chapter 139

word count: 1418

little did the boys know,, as the climbed thru the piles of junk,, that security had been stepped up since the discovery of that dead body here just a few weeks before.. the owners had been caught with their pants down,, so to speak, when someone dumped that body here awhile back,,  and it was found out that the existing surveillance cameras were just there for show.. so they had installed working cameras,, and hired ‘big bob’ to keep an eye on the monitors during the daylight hours anyway. 

big bob,, as the name might aptly imply,, was a rather rotund man,, late forty’s,, a competent enough guy,, but severely obese.. he really wouldn’t have been of much use to the dump owners should it come down to a race between himself and an unwanted intruder,  but he was astute enough to keep an eye on the monitors,, and after all they had secured his services at the right price.. and very frankly after the installation of the new surveillance equipment,, even that was a little more than the dump owners wanted to shell out.. 

big bob had been enjoying life in the air conditioned trailer,, just keeping one eye on the monitors and helping himself to a little snack, when he spotted the three boys rummaging through the piles of trash.. they didn’t look like they would put up much of a fight if confronted,, so he was pretty secure in the fact he could handle the situation on his own, and there was no need to call in any reinforcement.. 

a bit begrudgingly, he set aside his homemade egg salad and saltines,, and headed out after the boys he had seen on the monitor.. 

“god damn it hot out here!” he mumbled to himself as soon as he made his way sideways down the steps of the trailer,, gripping the hand rail with both hands as he descended.. 

he was sweating profusely before he even made it to the driveway.. 

in the meantime erik had spit shined the ring,, and was just about to share his amazing find with adam and elliot.. surely this would cement his position as a real member of their little group,, since it seemed like both of them were still empty handed.. just about the time he was satisfied that there would be no way that they wouldn’t be impressed,, a loud voice rang out through the catacombs of junk,, you couldn’t really tell where it was coming from since it seemed to reverberate off the mile high piles of trash,,  but it sent all three of the boys instinctively running toward the hole in the fence that had allowed them access in the first place.. 

“hey!! you boys!! what are you doing in here??” the full figured (to put it nicely) rent a cop yelled out as he watched the boys scrambling toward what he knew to be the only tear in the fence line.. 

‘they really ought to fix that thing’ he thought to himself before he yelled out, “you’re not supposed to be here!! that’s right!! run for it!! get out!!” he continued yelling until he was quite sure the three had high tailed it out the rip in the fence and well on their way to anywhere but here.. ..  

“whew!!” he sighed aloud as he pulled a neatly folded red bandana from his back pocket and amply swabbed his brow.. 

“it’s too damn hot for this.” the big man said aloud as he turned tail and headed back toward the air conditioned trailer that housed the newly installed surveillance monitors..  he had had enough fun for one day.. it was time to get back to his little snickity snack and maybe catch a couple of hours of shut eye.. after  all the chances he’d have to run anyone else off the place later on today were highly unlikely,, in fact this had been the first time he had ever had to leave the ice cold trailer since he signed on.. 

the boys didn’t quit running till they reached the vacant lot behind the dairy queen.. once there, sweating and panting they fell into a heap on the grass,, each of them laughing more uncontrollably than the other.. 

elliot was the first to speak up.. “did you see the size of that guy?? there was no way he could have caught us even if he’d tried!!”

“i didn’t stick around long enough to see him.” quipped adam. “when i hear his voice i just took off runnin’!!”

“me too!!” erik chimed in, “i was the hell outta there!!”

secretly,,  erik was a bit dismayed at the timing,, as their having to make a run for it stood a chance of tarnishing the unveiling of his big find.. he decided to wait until the laughing and the panting stopped before he let the guys in on his little secret.. 

as the cool breeze that was blowing through the vacant lot breathed some life back into them,, the boys took turns wiping the dirt encrusted sweat off their faces with the bodices of their respective tee shirts..

“eeeww!!” adam exclaimed as he looked at the accumulated filth he had wiped off his face and on to his tee shirt.. 

“maybe we better go in the dairy queen and clean up a little. you guys got any money?? they're gonna make us buy something if we wanna use the bathroom..”

