The area cleared out, and Emily took several steps back as Big Dog came forward, still grinning.
“Now what?” he asked. “You don’t have anyone to save you anymore?”
“Guess again!”
Emily watched as Brandon sprinted from inside the house and tackled Big Dog, and they both hit the ground hard. Ana came running out a moment later, making her way to Emily, but she was quickly swept up by Scrappy. She let out an ear-piercing scream, and at the same time Pickles leaped to her rescue and bit Scrappy’s hand, which meant Ana was free but Pickles was now captured.
After a second of scrambling, Emily, Ana, and a bruised Brandon ended up on one side of the pool, while Big Dog, Scrappy, and Ruff were on the other side. Big Dog was holding Pickles in one hand, and his gun in the other.
“Looks like we’ve got a little problem,” he said, holding up the small Chihuahua, who was now shaking with fear.
“Don’t you dare hurt my dog, mulo!” Ana screamed. Emily grabbed her arm, since she wasn’t sure Ana wouldn’t launch herself across the pool to attack.
“Give me my money,” Big Dog said. “Or you can kiss your little dog good-bye.”
“We don’t have it,” Brandon said. “Seriously!”
“I tried to tell them.” Emily wasn’t sure if Big Dog would really shoot a small dog, but she couldn’t take the chance. “Just call Liz and Chestnut. They’ll get you the money, we promise.”
“Your promises don’t mean much.”
“Don’t you think we’d give it to you know if we had it? We don’t!” Out of the corner of her eye, Emily saw Chris sneaking closer and closer to Big Dog and his thugs. She didn’t know what he could do to help the situation, but it had to be more than whatever they were doing now. She just had to keep them sufficiently distracted. “We were planning to bring the money back to you,” she lied. “We got it from Balducci’s, and we were going to give it back, but then we met up with Liz and Chestnut, and since they were going to do the job originally, we traded off. They have it.”
“And you expect me to believe that you are all okay walking away with nothing?” He laughed. “I’m not an idiot.”
“We just want the dog,” Brandon said. “That’s it.”
Chris launched himself forward then, completely surprising Ruff and Scrappy as he tumbled into Big Dog. When they hit the ground, the gun went skidding across the white concrete and Pickles flew through the air and landed in the pool.
Ana let out a banshee-style scream and jumped into the pool, party clothes and all. Brandon immediately followed.
Emily was about to make her way to the other side of the pool to help Chris, who was about to be pulverized as Ruff, Scrappy, and Big Dog all loomed over him, when a loud warrior roar echoed around the patio and four people came rushing from the bushes and trees right toward Big Dog, Ruff, and Scrappy.
Emily’s jaw dropped when she saw that it was Buck, Blanche, Chestnut, and Liz.
“Tie them up!” Buck sounded, his voice booming.
It wasn’t long before Ruff, Scrappy, and Big Dog were all tied up with rope that Liz had brought in a bag. Chris was now on his feet, gun in hand, breathing hard as he pointed it toward the people who had been about to attack him.
“What the hell?” Brandon said as he got out of the pool, then reached back to pull Ana and Pickles out. “How . . .”
“We’re here to apologize,” Liz said as she stretched and took a look around at their surroundings. “Nice place.”
“Merci.” Madison’s tiny voice came from somewhere behind Emily.
“This was partially our fault,” Chestnut said. “If we hadn’t gotten you kids involved at the start of this day, then you would’ve made it to your party without a hitch.”
“When we stopped at the pool hall and figured out what had gone down,” Liz said, “and that Big Dog and his cronies were already on their way to finding you, we knew we had to do something to help. There was no way you kids were prepared for these three.” She kicked Ruff in the side, and he groaned. “Chestnut called up his parents and we all came right away.”
“But how’d you find us?” Ana asked. She motioned at Big Dog. “How’d he find us?”
“The bright lights in the sky aren’t exactly subtle,” Blanche said. “We knew you were headed for a party, and that you were going in this direction. After that it was a guess, but a pretty good one I’d say.”
Emily couldn’t believe what had just happened, but she also couldn’t be more thankful. She rushed forward and threw her arms around Liz and Blanche. Neither woman was the best role model, but they were both strong and assertive and knew what they wanted, and Emily could see the good in that.
“Thank you,” Emily said. “Really. You didn’t have to help us, but I’m glad you did.” She took a step back and looked down at the criminals tied up at her feet. “Now we just have to decide what to do with these three.”
“I got it,” Chris said, waving his phone. He quickly dialed, then turned away as he spoke to someone on the line.
Emily and Ana, who was still snuggling Pickles, stood to the side while the others wrangled the tied-up criminals to their feet and began directing them across the patio, and then through the house to the front.
“Okay, everyone!” Madison called out as she strolled around the pool. “I really hope you enjoyed the little show. C était fantastique, non? Bravo!” Then as everyone started to relax and talk again, and the music was turned back up, she rushed to Emily and Ana, her eyes wide. “What was that?”
“It’s . . . complicated,” Emily said.
“That’s an understatement,” Ana said with a laugh.
“We’re so sorry, Madison. We’ll totally make it up to you.”
“I just wish you’d told me,” Madison said. “I mean, I love a little pièce de théâtre as much as anyone, but I would’ve set the scene a little better. You know, an introduction. And I would’ve volunteered to be held captive instead of this petit chien.” She scratched Pickles’s head and smiled. “We should get together to plan the next time. Anyway, enjoy the party!” She twirled away, calling out for another glass of champagne.
“She totally thinks we did all of that just to add some excitement to her party, doesn’t she,” Ana said, incredulous.
Emily nodded slowly, wondering how much champagne Madison had consumed.
“Come on.”
Ana took Emily’s hand and they walked through the house, fielding lots of questions, and some congratulations, about what had just occurred out by the pool. Emily couldn’t believe so many people were taking it in stride. A lot of them seemed to be under the impression, like Madison, that it was all some kind of show she and the others had put together. That strange setup was apparently easier to comprehend than the reality.
Out in front of the house in the driveway, Big Dog, Ruff, and Scrappy were still tied up, and the others were standing around.
“What’s the plan, then?” Emily asked, looking at everyone. “Please tell me there’s an actually plan this time. A good one.”
“Don’t worry,” Chris said as he stepped forward. “I called my uncle, and he’s sending some cruisers up here to take them away.”
“Police!” Chestnut looked around, ready to sprint. “You can’t call the police here.”
“Wait,” Chris said quickly before everyone could explode. “It’s okay. He’s sending people for them,” he pointed to Big Dog and his cronies. “That’s it.”
Emily wasn’t sure whether to ask, but Liz beat her to it.
“What about the . . . money,” she asked. “Isn’t that going to come up?”
Chris shrugged. “Who’s going to believe a trio of drug dealers, and possible smugglers, who just showed up at a high-school party with a gun and threatened the life of some kids.”
“And knocked one out!”
Emily glanced back to see Kyle standing in the doorway, obviously fascinated by the scene unfolding, but opting to stay farther away this time.
“You can do whatever you want with that money,” Chris continued. “No one will know the difference.”
“You can start your cake shop,” Ana said.
Liz beamed, and Blanche and Buck looked at her with surprise.
As she crossed her arms, Emily grinned. She could see in Liz’s face, and Chestnut’s, that they really would be done with their life of crime now. They had enough for Chestnut’s classes, Liz’s shop, and could probably start a college fund for Artie, not that the kid would have any trouble getting scholarships. Their lives were going to be on track.
Emily just hoped her own life would follow suit.