by S G Read
‘They said you were down there and I wanted to have a chat!’
‘We can talk on the way back to the court house Tom, we have rats to catch.’ Archie replied.
The truck was outside but it had been rendered useless, even beyond Barbara's capabilities but none of them wanted to stay behind so they all piled in to the patrol car, all eight of them. The drive back to Chicago was interesting, to say the least but they made it. The first stop was the hospital to drop of Helen and Samantha. One of the young patrolmen carried Samantha in and made sure she was looked after then he returned to the car. Dan wanted to stay with Helen and Samantha but his duty lay with Drummond, he wanted help in a big way. As they drove up the street that led to the courthouse they saw the fat woman half drag, half carry Drummond out and pushed him into the car. Fromes drove off as they arrived and they ran into the courthouse to find out what had happened. The place was deserted. They looked about, then a faint banging and shouting caught their attention. They tracked it down to a store room and found the Judge, Dermot, the cab driver and the usher locked inside.
‘What happened?’ Barbara asked.
‘We got custody and the fat woman has just kidnapped Drummond.’
Dermot replied. ‘It's all for money, the blind man left Drummond a lot of money. You have to stop her.’
‘They'll try for the state line!’ The judge said. ‘Try to head them off!’
The two patrolmen ran to their car and started after the car they had seen leaving. Dan hurried after them but he was too late to go with them. The taxi driver ran outside with him.
‘Well aint you going to say follow that car?’
‘You bet.’ Dan answered.
‘Well say it then no one's ever wanted me to do that afore.’ The driver replied.
Cally and Barbara brushed past him and jumped into the cab.
‘Driver follow that car!’ Barbara ordered.
‘Now you're talking.’ The driver said and jumped into the driving seat.
Dan barely made it inside before he roared off.
‘Hold on to your hats.’ The driver shouted.
By now, both the patrol car and the black car that the fat woman was driving were out of sight but they knew which road led to the state line.
The fat woman saw the others coming and swore, it was all going pear shaped but there was still one chance. Just before the back road that took her on to her back up route, she stopped at a gas station. It was run by a woman who was only half her size but she was still fat. She dragged Drummond inside and made the other woman take off her dress. She took off her own dress and put on the other woman's.
‘Put that on!’ She ordered pointing her pistol at the woman's daughter who sat nearby.
The other woman did not argue and put on the dress.
‘Now, where are the keys to your car?’
The woman went to open a drawer but the fat woman grabbed the woman's daughter.
‘Just in case you want to try to be clever.’ She held the girl in front of her.
The other woman took out the keys and threw them to the fat woman.
‘Now you drive of in the car we came in and don't let them catch you or I'll decorate the back seat of your car with her brains!’
The other woman did as she was told and roared out of the gas station just as the patrol car came round the corner, its siren blaring. Fromes watched as it went by.
‘Now get the boy into the car and we'll take her as a hostage in case of trouble.’ The fat woman ordered.
Fromes saw no other way out but getting over the state line and as there was still a chance of getting the money, he played along. They drove up the side road just after the gas station and turned the first corner just before the cab went by.
‘This aint right!’ The cab driver cried.
‘What isn't right?’ Cally asked.
‘They know we're gonna be after them! There's no way they'll get there along this road!’
‘Is there another way?’ Dan asked.
‘Yes. A side road back there. If I was on the run and trying to get over the line, that's the way I'd be going!’
Dan looked at Barbara.
‘Go for it then!’ Barbara cried. ‘The patrol car will catch them up if they have gone that way!’
‘You got it!’
The cab slew round in the road and ended up facing the other way.
‘I always wanted to do that.’ The cabbie cried and put his foot flat to the floor.
When they reached the turn off he swung off at the same speed but had to slow down for the first corner. They could see dust hanging in the air.
‘Someone's been along here recently.’ Cally said. ‘Look at all the dust!’
The travel was slower as the road seemed to be all corners but the cab driver was bent on catching whoever was in front of them.
The patrolmen saw the car speed out of the gas station and raced after it. They could see the fat woman driving but assumed everyone else was lying down out of sight. They chased her for several miles before the woman driving lost control and the car left the road. They stopped and ran to help.
‘That's not the one!’ The first patrolman there said in surprise. ‘They pulled a switch on us.’
The woman in the car was hurt but managed to speak.
‘She made me switch dresses and drive off. She has my daughter, you've got to save her!’ She passed out as she finished telling them.
‘You go after them. I'll flag down a car and get some help out here.’ The second patrolman said. ‘And look out, she's trouble!’
The first patrolman ran to his car, pulled the shotgun from the holster and laid it next to him on the seat.
‘She won't be trouble if I get her in my sights.’ He replied and patted the gun. ‘I'm going whale hunting!’
He spun the car round and purposely pulled in front of an approaching car to stop it, before roaring off. The second patrolman ran to the car before he could go anywhere and took control of it.
The fat woman drove as fast as she could on such a road but when they turned a hairpin corner which took them back above the road they had just driven on, she saw the cab following.