“i got about three dollars.” elliot answered as he began trying to locate it in his sweaty pants pockets.. 

“i don’t have any money,” erik stated,, “but you guys aren’t gonna believe what i do have!! i was just about to show it to you when that guy started yelling and we had to take off.”

erik stood up to retrieve the ring from the front pocket of his jeans.. he was so sweaty,, it was a bit more of a challenge than it should have been.. before he could drag it out,, both adam and elliot were on their feet as well..

“wadda ya got?” adam asked, his curiosity definitely piqued..

“yeah,, what is it??” elliot chimed in as he continued to struggle with pulling the soggy dollar bills out of his pockets.. 

“you’re not gonna believe this,” said erik trying to keep the momentum building.

“wait for it. wait for it..” erik reeled them in, as he drew out his words until he had the ring securely in hand..

“check this out!!” erik said with a bit of swagger in his voice,, as he pulled the glimmering ring out of his pocket and displayed it in all its brilliance there under the noonday sun..

“oh my god!!” the two boys voices rose up in tandem when they saw the magnitude of erik’s discovery.. 

“do ya think it’s real?” adam asked eyes still glued to the magnificent glimmering ring erik held out in front of him..

“of course it’s real!!” erik stated,, with a distinct air of confidence in his voice.. 

“lemme see it!!” elliot held his hand out eagerly,, and erik placed it carefully in his palm.. 

“yeah!! me too!!” yelped adam..

“no problem.” erik said reassuringly, “after all just cuz i found it doesn’t mean it can’t belong to all of us.. right?? i mean, like, we're a team right?? you know,, like the three musketeers!!

“athos!!” elliot cried out as he carefully handed the ring over to adam for inspection.

“arimis!!” adam chimed in as he accepted the ring from elliot and held it up to the sunlight to get a real good look at the rainbow like effect the sun had on the stone..

“porthos!!” erik shouted out,, thus completing their affinity with the famed trio..  

“all for one!! and one for all!!” erik belted out as he lifted his arm in the air and joined adam,, both of them staring with allegiance at the sparkling ring, as it shone brilliantly..

“and one for all!!” elliot reiterated,, as he too reached his arm into the air.. 

for what seemed like an eternity,, but was really only a less than a minute the boys stood,, arms stretched up in unity,, all eyes trained on the brilliance of the stone that shone like a star in the sunlight..  

erik’s heart beamed with happiness.. it had worked just like he had dreamed it would.. he could really feel it,, the bond that the ring had forged between them.. 

at last they were a trio.. the three musketeers!! brothers through and through.. 

Chapter 138

 word count 1107


Algernon English smiled and patted Winifred Dunn's hand.

"Do you think you can work your way in closer, you know, to find out what we need to know, to find it and snatch it before it finds its way back into Royal hands. Or I could call in reinforcements?"

"Of course, I can, Algie. No need for anyone else to get involved. First, though, I'm going to have to get out of this ridiculous hospital. I'm not sure the police realize yet about the diamond in their mist, but they will. And I'll be watching."

"Yes, regrettable, the way you were manhandled. I say, girl, you must be losing your touch." He covered his face with his hands when he spied Mrs. Dunn's fist clenched, poised to pummel him.

"I have not lost my touch! Some of these Americans are such cretins. The fellow caught me off guard, that's all." She paused, thoughtful. "Who would have thought I would be pounded on for no reason of my own. It had absolutely nothing to do with our current caper."

"Sad, but true," observed Algie. He rose and brushed imaginary lint off his jacket. "Well, I've got to get going. Do keep me informed, darling--on your progress...and your health. That was a nasty blow to the head."

"Thank you, Algie. I most certainly will." She waved good-bye, a limp-wristed gesture at best, revealing her actual weakness.

"Good-bye, dear!" he replied, while thinking how this latest turn had taken a toll on her. Maybe he should assign another agent.  He knew a couple who might want in on this...the dirty deal that could let them retire for life.

***

If their parents knew they were back at the junk yard looking for treasure again, they wouldn't be happy. But the three boys, Elliot, Adam, and Erik being like most kids didn't care. The allure of adventure would always win out over mere parental disapproval.

