Jarrod jumped to his feet, knocking his chair over. “No,” he bellowed, slapping his hands on the table. “You love me. You know you do.” He turned to face Derik, his eyes dark and wild. “She’ll always love me.” He jabbed his finger in his own chest. “She’s mine. Did you hear that, grease monkey? She’ll always be mine.” He flipped the table, sending the district attorney’s briefcase and glasses flying through the air.
Judge Gaston banged his gavel and called for order. The bailiff, who was sitting in a chair balanced on two back legs against the wall, jumped to his feet. The overturned furniture was between him and Jarrod Dinson. He tried to leap over the table, but his foot caught on the corner, and he sprawled on the floor amid the papers that rained down.
Mr. Bergren stood between Jarrod Dinson and Kelly. He heard the commotion behind him and saw the expression on his client’s face when Dinson headed toward Kelly. The attorney dove under the evidence table and cowered in fear, covering his ears to stifle the sound of Kelly’s screams.
Kelly was still in the witness stand, but she had left her seat and backed against the wall when Jarrod began yelling at her. She screamed when he started running in her direction. Behind Dinson, she saw Sheriff Foster vault over the short wall separating the spectators from the courtroom. He made a diving tackle, catching Jarrod around the legs, bringing him to the ground. Derik also rushed toward the stand. He took Kelly in his arms, using his body to protect her from the chaos.
Once Jarrod was handcuffed, Sheriff Foster pulled him to his feet.
Dinson continued to yell, and Foster lifted his arms behind him, bending the man double. “Shut up, or I’m going to taze you.”
Judge Gaston banged the gavel again. “Mr. Bergren?” he looked around the room, “Mr. Bergren?”
“Yes, Your Honor,” the attorney said, crawling out from under the table.
“I’ve heard enough. I’m ordering your client to undergo a complete psychological evaluation. We will set a trial date once I receive the results. Is everyone okay?” He looked at the bailiff, now standing on the other side of Jarrod, then at Kelly and Derik. “Good.” He pounded the gavel again. “Court is adjourned.”
Chapter 46
Foster stepped forward. “Are you okay, Kelly?” he asked.
“Yes, just a little shook up. Is he gone?”
“The bailiff is taking him to jail. Don’t worry. Dinson just signed his own commitment papers. He won’t be bothering you anymore.”
Mikki ran to Kelly’s side. “You did great. I’m so proud of you.”
Kelly sighed and dropped her head on Derik’s shoulder.
Sherriff Foster tapped Mikki on the back and motioned toward the door with his head. She nodded, and the two walked out of the courtroom, leaving Derik and Kelly alone.
“What happens now?” Mikki said when they left the building. “I mean, what’s going to happen to Jarrod?”
“He’ll be examined by at least one psychologist, probably several times. They’ll give the results to the judge who will set a new court date. Based on Dinson’s past behavior and today’s blowup, he’ll probably be put away for a long time. Most likely, he’ll end up in a prison mental facility.”
They kept walking until they reached the patrol car. Foster leaned against the back of the automobile and folded his arms over his chest. Mikki took the same stance beside him.
“That was an impressive move in there. Where did you learn that?”
“Oh, a little high school track and field, some college football, and boot camp.” He toyed with a pebble in front of his foot. “When are you leaving?”
“There’s no reason for me to stay, unless Kelly needs me. I’ll probably go home tomorrow or the next day.”
They watched Kelly and Derik walk out of the courthouse. His arm was around her waist, and her head was resting on his shoulder.
“You know, I think the best day of her life was when he rescued her on the side of the road.” Mikki said.
“Yeah, I think they all got rescued that day.”
The couple walked closer. Foster pointed his chin toward them. “She’s been through a lot today. Maybe we should go and get a bite to eat, just to give them some time alone.”
Mikki nodded. “She does look pretty wiped out. Maybe we should also take in a movie.”
“Yeah, you’re probably right. I bet she’s exhausted. We might need to go dancing, too. Just to give her plenty of time to unwind, of course.”
“Of course.”
Derik and Kelly walked to the cruiser, still wrapped in each other’s arms. Kelly said, “I guess we’re going home. Are you ready, Mikki?”
“Mikki and I thought we would go to Sorenson’s. I told her it was a crime to spend more than a day in Oak Springs and not try their barbeque. I would hate to have to arrest her just before she leaves town.” Foster placed a hand on Mikki’s back and started to steer her toward the patrol car door.
Derik shook Pete’s hand. “I think I’m going to take my wife to the house. You guys have fun.” He turned to Kelly and said, “Let’s see if Jack and Mildred can watch the kids a little longer.”
“That sounds wonderful.” When Derik opened the car door, she looked at Mikki and waved.
Mikki waved back and stepped into the cruiser.
Chapter 47
Stewart stuck his head in the office. “You must be feeling good.”
“Why is that?” Derik said as he studied the parts’ list in front of him.
“You’re whistling again. You’ve been doing a lot of that this week. I guess things are back to normal since that trial mess is over.”
Derik laid his pen down and cupped his hands behind his head. “Yeah, things are great. Actually, they’re better than I ever imagined. You need to find a good woman and have a family. It doesn’t get any better than this.” He laughed when the man cringed and shook his head.
