Rescued!

Chapter Thirty-one

Another shot fired. The bullet hit the fender of the car.

“We’ve got you covered, Vinson,” Sheriff Horton shouted. “You too, Klein. Both of you—drop your guns.”

A tussle ensued, right beside the car.

Ben tightened his grip on Janelle’s shoulders. Turning her head, she looked at him with wide eyes. He could feel her trembling—or maybe that was his hands shaking.

         “Oh, Ben.” Her voice quivered. “I’m so glad you came.”

He was surprised she wasn’t crying. Those guys could have blown her head off. “I’m sorry, Janelle. This is all my fault.”

All his dad’s fault, actually.

         “Ben!” Sheriff Horton approached the driver’s door. “It’s over.”

Reluctantly Ben let go of Janelle, and they both sat up. He rolled down the window.

The sheriff leaned into the car and looked at Janelle. “You okay?”

She nodded.

“Good.” He motioned to Ben. “We have Vinson and Klein in custody. I need you outside.” He looked at Janelle. “You come too, Nellie.”

“Nellie?” Ben glanced at her.

She opened her door and exited the car.

A patrol car pulled into the lot, lights flashing. The two bookies stood with their hands cuffed behind their backs. As Ben and Janelle approached with the sheriff, a deputy read the men their rights.

“You have the right to remain silent. Anything you say—”

“Hey, Thorne.” Cliff glared at him. “You still owe us.”

“Yeah,” Monty said. “Why are we getting arrested? This guy owes us big bucks, and it’s all legit, too.”

“He owes you nothing.” The sheriff stuck his hands on his hips. “You two don’t know the laws, which is why you’re always getting in trouble.”

“Hey, that was legitimate gambling Thorne did.” Cliff took a step toward the sheriff. “He booked his bets with us and lost about seventy grand. So take the handcuffs off already.”

“You’re under arrest for kidnapping and car theft.”

“Car theft?” Cliff squinted at the sheriff. “Okay, the kidnapping—yeah, but we didn’t steal Thorne’s car. He gave it to us—”

“I did not! You stole it. And I want my keys back.”

“Well, you can’t have them.” Monty’s chin jutted out. “We’re keeping the car.”

Sheriff Horton grunted. “Don’t be stupid, Klein. You’re going to jail—for a long time. Now where are the keys?”

Cliff’s shoulders drooped. “Monty has ’em. Shirt pocket.”
         A deputy reached into Monty’s pocket as the bookie protested. “Hey, give those back. Those are my keys.” The deputy threw the keys to the sheriff.

Horton caught them. “And for your information, you can’t make Ben pay his father’s gambling debts. Ben doesn’t owe you a penny.”

“That’s right.” Ben pulled a paper from his pocket. “I have my dad’s death certificate right here. According to the law, since Jed Thorne is dead, you can’t collect a dime he owed you.”

“What?” Cliff’s mouth dropped open.

“Like I said, you two don’t know the laws.” The sheriff nodded to a deputy. “Take them back to Greenvale and lock them up.”

The deputies led the men to the police car and opened the back door.

“But Cliff,” Monty said as he was pushed inside, “I loved that car. It was the best car we ever stole.”

“Shut up, Monty.”

The sheriff turned to Ben. “Do you want one of my deputies to drive your car back? We can leave it in Thorne’s parking lot.”

Ben nodded. “Thanks, that’ll be great. I’ll drive Janelle to her house in my uncle’s car.”

She turned to him as they walked back. “Ben, I didn’t realize it was your dad’s debts they were holding me for. I thought, uh, you had incurred these—”

“Me? You thought I was a gambler?” He glanced at her, feeling betrayed. “You should know me better than that, Janelle. I’ve never gambled in my life.”

Ben opened the door for her and she slipped inside. He grabbed Elliot’s briefcase off the hood of the Camry, got in, and started the engine. Without a word, he pulled the car out into the street.

How could Janelle think he was a gambler? How could she think he had anything to do with those two goons?

After a few moments, his ire cooled. Janelle was not to blame.

He glanced at her. “Nellie, huh?”
         She looked out the passenger window. “It’s just a nickname from my childhood. Sheriff Horton’s known me a long time.”

Ben turned north on Route 21. “A woman named Nellie visited my aunt Ida a few days ago.” He raised his eyebrows. “More investigating?”

She nodded.

“Learn anything?”

“Not much.”

He grinned. “I didn’t think so.”

A faint blush spread across her cheeks.

He reached over and covered her hand with his. “I’m glad you’re okay. I couldn’t believe it when those clowns called me.”

 “I’m glad you’re not a gambler, Ben.” She laid her other hand on top of his. “You don’t know what a relief that is to me.”

He gazed into her pretty green eyes. “Yeah, well, I’m glad I don’t have to pay for my dad’s vices.”

“Thanks again for rescuing me. That took courage.” She shrugged. “I’m sure you would have done it for any of your employees, but I really appreciate it.”

Ben raised an eyebrow. Would he have risked his neck for Helga? For Clara? He glanced into Janelle’s eyes and had a sudden urge to kiss her.

Never would he kiss Helga or Clara!

Ben squeezed her hand and let go. “Hungry?”

“Yes!” She folded her hands on her flat stomach. “I’ve had nothing to eat since lunch.”

“There’s an all-night diner on the way to Greenvale. We’ll stop in, okay?”

She smiled. “That would be great.”

Ben turned on the cruise control. Maybe this escapade was worth it after all. Cliff and Monty were on their way to jail, Ben didn’t have to pay his dad’s debts, and he could spend some time with Janelle.

Yes, definitely worth it.

* * *

“All’s well that ends well.”

But it’s not over yet! Tomorrow we’ll find out what Janelle’s dad thinks about her kidnapping. Until then, God bless!