Bagels and Blackmail

by C A Phipps

  Luckily, she hadn’t been idle. She’d deliberately stretched her palm out when she’d put on the ties and placed her thumbs in between. When he tightened the plastic binding in the badly lit shed, she had only to move her thumbs afterwards to produce a small amount of wriggle room. Slowly, she had slipped her hand from the tie, inch by painful inch before she had retrieved her phone.

  Watching the rear view mirror to ensure she wasn’t seen, and leaning forward, she plucked the army knife from between her sweaty breasts, then dropped her hands back into the same pose. The first thing she needed after this was a nice bath and a long soak.

  She knew it was adrenaline that was taking her thoughts to weird places, something she did whenever a crisis reared its ugly head. This certainly qualified and she was grateful for the courage it gave her.

  Carefully she reached out to Ethan’s back and poked him gently, keeping her hands together, just in case Johnny happened to look back. Swiveling his head, pain evident in his dilated pupils, Ethan frowned, until she showed him the knife. She carefully pressed it into his hands, knowing to try to free him herself would draw Johnny’s attention and her plan required two of them to implement.

  Ethan slowly and with difficulty cut through the plastic tie on his wrists with difficulty. Finally they fell away and he looked back at her with relief, one hand clutching the knife.

  “Ready?” she mouthed.

  He nodded, wincing at the pain, then winked at her. She was so relieved, she forgot for a moment what she was doing, but a glimpse of the lake ahead galvanized her into action. She threw herself forward and wrapped both arms around Johnny’s face, effectively blinding him. Her fingers locked around her wrists, and she held on for all she was worth.

  “Get the gun!” she yelled. “It’s on the front seat.”

  Chapter 28

  Ethan, already in the process of launching himself over the passenger seat, grabbed the revolver before Johnny could stop him, busy as he was trying to pry Maddie’s arms loose.

  Hours of kneading dough had made her forearms and fingers incredibly strong, but the punching and twisting were wearing her down, so when Ethan returned the earlier favor by tapping Johnny on the side of his head, not too lightly with the gun, she was more than grateful to have the his hands slip from hers.

  Until he slumped over the steering wheel, his foot jammed against the accelerator. Now they were, rudderless and going faster than ever.

  With Johnny’s head out of the way, Maddie had a clear view through the windshield. The Lake looming wasn’t the kind of sight that filled a person with confidence and she couldn’t stop a scream when the car plunged off the track and into the long grass of a field, only fractionally slowing them. They bumped headlong down the hill towards a giant oak which was the only thing standing between them and the lake beyond.

  From memory, Maddie knew there was a drop behind that tree. A large one. Her stomach lurched along with the car. The momentum taking them on their current trajectory picked up with the increase in the slope.

  “I think we should jump!” Ethan yelled.

  Maddie yelled back, “We’re going too fast.”

  She was a good driver. Careful and law abiding. Thanks to her grandad wanting her to be safe no matter the situation, she’d learned a thing or two about off-road driving on her summer breaks around places like this.

  Not that she had ever been in a situation like this. All she knew was that they had to stop the car to survive. She heaved herself over the front seat, thankful she was still flexible enough, and with one hand pulling hard on the wheel, flinching as Johnny’s head bounced a couple of times, her other hand wrenching the hand break. The car bucked and for a moment she thought they would roll. Instead, they skidded sideways a few feet, then smacked headlong into the oak tree.

  She could feel herself flying towards the windshield with no way of stopping herself, since her hands had automatically reached up to cover her face. In that last second prior to impact, Ethan grabbed her hips, and yanked her backwards. She bounced onto his lap before they smashed heavily into the front seats, while the car did its best to wrap itself around the tree.

  All was quiet except for the hiss from the engine and a few groans from the distressed metal. Untangling their limbs, they stared at each other for a moment or two.

  Ethan appeared to be just as surprised as she was to be alive. He touched her face in wonder, and she did the same to him. They both winced at the pain of matching bruising to their foreheads, then grinned like fools. That was when Johnny decided to stir.