Derik went back to his paperwork, and Stewart turned toward the counter. “That cop is here,” he called over his shoulder.
Derik looked up and saw the sheriff walk into the building. He smiled and started to stand when Foster stepped into the room and closed the door behind him. The look on his face was grim. “Where’s Kelly?”
“Home I guess, why?”
“Dinson escaped. A deputy took him to the doctor this morning, and he managed to get away and steal a pickup. I had one of my men go by your place. She isn’t there.” He rubbed the back of his neck. “It gets worse. There was a gun in the truck.”
Derik dialed Kelly’s number and put the phone on speaker. After two rings, Jarrod Dinson answered. Sydney was crying in the background.
“Where’s Kelly?” Derik said.
“With me, where she belongs. It’s where she wants to be,” the deep voice said.
“Let me talk to her.”
“You don’t give me orders. I’m in control here, you got it? I’m the one in charge.”
Derik’s hands shook as he put his elbows on the desk and dropped his head against his palms. Sheriff Foster was across the room, talking into the radio on his shoulder.
“Okay, okay. I just want to make sure she and Sydney are all right.”
There was a rustling sound, then he heard Kelly’s voice.
“Derik,” she said with a sob.
“Has he hurt you or Sydney?”
“No. Don’t worry, we’re safe. Tell everyone that we’re safe.” The fear in her voice filled the room.
There was more noise, and Dinson said, “You’ve talked to her for the last time. She’s mine now, and she always will be.” The phone went silent.
Derik dropped his head against the back of the chair and closed his eyes. His cheeks bulged as he released the breath he’d been holding.
“What did she say?” Fost
er said.
Derik didn’t bother to look at the man. “She said he hadn’t hurt her or the baby.”
“No, what exactly did she say? What were her exact words?”
He thought for a minute. “She said, ‘Don’t worry, we’re safe. Tell everyone that we’re safe.’ Why?”
Foster stared out the window and rocked on his toes. “That’s a strange thing to say.” Derik could see the man’s lips move as he repeated Kelly’s words to himself. After a moment, he turned around and said, “I think I know where they are.” He pulled the cell phone from his pocket and headed to the cruiser. He slid behind the wheel at the same time Derik got into the passenger seat. “What do you think you’re doing? This is police business. I can’t take civilians with me.”
“That’s my wife and daughter. Let’s go, you’re wasting time,” Derik said, snapping the seatbelt closed.
Foster headed out of town, still holding the phone to his ear. “It’s Pete. I’ve got a situation.” He continued to talk for several minutes before dropping the phone in his pocket.
“What’s going on?” Derik said.
“I don’t know for sure, but I think she may have been trying to give me a clue.”
Kelly bounced the crying baby in her arms. She hummed and sang, but Sydney wouldn’t stop screaming.
“Shut that kid up, now. She’s been howling for the past two hours,” Dinson said between gritted teeth. His knuckles were white on the steering wheel, and she could see the vein throbbing on his temple, just above a jagged scar. He wore orange and white prison clothes, covered by a dirty plaid shirt he’d found under the truck seat.
“She’s wet and hungry, Jarrod. You wouldn’t let me get her bag when you shoved us in the truck. We’ve got to stop for some diapers and formula. It’s the only way I can calm her down.”
His jaw clenched. “We’ll stop at the next station. I’ll get gas, and you get whatever you need to keep her quiet.” He took the gun that was lying across his lap and pointed it in her direction. “Don’t get any ideas, understand?”
She held her daughter closer against her chest and kissed the soft head. Her busted lip left a drop of blood on the baby’s scalp. The fresh bruise on her cheek reminded her not to argue. She trembled and pressed her body against the truck door. “Yes, I understand.”
Dinson pulled into the Grab-n-Go station thirty minutes later. It was a small mom-and-pop store with two gas pumps. A rusty old truck sat at one; he parked in front of the other.
Kelly started to open the door, but Jarrod grabbed her arm and lifted the gun. “The kid stays with me.”
“No, Jarrod, please.” She squeezed the baby so tight she began to scream louder.
Dinson frowned at the crying infant. “Then wait here, and we’ll go in together.” He waved the gun toward her purse. “Give me some money.”
She dug through her wallet and pulled out a credit card. “This is all I’ve got. I don’t have any cash.”
He snatched the card out of her hand and dropped it in the shirt pocket then stuffed the gun in his waistband and climbed out of the truck.
Kelly rocked back and forth and studied their surroundings. They hadn’t passed anything but trees and open fields for miles. The traffic had been as sparse as the houses. She looked back at Jarrod. He was watching her through the window. They were the only ones around except for the man at the gas pump.
Jarrod finished filling the truck and walked to the passenger door. She stepped out, and he wrapped his fingers around her arm, squeezing hard enough to cause her to wince. “You get what you need and keep your mouth shut.”
When they stepped inside the store, Kelly scanned the room. There was no one in sight. Country music played on a radio somewhere behind the counter. Rows of shelves held everything from canned goods to fishing tackle. A musty smell filled the air. They searched the aisles until they found the diapers.
