The Greedy Heart

Scum

NATHAN’S POV

I hear feet scurry our way, and I look up ready to defend myself once more with one hand if I needed to. However, it was just Fred, running towards me with his phone in his hand. Seeing the situation, he quickly assesses everything and walks more casually towards me.

“Are you okay, sir?” he asks. I nod at him, keeping a firm grip on the perpetrator's wrist.

“Can you call the authorities, and check on the woman and child over there, please?” I ask Fred, as he quickly calls the authorities and send them our location.

“What were you planning on doing?” I ask, leaning down towards the disgusting roach of a man at my feet. Twisting his arm even more, he whelps in pain. Considering I had a younger sister and a mom, just thinking about them in a situation like this had me boiling.

“Nothing, man! I was just playing around.” he growls out between clenched teeth.

“Playing my ass!” I sneer, into his ear. “Who are you working for? I know a small worm like you with a peanut for a brain, is working for someone else? What were you planning on doing with the girl?” I ask once more, applying more pressure to his arm.

“Damn man! I was only doing a job, okay? Nothing personal! I was just supposed to get a girl, her age and deliver. That’s it! Nothing more!” he claims out loud.

“That still doesn’t answer my questions!” I yell getting frustrated. Hearing the sirens coming our way, I tell him, “Fine, if you’re not going to talk, I’ll get the information that I need one way or another.”

I turn towards the woman and child, where Fred was talking to them softly, kneeling on one knee to show them that he wasn’t a threat. Soon, I see red and blue lights come down the alley.

Two officers come running down, with their guns held high and I soon released the man at my feet, throwing him down on the ground forcibly. Hoping, that I gave him a good shove to hurt him even more. Quickly, explaining who I was and what had happened, the officers hastily handcuffed the man and drag him to one of the waiting police cars.

After making a statement with a different officer, I was finally able to turn to the woman and child, standing nearby with Fred as he made his statement with an officer.

“Are you two alright?” I ask her.

“Thank you, sir. I don’t know what would have happened if you didn’t show up.” She said thankfully, but apparently avoiding my question in general.

I nodded in response, “No problem, I’m just glad I was able to stop him.”

Fred walks over and asks, “Sir, are you alright?”

“I’m fine.” I respond, but then quietly I ask, “Are they really okay? How come there’s no ambulance to do an initial checkup?”

“The woman declined medical assistance, sir. Saying they don’t have any money.” He whispers in my ear quietly.

“Fred, make sure they make it to the hospital and take care of all the bills. If she needs assistance, give it to her and the child. I have a suspicion that she’s in trouble whether it be money or whatever, but I want you to take care of it and make sure they don’t stay out on the streets.” I instruct him, making sure that the woman and child would be okay.

I walk closer to the woman and tell her silently, “Ma’am, this gentleman’s name is Fred, and he is one of my employees. He will escort you and the little one to the hospital to make sure you get checked out, fed, and taken care of. My name is Nathan. I will take care of all the bills, so don’t worry about it. Please if anything please just get checked out and let me take care of everything.” Looking at the little girl, she seemed to still be afraid, I wanted to make sure they were alright.

“I can’t do that, sir. But thank you very much. I have no way of ever repaying you.” The woman says stubbornly.

“Tell you what, how about repaying me by going to the hospital and getting checked out? The little girl looks like she’s about to faint and may need some care. I will take care of everything, I promise. What is ya’lls names?” I ask.

“My name is Laura, and this is my daughter Sophie.” She states, looking down at Sophie, her eyes start to tear up. “Okay, we will go to the hospital. I want to make sure that she’s okay too.”

Nodding my head, I turn to Fred and tell him, “Please, have Albert come down, pick up my outfit for tonight from wherever it’s at, and have him pick me up. Then take these two ladies to the nearest hospital, and make sure that they are ok. Ok?”

“Albert is already on his way here, sir. And he has your suit already. ETA is about 5 minutes,” he states, looking at his phone.

“I will meet him down the street, then. Thank you, Fred. Sorry, about the food though, I was looking forward to trying it. We’ll check it out next time.” I tell him, clapping him on the shoulder. I grab a business card out of my pocket and hand it to the woman.

“This is my information, if ever you need any assistance, just give me or Fred a call. I will make sure that Fred leaves his information with you as well.” I tell her.

“Thank you again, Nathan. Thank you for saving my little girl.” She says gratefully walking with the little girl in her arms, following Fred out of the alley.

Watching them leave, I get a text on my phone, ‘I’m here, sir. At the end of the alley way and I have your suit.’

I texted back, ‘Perfect, Fred is on his way out the alley, can you ask him to bring my laptop to you? I will be there in a moment.’

‘Yes, sir.’ He texts back.

Heading towards the entrance of the alley, I stop and talk to an officer, “Officer, is that everything you need? Do you need anything else?”

“No, sir. But thank you for what you’ve done here tonight, we’ve had quite a few disappearances here lately and catching this culprit, may help us bring down whatever is going on in the area,” he responds.

I can only nod and contemplate on what all had occurred later, with that I left the dark alley.