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WALKING AROUND THE side of the house, Boo could see Gee in the back of the ambulance with Sarah at her side. The other two girls were being driven to the hospital by their parents to be checked out although they had no apparent injuries. As paramedics removed the temporary splint on Gee’s ankle and started an IV line, the ambulance driver closed the doors for transport. When the ambulance left for the hospital, Bryan and Marco and a parade of cars followed close behind.
“How about a ride?” Chief gently led Boo to her Sheriff’s car, making the order sound like a polite request. “Keep this up and we’ll hire you as our one person search-and-rescue squad.”
“I need to take Fred home and lock the house. I let Jamie down,” Boo slurred the words. “I left the house open and need to check and make sure no one is in there.”
“I’ll make sure Bryan and Sarah’s place is locked. We’ll drop Fred off and check Jamie’s house. Then I will drive you to the hospital.” Chief continued, more to herself than Boo, “If something happens to you, Jamie will never forgive me.”
Exhausted and disoriented, Boo barely mumbled okay as she mostly fell into the front seat of Chief’s car. She laid her head against the cool dashboard to ease the throbbing pain.
Chief, recognizing the distress in Boo’s demeanor, put Fred in the back seat and jumped in the driver’s side of the car. “We’ll just go straight to the hospital. I’ll call for backup.” Chief guided the car along the dark driveway toward the highway. She used her private phone to call for assistance to prevent the request from being broadcast on monitored frequencies. Officers were immediately dispatched to both houses.
Keeping her eyes on the road, Chief called Shon to send them to Jamie’s house. Sirens on, Chief sped down the road toward the hospital, silently praying to the goddesses no deer jumped into the road tonight. It could be deadly for all of them.
***
SOUND ASLEEP IN GABRIELA’S guest room, Jamie was startled awake by her phone ringing. When she saw her mother’s cell phone number on her screen, she panicked, fearing the worst.
“Mom, what’s wrong? Is Max okay?”
“Max is fine. It’s okay, honey, I just wanted to tell you that Gee hurt her ankle and they are headed to the hospital. I didn’t want you to hear it on the news in the morning.”
“What happened?” Jamie’s breath was fast and shallow.
“It’s a long story. I also need to tell you that Boo has a headache and Chief is bringing her to the hospital.”
“What? Is she okay? What is going on there?”
“We’ll tell you in the morning. Everyone will be fine. I’m headed to the hospital now and I’ll stay with Boo. Don’t worry, we’ll update you.”
“Right...no. I’ll be home as soon as I can arrange a flight.”
“Honey, we all know you’re working—”
”Mom, don’t even try, I’m already packing. I’ll be there as soon as I can.” Jamie hit the button to end the call before her mother could protest further.
Gabriela, awakened by the ringing phone and the sound of Jamie’s voice, popped her head into the room. “Is Max okay? What’s going on?”
“Gee hurt her ankle and Boo is sick. Bad headache. There’s something they’re not telling me. I’ll charter a flight home. You can go back to bed.”
“No way. I’m coming with you. Give me five minutes, tops.”
“Gabriela, it’s okay, I’m sure everyone will be fine. I just need to check it out myself.”
“Are you kidding? No way am I letting you go by yourself. Plus I am not missing a chance to meet this Boo Charming.”
Gabriela grabbed her go bag and stuffed a few pieces of clothing inside. She put on the outfit she had worn to dinner mere hours earlier and called for car service.
Jamie phoned the airport VIP concierge to arrange a private flight. It would be expensive, but Jamie wanted to fly directly into Crestwood’s small airstrip to save time.
“Car will be here in a couple of minutes. Ready?” Gabriela asked, bag in hand.
“Let’s go,” Jamie replied, relieved her best friend was coming with her.
***
IN THE ER, GEE WAS being examined and prepped for an x-ray. Sarah stayed with her daughter as Bryan explained the night’s events to the other parents. The other girls were checked out and released into their parents’ care. Both apologized and sounded remorseful for sneaking out of the house. It was not clear if the girls realized this was a bad idea from the start or if they were simply sorry Gee was hurt and they were caught.
As soon as Chief pulled up to the ER entrance, Boo was lifted out of the car onto a stretcher. Lessa rushed to Boo’s side.
“Thanks, Lessa,” Chief called as she returned to her car. “I need to park and pass Fred off to one of my deputies, then I’ll be right in.”
Boo’s brain pounded in her skull. Sitting up made her dizzy. Even when lying on her back, the world did a slow twirl. She was vaguely aware of Lessa taking ahold of her hand as they rolled into an examination room.
“It’s good to see you, Boo Charming, but I think we need to stop meeting like this.” The attending nurse was the same as Boo’s first hospital trip. “This is not a buy three get one free deal.”
Ordinarily Boo would have joined in the light banter, but the feelings of nausea kept her silent.
“Do you know what day it is?” the nurse asked.
“Sunday? Maybe Monday now,” Boo answered.
“Do you know where you are?”
“Crestwood hospital. Again.”
“Do you know who the president is?”
“Obama. Don’t wreck my bliss.” Boo wanted to laugh but couldn’t.
“Okay.” The nurse seemed satisfied.
“How are Gee and the girls?” Boo expressed concern even though every word pained her.
“The girls are fine and Gee will be okay,” Lessa answered from the end of the bed as the nurse continued her examination of Boo. “They are taking an x-ray of her ankle. Hopefully it’s just sprained really badly. I’m sure she’ll be on crutches for a while. Crutches will be the least of her worries once Sarah decides on her punishment. I think both kids will be grounded for life now.”