  Together they peered over the seat. Lucky for him, the kidnapper had remembered to put his seatbelt on. The airbag had all but enveloped him. Even his face was buried against it as he regained consciousness.

  Maddie slid off Ethan’s lap, so he could get out of the car. He went to the driver’s door, yanked it open, and motioned with the gun. “Get out.”

  Maddie followed and saw the man touch the side of his head tentatively where Ethan had hit him. His eyes cleared. Then he glared at them.

  “How the hell did you get out of those ties?”

  “Best you ask Maddie.” Ethan gave her an admiring glance.

  She shrugged. “It’s just another one of the little tricks I learned when I was a kid, and one you don’t need to know about.” She winked at Ethan, who knew that her late grandfather had shown her how to do stuff like that. Ex-army, gramps had loved to tinker and have the doting audience Maddie proved to be.

  Johnny closed his eyes for a minute. “Unbelievable,” he uttered, as he got gingerly out of the wreck, holding his chest where the airbag had hit him.

  Ethan again motioned with the gun. “Sit down on the grass and don’t move a muscle.”

  “My hay fever is too bad for that,” Johnny whined. “Can’t I sit in the car?”

  Maddie crossed her arms, gritting her teeth against the pain in both where Johnny had pummeled them. “Really? After all you’ve done? No, you sit there until the police arrive.”

  Suzy would have been proud of that chastisement. Not so much Johnny.

  “You really are a . . .”

  Ethan took a step closer. “I wouldn’t finish that sentence if I were you.”

  “She has no business getting involved. She’s not even a deputy.” Johnny said sulkily.

  He was showing his age now, as he sat, his head between his hands. If she hadn’t known all the despicable things he’d done, Maddie might have been persuaded to have had more sympathy. Big Red, his friends, Maude Oliver, and poor Beth, had been mistreated in so many ways at his hands that she couldn’t bring herself to feel more than she did.

  The wail of sirens cut through the hissing of the car and Johnny’s mutterings, and soon they were surrounded by Ethan’s deputies. Ethan was almost as shocked as Johnny.

  “How did they know where to find us? The last they knew was we’d be at the shed and they were to wait for my signal.” he asked.

  Maddie shrugged. “I called 911, and I imagine they tracked us. That was the plan, anyway.” She went back to the car and found her phone which had fallen under the seat. “You forgot to check my pockets,” she said to Johnny.

  With a wry grin, Ethan handed over the gun to one of the other deputies. Deputy Jacobs handcuffed Johnny, and walked him back up the hill to another car.

  Ethan shook his head as he studied her. “You did an amazing job today. As good as any deputy and maybe better than a sheriff. Are you sure you’re in the right job?”

  Maddie laughed. “Don’t talk crazy. Anyone would have done the same thing.”

  “Yeah, I can imagine Angel leaping over that seat the way you did, or Suzy having the strength to hold on to a man Johnny’s size.”

  Blushing proudly, she changed the subject. Pointing to the side of his head, she handed him a tissue from her back pocket. “You need some attention to that.”

  It was his turn to laugh as he took the tissue and dabbed at his face. “Maddie, it’s nice to know you’re
worried about me, but you should see yourself. You’re a mess.”

  She sniffed. “Charming, I’m sure.”

  “No offence intended. Just take a look at your poor arms for a start.”

  She shouldn’t have. Once she saw the bruises the darn things began to ache with a vengeance.

  “Nothing that a good soak and a nap won’t fix,” she said as they followed the others.

  Deputy Jacobs was waiting by his car with the back door open. Johnny was in the back of another, still angry and feeling sorry for himself. Maddie climbed into Rob Jacob’s car and leaned back on the headrest, craving her bed and knowing it was still too early for that. She knew the drill. They’d have to take her to the station to give her statement.

  As they drove, Maddie felt proud that they’d cracked the case until she thought of Big Red. Another minute of not knowing if he was okay suddenly seemed unbearable.