‘Damn! What have I got to do to shake them?’ She shouted.
After the next hair pin she stopped.
‘Out!’ She said to the other woman's daughter. ‘Your services are required.’
She tied the girl’s hands and feet and lay her in the middle of the road, just round the bend.
‘If you're lucky they'll be able to stop.’ She said as a matter of fact. ‘If not- well you won't know much about it.’
She flopped into the car seat and drove off, with a hint of a smile on her face.
The cabbie took the first hair pin at speed and slewed round almost rolling the cab over but it didn't slow him down. The second hairpin he took the same until he saw the girl in the road. He swerved and the cab left the road, ramming through bushes until it stopped against a tree. Cally knew the cab would not go any further.
‘Is everyone okay?’ She asked.
Everyone nodded, when she was sure they were okay, she jumped out of the cab and started running, not along the road but straight up the hill the road wound round. She had no real chance and she knew it but she was going to try, it was Drummond and she knew now that she wanted him back! Her legs grew tired but she forced them to run and run until she came to the road again. There was dust to show they had gone by and she had to run up to the next stretch of road. She forced her aching limbs to work and ran as fast as she could. Branches slapped her face and body, brambles scratched her but she kept going until she reached the road again. The dust there told her she was too late. She hung her head in defeat but something made her run on and before she reached the road she heard the fat woman's voice. She ran on but tried to keep quiet and stopped when she could see the road. The fat woman and Fromes were struggling with a fallen tree. It wasn't a huge tree and they were gradually dragging it out of the way.
The car engine was still running and as soon as they had moved the tree they would be on their way again. Cally looked round for something to help her but there was not even a broken branch that she could use to attack them with!
Barbara saw Cally run off and called after her but she was not going to stop. She helped the others out of the cab and set about doing what she could with the occasional look up the hill where Cally had gone but she saw and heard nothing. Luckily there were no serious injuries and Barbara helped them away from the cab in case it caught fire or exploded. She used what there was available to wrap the wounds and try to make them comfortable. Dan recovered enough to untie the girl in the road, he took her to a safe place and started off up the road after the car but was not about to go up the way Cally had gone, it would probably kill him. He prayed for a miracle, or a flat tyre on the other car. He half ran, half walked but it was the best he could manage and keep going!
The patrol car reached the gas station and swung up the side road. By now his quarry was a long way ahead but he had to try! He put his foot down and started after them. He needed to put pressure on them to force a mistake and he could not do that without getting close enough for them to know he was there! Speed was essential and he was young and capable.
Chapter 13
Cally crept nearer the car and came to a decision. There was only one thing she could do! With Fromes and the fat woman distracted she climbed into the Driving seat and waited until they moved the tree far enough. She had never driven a car far but she had tried to once before and it ended in a ditch with her gang on board. They had fled the scene but she thought she knew what had gone wrong. The two moving the tree dropped it and that was Cally's signal. She pushed the clutch down and threw it into gear, then pressed her foot on the gas pedal before she let the clutch up. The car lurched forwards like a kangaroo but it kept going with Cally fighting to keep it straight. She passed Fromes and the fat woman without a problem. The car started to go faster and faster. Drummond was starting to be shocked out of his drunken stupor by all that was happening around him. He looked out the rear window in time to see both of his captors aim their pistols at the car. When he saw the smoke from the pistols, he ducked back down just in time to be covered in glass from the rear window. He shook his head to dislodge the glass and looked again but had to duck again as they fired again. This time the bullets struck metal and one was followed by a noise he did not recognize. The car swerved round a corner, throwing Drummond to his left as he faced the rear window but it showed no signs of slowing down. He climbed back up and looked out the rear window again as the car drove on. His eyes opened wide, flames were coming out of the back of the car. He turned to look at Cally then back at the flames.
‘Brake!’ He shouted.
Cally did as she was told and Drummond was thrown over the front seat and landed with his head in her lap. He looked at her from there.
‘I braked like you said! What now?’ She asked.
‘Run!’ He said a little hoarsely and waved his index finger over the seat toward the rear of the car.
Cally looked back and saw the flames. They both scrambled out of the passenger door of the car to keep the car between them and the approaching Fromes. Once they were out of the car they ran for their lives but before they reached the trees the car exploded. They were both thrown through the air and landed in the trees.
‘Are you okay?’ Drummond asked from where he lay.
‘Sort of: And you?’ Cally replied.
‘Can't feel a thing.’ Drummond replied with a sickly smile. ‘Let's go before fatty gets here.’
They stumbled into the trees as Fromes rounded the corner and they tried to keep out of sight in case he fired at them. They were right to, bullets ricocheted through the trees but they kept going with their heads ducked down.
Helen followed Samantha into the hospital and stayed with her all the way. The young patrolman grabbed a passing doctor and he examined her.
‘We need to warm her up, she's freezing.’ He called to the nurse who was bandaging a wound. The nurse nodded but kept on bandaging.
‘Now!’ The doctor added.
The nurse was in two minds and Helen hurried over to her.
