he asked him.

"No," admitted Paul Denning. "It never interested me."

"From the first race, Paxton has faced weird incidents. The doubled driver does not want to pass him, during the doubled another driver starts to overtake ... Two days ago Paxton even had a serious accident on the track which was caused by ... another driver’s stupid mistake. "

Sullivan nodded thoughtfully.

"Everyone in this city is more or less interested in the sport. The incidents that happened to Paxton were classified as incidents on the track, but most people are dissatisfied about it. Kevin, do you think it was intentional and that it has something to do with today’s assault? "

"I can’t say anything about today’s event, but it’s worth looking at what’s happening on the track. It will not be easy, because they took place abroad, and drivers of different nationalities were involved. Besides, the federation will not cooperate with the local police. "

"Damn it!" Sullivan cursed. "It will have to be dealt with through Interpol. For this quietly. If it is indeed a conspiracy, not only the federation will want to close the case quickly. "

"We will not get approval for an international investigation," Denning said, worried. "Not until we provide compelling evidence."

This was quite absurd as the investigation was conducted to obtain evidence, and no evidence was obtained to investigate, but the reality was that no one would allow a business worth tens of billions to be made a fuss.

"So we need to explore the local backyard first," said Moore.

"Are you involved in this case?" Sullivan made sure. "I am asking because I have to fill in the papers."

"Yes. I know a few people from the Fergus Stables, so I will have access to information, both official and behind the scenes. Anyway, this is the second big issue we have, so you will need any help. Anyway," shrugged Moore, "this case is very interesting to me from the point of view of my profession.

"Yep," Sullivan sighed. " I could have guessed."

"Whether the events at the track and today’s assassination attempt have anything in common, Paxton has either too much bad luck or too many enemies."

"Martin, come on, have some warm tea," Don Alston offered, handing him a disposable cup. "It’s hot and sweet, it will do you good."

Jack Lambert looked surprised at his younger colleague. Alston was genuinely protective of Martin, as if he really worried about him.

Maybe it was like that? It could be so. Alston was arrogant and wayward, tried something wrong with Martin, but regretted it later. After all, both young people had known each other for a long time, they were rivals but also colleagues. This terrible situation involving Steve must have left an impression even on him. The old saying goes, you make friends through misfortune. The saying is not only because false friends will run away when they no longer have the benefit, but also because the real ones will come out when trouble comes.

Don might have belonged to the latter group, although he probably did not expect it himself.

"Thank you," the mechanic replied in a hoarse voice.

Martin took the cup and took a small sip. He seemed to be doing it out of pure politeness to show that he appreciated his colleague’s gesture

"How did this happen?" Karl suddenly appeared in front of Martin. Nervous, he was pacing back and forth in the corridor, glancing at Martin and trying to contain his emotions, but finally he couldn’t stand it. "How did Steve get attacked while with you?"

Martin cringed under his questions as if under a whip. These questions sounded like accusations, and the boy knew perfectly well they were justified.

Jack and Don stood up simultaneously, but it was Don who stood between Karl and Martin. There was a challenge in his eyes.

"Why don’t you ask me? I was there too! "

Lambert looked at him in surprise. Alston stood up to his boss in defense of Martin?

"Karl, come on" Abe Allen wanted to reassure Walton. "There will be time for questions and answers. Can’t you see the kid is shocked? "

But Martin got up and looked at Walton boldly. His eyes were full of anxiety and pain, but the boy wasn’t going to hide behind anyone’s back. He was going to bravely face the attacks and accusations and, if need be, take on all of Karl’s anger.

But then the door from the operating department opened and people started to approach them.