“Those,” she said, pointing with her chin. Jarrod stuck the dusty box under his arm. “And a couple of those plastic bottles.” He picked up two and she nodded toward the cans of formula. “A case of those.”
“A case?”
“Yes.”
Jarrod put the diapers and bottles on top of the formula. He looked around and leaned closer, gripping her arm. “You stay right beside me and keep your head down and your mouth shut.”
She nodded.
They walked to the front of the building, and Jarrod placed the items on the counter. Kelly stood at his side, trying to console the crying baby.
A clerk stepped out of the back room. “Sounds like the little one is hungry,” she said.
Kelly’s head shot up when she recognized the voice. A woman with spiky red hair stood at the register. After ringing up their items, she swiped Kelly’s credit card and handed it back to Jarrod.
The bell above the door chirped, and the man with the rusty truck stepped into the store.
The woman looked Kelly in the eye. “Do you need to take those bottles in the ladies’ room and wash them out? They’re pretty dirty. Come down this way, and I’ll show you where it is.”
“Yes, thank you.” Kelly grabbed the bottles and hurried toward the back of the building before Jarrod could stop her.
When she stepped around the end of the counter, Brenda’s arm reached out and pulled Kelly through a door labeled “EMPLOYEES ONLY.”
“Stay down,” she said. She held her gun in front of her and peered around the corner.
Jarrod moved back from the counter to give the tall, bowlegged man room. He shifted the boxes in his arms and turned in the direction Kelly had gone. The man beside him said, “Freeze. Police.”
Jarrod spun around and saw the Glock 22 aimed at him. He threw the formula and diapers and went for his gun.
Shots rang out. Brenda stepped into the room and began firing while Kelly folded her body over the screaming child and covered the tiny ears with her hand. Glass shattered, and merchandise fell off shelves. The mayhem and noise seemed to last forever. Kelly was so scared she didn’t notice that the shooting had stopped. Large, calloused hands took her shoulders and lifted her to her feet. Max eased her and the baby against his chest.
“It’s okay, Kelly. You’re safe now.”
“Oh, Max. I’m so glad to see you and Brenda. How did you know?”
“Pete called and told us what was going on. He guessed when you told your husband you were safe you were trying to tell him you were somewhere near the safe house. We figured you would stop for gas before hitting the interstate, and this is the only station anywhere around. It was a gamble, but Brenda and I thought we would hang around in case you showed up.” He hugged her again. “I’m glad we did.”
“What about Jarrod?”
“Dead.”
The bell above the door chimed. Sheriff Foster walked in with his gun in his hand. Derik was on his heels. The men stopped and took in the destruction. Jarrod’s body lay at their feet in a pool of blood, soda, and motor oil.
“Kelly!” Derik’s eyes searched the room for his wife.
“Derik,” she said as she hurried to the front of the store. He wrapped his arms around her and his daughter.
“Are you okay?”
“I am now.”
Sheriff Foster joined them and rubbed a hand along her back. “Are you all right, Kelly? How about Sydney?”
“We’re fine. I was afraid you wouldn’t find us?”
“I wouldn’t have without you tipping me off about where you were heading. It was a shot in the dark, but it worked.”
Kelly leaned against her husband. “Is it really over?”
“Yes, it’s really over.”
“Derik?”
“What is it, honey?”
“I want to go home.”
Epilogu
e
D.C. and Win flew into the kitchen. Win tossed his backpack against the wall and said, “We’re home.” He looked toward the living room and asked, “What’s wrong with Sydney?”
The baby was on a blanket, her arms and legs flailing in a full-blown tantrum. She wasn’t crying; she was screaming.
Kelly was at the sink. “She’s a little impatient for her bottle. I’m trying to get this dough off my hands so I can feed her, but she doesn’t want to wait.”
“She’s really loud,” he said as he ran upstairs. The slam of the bathroom door echoed throughout the house, causing Sydney to cry louder.
“I’ll feed her,” D.C. offered, dropping his backpack next to Win’s. He walked to the fridge and took a bottle out, holding it up for Kelly’s inspection. “Is this one okay?”
“Thank you, D.C. That one is fine.” She instructed him on how to prepare and test the bottle while she continued to scrub her hands and arms. When it was ready, he ran to the baby and sat on his knees beside her. He rolled her onto her back and placed the bottle to her lips. She kicked her chubby legs and started to drink with a flourish. When she grasped his finger, he smiled, and she smiled back. “Mom,” he called over his shoulder, “her smile’s leaking.”
Kelly walked into the room and dropped to her knees beside him.
“Watch, the milk keeps running out of her mouth.” When he spoke to the baby, she grinned, and milk oozed down the side of her face.
Kelly laughed. She picked Sydney up while D.C. continued to hold the bottle for her. They were sitting with their heads together when she heard a noise behind her and turned to see Derik standing in the kitchen. “Hi, I didn’t hear you come in.” She laid Sydney down and went to the kitchen. “This is a pleasant surprise. What are you doing home at this time of the day?”
An Unexpected Rescue (Oak Springs Series Book 1) Page 22