‘You fetch the blankets and I'll finish the bandage!’ She said more calmly than she felt. ‘Scoot!’ She added when the nurse still dithered.
The nurse gave her the half-finished bandage and hurried away. She came back with an arm full of blankets, dumped then by the doctor who as taking of Samantha's soaked clothes. She took over and he started to massage her arms and legs to get the circulation going. She was covered in blankets and massaged. They laid hot compresses on her to help, by then Helen was there pumping her legs up and down to make more blood flow. After ten minutes Samantha opened her eyes.
‘I'm cold mummy.’ She said weakly.
‘I know darling but we'll soon have you warm.’ Helen replied.
‘I had a funny dream. I dreamed that I had another grandpa apart from Grandpa James and he was nice.’
‘You do have another grandpa and he's a wonderful man. You wouldn't be here now if it wasn't for him, so you have to stay with us to tell him thank you!’
‘I will mummy.’
The nurse arrived with hot soup and they forced her to drink it against her will. Half way through she started to enjoy it and a tear ran down the nurse's cheek. Helen smiled.
‘I think we'll keep her in for a while!’ The doctor announced. ‘She is not having the best of times at the moment.’
Helen looked at him.
‘I wouldn't have it any other way.’ She replied. She knew what he was thinking, in fact in his place she would think the same. The door opened and an imposing figure stood there.
‘Can I help?’ The doctor asked.
‘I just came to look in on the girl to make sure she is going to be okay. Which one is the mother?’ The man asked.
‘I am.’ Helen replied.
‘I've heard all about it and I'm pleased to meet such a caring mother.’ He took her hand. ‘I am Judge Parker, can I help in anyway?’
‘Where is my father?’
‘From what I hear they took off after the villains, in an attempt to rescue the boy. As I made a ruling and they are trying to flee the state I have called out the state troopers. There is no way they are going to cross the line today or any other day.’
‘Is that grandpa?’ Samantha asked.
‘No this is a judge darling, grandpa is out chasing bad people.’
‘Is Grandpa Dan a policeman then?’ She asked.
‘No he is just helping us out today as a favour.’ The judge replied. ‘Look after them both, they have been through a lot!’ He added then turned as Dermot made it through the door. ‘You made it then!’
‘Slow but sure.’ Dermot added.
‘Mr. Doyle!’ The doctor cried. ‘Nice to see you on your feet!’
‘It sure feels better than lying on the bed looking at the ceiling!’ Dermot replied.
‘Is this grandpa?’ Samantha asked.
‘No darling, this is a new uncle, uncle Dermot.’
‘Hello uncle Dermot.’
‘Hello Samantha. Are you feeling better?’ Dermot asked.
‘I was cold but I'm getting warmer now. Is there any more soup?’
The patrol car swung round the corner and slithered to a halt when he saw the cab by the side of the road.
‘Are you okay?’ The patrolman asked.
‘Tom you stay with him while I go and get my daughter!’ Barbara ordered, pointing to the cabbie.
‘Sure will, he knows a lot of stories.’ Tom replied.
‘Dan is up ahead on foot you can pick him up on the way.’ Barbara added as she climbed into the patrol car.
The patrolman drove off and soon caught Dan up. He climbed in tiredly.
‘I'm getting to old for all this!’ He complained.
They drove on and heard an explosion up ahead. The patrolman drove faster, there was a ch
ance to catch them! When they found the car there was no sign of anyone. The patrolman looked around.
‘Foot prints over here. All little but one set a lot deeper than the others!’ He said and looked about some more. ‘See that? It's the mark a bullet makes when it hits a tree. I'd say the kid got away and they're after him.’
‘You said four sets!’ Barbara pointed out. ‘That means Cally caught them up!’
‘How'd she do that without a car?’ The patrolman asked.
‘That's my Cally!’ Dan replied. ‘She doesn't believe in quitting!’
Dan started in after them.
‘Hang on!’ The patrolman called. ‘My partner will have sent help by now. With more people we can organise a proper search.’
Dan looked back.
‘Organise all you want but don't include me!’ He replied and carried on walking.
‘Wait for me Dan.’ Barbara called and ran after him.
At the edge of the trees she looked back.
‘I'm sorry but it is my daughter.’ She said and turned to catch Dan up.
Drummond and Cally kept going into the trees, it was easy going as they were traveling downhill. Their speed increased with the slope and in the end they were running. Suddenly the ground dropped away steeply and they were sliding down. In front they could see the end of the slope and the start of a chasm. They both grabbed at things as they went by until Cally found a root strong enough to stop her. Drummond grabbed her foot as he slid over the edge and found himself hanging in mid-air over a long drop, now he was completely sober!
‘Are you going to hang there all day or are you trying to pull my leg off?’ Cally complained.
‘Well I'm not going to let go, that's for sure!’ Drummond replied.
He started to climb up.
‘You mind where you put your hands!’ Cally warned as he climbed.
‘You make sure your pants stay on!’ Drummond replied. ‘It's a good job you're not wearing a skirt!’
