Twenty-Two

What happened next was like one of those weird slow motion dreams where you’re stuck to the ground—can’t move a muscle—can’t blink an eye—only watch things happen around you.

One second I was standing there, shoulders slumped, heart around the vicinity of my sneakers, thinking, Oh no…not again! The next, from out of nowhere appeared my new friend, the white cat. Meowing a frenzied long-time-no-see greeting, he came running on stiff legs toward me. With that, Leroy (yes, my Leroy), fur prickling along the back of his wrinkled neck, slime splattering from his open mouth, barked a warning and then made a great leap in the direction of the cat, crashing like an army tank into Nick’s legs on the way through.

As you can imagine—I was completely gob smacked.

In fascination I watched Nick stagger, topple like a fallen tree trunk then bounce along the ground on his bum. Finally he smacked his head against the cement floor with a lovely loud thump.

And immediately went to sleep.

While this was happening, his gun spun in the air.

Tayla reached one hand out and caught it.

Jack and Sarah dived on Sam.

And six police cars screeched into the warehouse, turning night into day with their dazzling headlights and flashing red and blue sirens.

To say I was totally blown away was to say Mt. Kosciusko was a big hill.

I stood there, mouth open and a wild irrepressible giggle building up inside me. Leroy the Lion-hearted, Sarah the Sassy, Tayla the Terrible and Jack the Giant-killer. All characters from my own private movie show.

At the first sign of the men in blue, the air went right out of Sam’s sails while ex-constable Nick Roberts slept on. Oblivious. The last we saw of them was when one was led past, hands cuffed behind his back and the other was carried by stretcher to a waiting ambulance.

“Well, hello there. How’s my favorite team of junior P.I.’s?” I looked around to find Constable Krystal Masters, owner of Sweetums, the ugliest feral dog in the universe, standing behind us. Arms overflowing with blankets and a large silver police-issue thermos.

“Looks like you’ve wrapped this case up, kids. Though I have to say, it was a really dumb move tackling criminals on your own.”

I blinked at Krystal. “But aren’t you from the Water Police?”

“That’s right. An hour ago we impounded The Intrepid. That’s the boat your two kidnappers were expecting to arrive almost an hour ago.”

“Did you make any arrests?” asked Jack.

“After discovering eight million dollars’ worth of illegal drugs aboard, we promptly arrested the captain, the crew and a guy who alleged he was just an innocent passenger.”

“Mustafo?” I prompted, remembering the name of Nick’s contact.

“That’s the one. After we discovered he was a spy wanted in about six different countries we locked him up and threw away the key.”

She turned to me and smiled. “By the way, did you ever find the owner of that pink handkerchief?”

“No, but I’m working on it.”

“I’m sure you are.”

Krystal must have noticed Tayla’s white face and wobbly legs because she quickly wrapped a blanket around my friend’s shoulders, took Nick’s gun from her and eased her to the ground.

“Looks to me like you could all do with a drink of hot chocolate.” she pronounced handing the thermos and blankets to a passing junior constable. “Unfortunately, I can’t stay. I’m needed back at the station. But Constable Schultz here will look after you until your parents arrive.” Her smile took in every one of us. “Next time you’re passing by drop in. Paul and I would love to see you.”

“I don’t suppose you’ll be baking any of that scrumptious chocolate cake?” asked Jack, drooling in anticipation.

Krystal’s smile grew wider as she called over her shoulder. “I’m always baking chocolate cake.”

As Krystal moved off, Leroy the Lion-hearted made his entrance, shoulder to shoulder with the white cat. Like a couple of gunslingers entering a salon they swaggered toward us.

I kept getting this awesome picture of Leroy, ragged ears flapping, green slime slurping as he arced through the air. It was so funny. I couldn’t keep the gaggle of giggles tumbling around inside me under control any longer.

Of course, once I started giggling, that got Tayla going and before long the four of us were bent double, rolling on the ground, wet-your-pants hysterical.

“The look on Nick’s face—”

“What about when I caught the gun? Couldn’t do that again if you paid me six thousand dollars.”

“What about Jack and Sarah’s footy tackle?”

“Sam didn’t know what hit him.”

“And Leroy! What about when Leroy?” I could barely get the words out through choking chuckles.

At that moment a battered grey Holden nosed its way into the warehouse and pulled up on the far side.

“Uh! Oh!” Tayla, laughter drying up at the sight of her mother climbing out of the Holden and immediately flashing a leg at the nearest plain-clothes detective, shook her head.

Next minute there was a squeal of tires as a red Celica, burning rubber as it broadsided, screamed through the warehouse door and almost collided with the rear bumper of a police car.

My eyes misted over as the car doors flew open and two familiar figures scrambled out. I dropped the blanket and with Leroy and Cat on my heels and Sarah’s hot breath on the back of my neck, I belted across the warehouse toward their outstretched arms.

“Mum!” I sniffed back tears as the scent of her vanilla perfume wrapped itself around me.

Sarah was in Ken’s arms, caught up in a huge bear hug.

“I was so scared, Dad,” she said huskily. “I thought they were going to kill us.”

Then she turned to Mum, hesitant, until Mum’s arms went out to her. I slipped underneath and sought the warmth of Ken’s rough tweed jacket against my cheek, enjoying the security of his strong arms as I snuggled against his chest.

Suddenly we were in a group hug. A hug where no bad guys could get us. No nightmares could follow. Safe. Warm. And loved.

Amid tears, laughter, and threats of life-long groundings, we hung onto each other as though there were no more tomorrows. I burrowed deeper. This was my family. Mum, Ken, Sarah and me. And that’s exactly the way I wanted it.

After Jack took off for home in a police car, Tayla was left sitting in the middle of the blankets. Her mum, busy fluttering long mascara thick eye-lashes at the Chief Inspector, hadn’t even bothered to check on her still shaking daughter.

I pushed away from my warm cocoon and looked at Mum. Mum smiled and nodded. “I’ll go get her,” she said and walked across to Tayla.

I watched her bend down and gently pull the blanket from Tayla’s shoulders, then offer a hand to pull her up. Together they returned to our group.

“I just told this one she’s not missing out on the lecture.” Arm still around Tayla’s shoulders Mum frowned. “I’ve a good mind to bang all your heads together. There’s not a brain between the three of you.”

“Sorry, Mum,” I said, examining the toes of my sneakers.

“Yeah, sorry Mum,” said Sarah, then blushed and grinned. It was the first time she’d used the term, Mum. It was usually Marg.

Without missing a beat, Mum pushed a stray tendril of fair hair from Sarah’s eyes then turned back to Tayla.

“Would you like me to talk to your mother, dear?”

“No thanks Mrs. Ryan, I’m fine.”

Straightening her shoulders, Tayla walked across to the car and took her mother’s arm.

“Come on Mum,” she said leading her away from one rather embarrassed plain-clothes detective. “Let’s go home.”

The last thing we heard as they climbed into the car was, “Why can’t you be a little more considerate, Tayla? You dragged me away from a romantic dinner with Stevie. By the time I get back he’ll probably be gone.”

Mum’s arm tightened around my shoulders and I wondered, not for the first time, how, when God was giving out mothers, I was lucky enough to draw such a good one out of the hat.