Page 2 of Two Favors Repaid

“Didn’t you hear me? I was yelling at you from across the street.”

She shook her head, her thoughts still disjointed.

“Could you ring Alma at the station and get an ambulance here?” he asked, getting to his feet.

“We don’t need—”

She stopped speaking as he strode purposefully towards the truck. She hadn’t even thought of the driver, but of course Rob had. Chief Deputy Rob Hope was the most thoughtful and selfless person she knew. Which was one of the reasons she’d never wanted to date him. It wasn’t likely to end well, and she didn’t want to be the one to dim his eternal optimism.

Emma made the call quickly and hung up before Alma could prod her for more information. She walked shakily to the other side of the truck, where Rob was struggling against the crumpled door. His thick arm muscles strained, but the door didn’t budge.

Emma noticed a growing puddle below the gas tank at the back of the truck. She’d seen enough movies to know that wasn’t a good sign.

“Hey, Rob?” she croaked.

He raised his eyes to look where she was pointing. His response was instantaneous.

“Get away from here, Emma! Move back!” he shouted. Rob redoubled his attack on the door, slamming his fist against the glass “Come on!”

Emma shook her head. She was a full head shorter than Rob and probably half his body weight. She didn’t think her muscles were going to help in this situation, but there must be something she could do. She looked around, searching for something sharp or something that might be used as a lever. But there was nothing on the ground.

Emma giggled hysterically.

Why does Main Street have to be so tidy?

And then she thought of something. She ran back to her handbag which was stained red with wine and fished for her keys, making sure to avoid the broken glass.

Yes!

Her friend Natalie, who was also the sheriff, had given her a special multi-tool keychain last Christmas. Emma ran back to the truck, holding on to the miniature hammer which Natalie had assured her could break through security glass in case of an emergency. She sent a small prayer.

I think this qualifies as an emergency.

“Rob!” she shouted.

The man scowled at her, his expression fierce. She waved the keychain in front of his face.

“Try this!”

He grabbed it from her and attacked the glass with a vengeance. One blow. Two blows. At first, nothing happened.

You’re going to want your money back, Natalie.

After the fourth blow, a spiderweb crack appeared on the window. It was small enough at first that Emma thought she might be making it up, but it grew quickly in size until it covered most of the glass. Rob leaned back and slammed his elbow through the glass center of the crack, opening a hole. He used the small hammer to widen the hole until he could fit his upper body through the window.

“Please get back, Emma. I beg you,” Rob said, giving her the small hammer back before diving in to reach the figure in the driver’s seat.

On tiptoes, Emma craned her neck to look at the driver. She recognized Old Joe, a local fisherman, lying unconscious with his forehead against the steering wheel. He was still wearing his seat belt.

Emma took the keychain from Rob and flicked open the small knife designed for exactly this situation, handing it back to Rob, who looked at her in surprise.

“You’re a regular MacGyver, aren’t you?” Rob said as he leaned back into the truck.

Something caused Emma to look behind them just as the fuel trail caught fire twenty feet away from the truck. She watched, hypnotized, as the fire traversed the road towards the truck.

“The fire! Get him out now, Rob!” she yelled, pulling at the chief deputy’s belt. She wasn’t going to let him burn to death.

Rob heaved and pulled the fisherman’s large, unconscious form out through the window. It was a tight fit, and for a moment Emma feared Rob wouldn’t be able to get him through. Finally, he was out. Rob bent his legs and straightened again, lifting the unconscious man over his shoulder. He pushed Emma ahead of him as he ran away from the truck.