Shane waved the gun at Rufus. “Both of you, get in the vehicle. Clem, you’re driving.”
I stamped my foot. “I am not getting in that vehicle. I already told you.”
“She’s right,” Rufus said. “If she gets in the vehicle, her chances of survival fall immeasurably.”
Annoyed, I said, “How do you know that?”
He shrugged. “Everyone knows that.” Rufus turned to Shane. “I’ll be taking that gun from you now.”
“What, are you both crazy? No one is taking this gun from me. Both of you are getting in the truck.”
Rufus clicked his tongue as if the entire situation was a shame. “I’m afraid that’s not going to happen.”
What in the world made Rufus think that he could waltz up in here and save me? I didn’t need saving. As far as I was concerned, he could just mosey right on back to that party, drink some punch and be anti-social with Malene and the gang.
“Look,” I said to Rufus, “I am not a damsel in distress who needs some amnesiac knight in shining armor to rescue her. So why don’t you just scat?”
Shane rubbed a hand down his face. “Would the both of y’all just shut up and get in the vehicle.”
“Like I said,” Rufus explained, his voice level and calm, “that’s not going to happen.”
Shane slapped his thigh in frustration. “I guess that I’m supposed to ask why is that not going to happen?”
Rufus pulled a yellow spell from his sleeve. “Because of this.”
Quick as lightning, Rufus threw the ball at Shane. It hit him squarely in the chest, and he dropped the gun.
“Now, Clem,” Rufus shouted.
I rushed over to Shane and grabbed his arm.
His eyes widened in fright, and I ground out, “Sleep tight,” right before Shane was thrown back. He hit a street pole and groaned as he slumped to the ground, unconscious.
Rufus rushed over to me. “Are you okay?”
“Yes, but how did you know?” I said, uncertain if I was grateful or annoyed at him.
He smiled, the corners of his eyes crinkling. “Just had a feeling that he was up to no good.”
Blue and red flashing lights appeared, and three police cruisers screeched to a halt, their hoods bouncing.
Earl Granger exited his vehicle. His lips were in a thin line, and I had a feeling that I was in trouble.
“Officer Granger, Shane Prader held a gun to us and threatened to kill us.”
Oh my stars and garters, it was my word against Shane’s, and everyone in town loved him.
But Earl nodded firmly as his men handcuffed the sleeping Shane.
“I know all about him,” Earl said. “We finally got ahold of Sadie’s phone records. They led us straight to him. After some investigating, we discovered that he was blackmailing her.”
I fell against his chest. “He was! Oh my gosh, thank you!”
He nodded. “I’m sorry about Chief Sluggs. From the start this looked like murder, so I decided to investigate.”
“Even though he said it wasn’t?” I asked.
Earl shook his head sadly. “Chief Sluggs isn’t always in his right mind. Sometimes the rest of us have to pick up where he left off.” He turned to Rufus and shook his hand. “Thank you, sir. You’ve done a fine job for this community. I hope you’ll be staying on.”