  “Deputy, all those animals he kidnapped are locked up in cages too small for them with no food or water. Please can we go back to the shed he was keeping them in, before we drive to the station? It’s not that far and besides it’s on the way back to Maple Falls.”

  The deputy turned out to be a dog lover, who had been appalled by what had happened to the animals and only too happy to help. Especially when Ethan, who was sitting in the front seat, nodded resignedly at Rob’s unspoken question.

  “It makes sense. Plus, I’d like to see how our alleged killer got to the shed. There must be a vehicle stowed somewhere and there’s bound to be even more evidence inside it.” He faced Maddie and winked.

  Regardless of the reasons he’d given his deputy, Ethan understood about Big Red, which meant a great deal to her. The deputy turned the car around then radioed the station to tell them about the detour and to request additional transportation for the animals.

  When they got back to where they’d left him, Big Red was waiting on the path as if he had been there all along and was expecting this precise outcome. She called out to him as soon as she could safely open the door, but he wouldn’t come. Instead he turned with his tail in the air and strutted back to the shed, looking back a couple of times to ensure they would follow.

  Deputy Jacobs stood in wonder when he got to the broken door. “Wow! There are so many in here I recognize. I could just about name all the owners. Funny that we didn’t get as many reports.”

  Maddie picked up Big Red and pushed her face into his neck. “They were promised the pets would be returned for a price and also for their silence.”

  Rob shook his head. “People never learn that taking the law into their own hands doesn’t work, do they?”

  Ethan snorted and Rob, understanding precisely what he was alluding to, grinned at Maddie.

  “Present company excepted,” he said. “Shall we let them out?”

  Maddie ignored their teasing, since they were kind of right, and chewed her lip for a moment, before shaking her head.

  “Maybe it’s not such a good idea to set them free out here. The door is useless now. Some of them might take off and not know which way home is. Losing them at this stage would be awful. Let’s load up the car with any that look like they need immediate attention, then get a truck out here to get the rest. We could give them some fresh water to tide them over.”

  Jacobs turned to Ethan who nodded, then looked back to Maddie.

  “Yes, Boss,” he said, cheekily, as he picked up a cage in each hand of lethargic shitzu puppies, and took them to the car.

  Maddie sniffed, then turned to Ethan. “Perhaps you could bring Sissy? She’s older than the rest and Mr. Clayton will be so relieved.”

  “I certainly can, Boss.” He undid the cage and pulled gently on the nervous dog’s lead.

  Maddie let that ride too, as she filled bowls with water. After such a wonderful outcome, she couldn’t wait to see Jed Clayton’s face, and those of the others who would get back their loved ones.

  Chapter 29

  Maddie carried a small cage containing a dog of dubious parentage, flea-bitten, and sad looking. She turned back at the car feeling guilty about not taking more. Ethan saw her concern.

  “The others will be collected as soon as possible. In fact, I’ll send word to the vets right now. They have a big van that could take most of them in one trip.”

  “That’s a great idea. The sooner we get them away from here the better,” she smiled, as Big Red sauntered up the path.

  She chose to imagine he had left the animals with the knowledge they would all be rescued soon. He stopped outside the car to check his new friends which were coming with them, were okay. Then he jumped inside, waiting for Maddie to join him on the back seat. When she settled the cage securely on the floor, he curled up into her lap, his head nuzzling her chin. She wished she had food for him, but her purse with treats was back in Ethan’s car which was inconveniently wrapped around a tree.

  She gave a shudder when she thought of another outcome that might have meant these animals were never found. Big Red licked her cheek with his rasping tongue. She agreed with him, there was no point in dwelling on that.

  Ethan closed the doors, leaving the windows open a crack. “I won’t be long. I’m just going to search the area better than we did last time. Jacobs, stay with Ms. Flynn.”

  She watched him search the shrubs surrounding the shed through half-closed eyes. At one stage he disappeared into a dark space to the left of the shed. It was overgrown with vines and weeds and must have gone back a way. When he came out he had a huge grin, which stayed with him on the walk back to the car.