“Where’s Marco?”
“He’s at our house with his Grandpa Philip. Max and Marco are both sleeping through this.”
Chief walked in and stood next to Lessa.
“Has anyone called Jamie?” Chief asked.
It was now after three o’clock in the morning.
“Yes, I called when I found out both Gee and Boo were hurt,” Lessa replied. “She’s on her way home.”
“No,” Boo protested weakly. “She doesn’t have to—”
”Really? Do you know my daughter? Gee being hurt would probably be enough to bring her home, but Gee will be okay. My dear, she will be here for you. In a few short hours.”
Boo tried to the nod her relief but the pain in her head stopped her. The sedative in IV drip kicked in and she drifted quietly off to sleep.
***
DANI’S PHONE RANG IN the middle of the night. Still half asleep, she picked up the cellphone and saw the number of the police beat reporter flash on her screen. A call in the middle of the night was never good. Hopefully it was not something gruesome.
“Dani? Been listening to the police scanner. Heard a call out to the Jordan family farm. Several officers. An ambulance. Not sure what’s going on. Sounds like a missing persons. I’ll let you take this one if you want it.”
“Thanks, Rob, I’m on it. I appreciate the call. I’ll put you in the byline if there’s a story.” Dani was grateful to her colleague for calling. He might be giving up a big story. On the other hand, he might simply want to stay in bed and not chase a story in the middle of the night that could turn out to be nothing newsworthy. Either way, Dani jumped out of bed and dressed. Dani’s wife, accustomed to middle-of-the-night calls, rolled over to resume sleep.
Dani switched on her scanner in time to hear the ambulance call to the hospital. One on board and three or four additional incoming. She thought it unusual for an ambulance crew to not have a firm count of patients. This was enough to justify a quick trip over to the hospital. Dani poured cold coffee in a travel mug and grabbed her car keys.
Fifteen minutes later, Dani stepped inside the ER waiting room. She saw Bryan huddled with two other families. He looked a lot worse for wear, with scratches on his arms and a bandage on one side of his forehead. His clothes were dirty and sweaty.
Dani stepped off to the side of the waiting room and sat down to begin typing a short story on her phone.
Catching sight of Dani, Bryan came over to sit in a chair next to her. He understood the media game—if he gave her enough information for a good story, Dani would not pry further.
“Is everything okay, Bryan? That’s as a friend, not a reporter.” Dani put the personal concern up front to reinforce her intention to respect the family’s privacy.
“Yes, everyone will be fine, thanks for asking. Here’s the short version for your story. Three young girls became lost during a night time walk on the Jordan family farm. They were quickly found by an unnamed person during a search. Gee Jordan-Dirk had fallen and was brought to the hospital with an ankle injury. She will be fine. I can’t speak for the other girls’ families. You’ll have to ask them if they want to comment. Is that enough?”
“Thanks, Bryan. Who is the unnamed person? Is that the fourth person brought to the hospital?”
“I cannot give you any information about that person since I am not authorized to speak on their behalf.”
Dani put her phone down, indicating she was no longer taking notes and they were off the record now. “Is it the famous Boo Charming?”
“Yes, but I didn’t say it and please don’t report it. I really can’t speak for her. She and Fred did find them and she saved Gee.”
“Can I use the part about Fred?” Dani could picture the big fluffy Newfoundland coming to the rescue.
Bryan nodded his consent. Fred would divert attention from Boo.
“Alright, I’ll finesse this. Maybe Chief will fill in a bit more.”
Bryan nodded his appreciation and left to join Sarah and Gee. Dani continued writing her story until Chief appeared through the ER doors several minutes later. Dani stopped her.
“Bryan told me three young girls were lost on a night time walk at the farm. Gee fell, hurt her ankle, and was brought to the hospital. The person who found the girls is unnamed, but Fred led the way. That should hook everyone’s interest. Any comment?”
Chief took a deep breath, composing her thoughts. It was clear that Dani was writing the story because the incident involved the Jordan family.
“Dani, I appreciate you being here at this early hour. Yes, the police were called to the Jordan family farm. We initiated a search for three missing girls. They were found in less than an hour. Two of the girls were checked out and released. One is still in the hospital. I cannot give you names for privacy reasons.”
“And the person who found them?”
“That person was also brought to the hospital, although I cannot update you on their condition.”
“Thanks, Chief. I’ll try to make it a routine story. But, someday, I want to write a feature on this Boo Charming. She’s turning into quite a character.”
***
THE TRIP TO THE NEW York City airport was quick in the light, pre-dawn traffic. Jamie and Gabriela were dropped off at the entrance to a private executive jet service. The company had a non-disclosure agreement with Jamie’s talent agency, minimizing the chance there would be a leak to the press. Fortunately one of the flight crews had arrived early for a flight that was cancelled at the last minute. With the contract signed and new flight plan directly into Crestwood prepared and filed, Jamie and Gabriela boarded the small plane.
“Unless we hit turbulence in this little thing, I am not complaining about flying private.” Gabriela appreciated the luxury even under the dire circumstances.
“I need to make a few calls while we’re in the air. Would you mind booking your return trip online. Here’s my credit card. I really do appreciate you coming with me. I just...” Jamie’s voice trailed off. She couldn’t explain, even to her long-time friend, her intense need to see Boo and take care of her.