  “You’re looking very pleased with yourself,” she said, as he got in and put on his seatbelt.

  “Hopefully you’ll be as pleased. Honey is tucked up in that tangle of vines back there.”

  She gasped. “Really? That’s wonderful. Wait. Is she okay?”

  His smile faded. “I’d say she needs a bit of attention. She has a dent on her hood.”

  Maddie gulped. “I guess we know what caused that?”

  “Don’t think about that right now.”

  She nodded, although it was difficult. “Are you leaving her here?”

  “I’m afraid she’ll be here for several days. She’s a big piece of evidence. Detective Jones, will come out and take a look and there will be police swarming all over the place. She’ll be safe enough.”

  Maddie digested that as they headed back. Exhausted, and seemingly happy about their rescue, the animals slept, while Maddie’s face stayed buried in Big Red’s fur. Judging by the purring, he didn’t mind at all.

  When they eventually walked into the station, they were immediately surrounded by the deputies and the Detective.

  “Maddie cracked the case again,” Jacobs told them.

  Rob Jacobs, was Ethan’s top deputy. He’d taken some time to warm to her, but since she’d help solve the case of the Mayor’s murder a few months back, he had changed his tune. Now, whenever he saw her, he was always pleasant and chatty. Still, she hadn’t expected this level of gushing from the otherwise stoic man, which was attracting even more attention. A small crowd filled the entryway.

  “It was a team effort,” she insisted, pushing her face into Big Red’s fur again, at the impromptu round of applause.

  Ethan was beside her holding Sissy’s lead. He put a hand on her arm to steer her down to his office, but stopped after a step to call out to everyone in the room in general.

  “If you’re not busy, please head out to Rob’s car and bring in the animals. Be careful, some of them don’t seem to appreciate we just saved their lives and are a little annoyed at still being captive.”

  “Understandable,” Rob said as he went to pat Big Red, who was still as fussy as ever when it came to who was given that privilege, and growled loudly. The deputy jumped back.

  “I get the message, big fella. I’ll leave this one with you and go get more.”

  When they got to Ethan’s office Detective Jones was there. He stood. “Well done, Sheriff and you too
, Ms. Flynn. We’ll talk soon, but I’d like to take a look at the crime scene right now. I’ll head back with one of the deputies, if you think you can handle things here?”

  “I think Johnny Chisholm can cool his heels for a bit while we take care of the animals, then I’ll interview him, unless you want me to wait?”

  “You go ahead. From what I’ve seen you have things in hand.”

  Maddie smiled, but was barely listening. There was still so much to do. She put the cage with the scruffy looking dog on the floor. She wondered if the owner was very rich, because the poor thing didn’t look like a pedigree.

  It was nice to be somewhere a little quieter. Maddie took a seat in front of the desk and Sissy slumped onto the carpet beside her, while Big Red settled onto her lap. She rubbed his fur, which was matted, and he arched his back for more.

  Ethan sat on the corner of his desk and they stared at each other for a moment.

  “Well,” he said with a grin, “So much for not interfering.”

  She laughed, unapologetically. “It will be a big job reuniting these guys with their owners. Do you want me to start calling? Most of them have tags on with numbers, and if the vet is coming here it would be good for them all to have a check-up as soon as possible,” she offered.

  Ethan grinned. “I noticed the tags, and it would be a big help. If you don’t feel you’ve done enough?”

  “It would be a pleasure. Almost a reward when you think about it. There are going to be some pretty happy people,” she smiled.

  He grinned. “Thanks to you, that’s true. I’ll find a spare desk with a phone and a pad to write down the details.”

  Just then Deputy Funnel entered, looking decidedly embarrassed. Maddie was too happy to hold a grudge and she offered a smile. The woman smiled back with relief.

  “Sir, the vet has picked up the animals, but says he hasn’t enough room at his clinic. He wants to bring the animals to the station and is happy to check them out here for free. His van will have all the supplies he needs to do that and he assured me it will save time.”