"Find anything?" Elliot called out, straddling a mound of junk on his own.

"No, nothing here!" Adam reported from a faraway corner. He shrugged his shoulders and continued to search.

Eric didn't reply. He hated to admit he'd come up empty, needing in the worst way to find a treasure. He was getting along well enough with the other two, but they were a pair, two good buddies, and he was always the third guy who didn't fit. If he could find a real treasure, it would make them look up and listen, let him in. Up to now, he'd always been just a tag-a-long. He yearned to be bonded to them for real...for life.

A glint in the sun-drenched stacks caught his eye. It was close to where they'd found Mick Johnson's body. But oh boy, he hated to go over there, remembering Mick's stiffened body with the eyes popping out, and the stink, oh the stink, when they discovered him. But that glitter could be the treasure he needed to win over his brothers. Swallowing his fear, he moved forward.

"This is creepy! This is creepy!" He muttered under his breath.

He hated to touch anything in the area. Dropping down to his knees, he pushed aside old tools, touching them with only the tips of his fingers searching for the shiny thing. It was nested under a rusty iron skillet. Wrapping his fingers around it, he lifted the glittery object to see a beautiful ring, silver metal wrapped around a huge transparent stone, as big as his thumb nail. It looked like glass, but much prettier. When he held it up, the light made rainbows in its many cuts and layers. Something told him this ring was special, and it was his treasure, the item that would make him of equal importance to Elliot and Adam.

***

When Gil and Hank finally got together with Buzz again at the precinct, they were both aware of his new peaceful demeanor. Buzz smiling? Offering pleasantries like good morning and thank you? It boggled the mind. But at least he was up and back to work. The final paperwork on Tobin's thugs was wrapped up. Their slates were clean, for the moment anyway, and the three men sat, feet up on the desks, sloshing coffee and shooting the bull.

"So what's the latest on Trudy?" Gil asked Buzz. He knew about the sisters of mercy and Trudy, which he found to be an extraordinary event...Trudy at the nunnery. Yikes! But what he wondered now what her connection and/or commitment to Buzz might be. "So how long is she going to stay there?" He paused, then added in a quiet voice, "And what's it to ya?"

Buzz looked back at him and blushed.

Gil and Hank exchanged glances. Buzz blushing? How could this be?

And the day was just beginning.

***

In the dark recesses of New Albany, holed up in a filthy motel room, the remains of Joe Tobin's inner circle sat huddled together in intense conversation. Only one bedside lamp was lit in a room with drapes pulled tight in the middle of the day. The lamp cast an eerie orange glow over their mean, deadly faces. These were fellows who dealt with violence on a daily basis. Two of them were enforcers. All were loyalists to Joe.

"We didn't find it when we searched Johnson's body, after Mark Johnson dumped him. Mark and his mother never knew about it. Mick told Tobin and tried to make a private deal. He didn't want to split the profits with his family. Nor could we find it when we searched the house which wasn't easy, I might add, what with the yellow crime tape all around it. Granny Johnson and Mark couldn't have found it and taken it, because if the cops found it on them, we woulda heard about it. It would be big news."

"Well, it didn't go up in smoke! Mick Johnson had it when Mark offed him. I just know it. I was there when he hoisted that rock from the exhibit. He always kept it on him, never put it down. He said it was too valuable to take his eyes off it.”

Exasperated listening to his men, the head honcho slammed his fist on the mattress, producing only a thud rather than the desired slam. "Maybe he had it on him when he got killed. Maybe you missed it on the body. It could still be in the junkyard." He paused to take a long drag off a cigarette.

“Lenny, Nick! Get your asses to that dump and find that diamond! NOW!”

chapter 137

word count: 1469

trudy shifted on the other foot and took a deep breath. "well, i've made my decision," she said. "i'm..."

“i’m going to go home with the sisters,, i mean,, well that is,, if they’ll have me..” she said with a sheepish smile,, and a lowering of the eyes.. 

“well, i..” started buzz,, but he was cut off by a roaring chorus of “hallelujahs!!” coming from the sisters as they both wrapped their arms around trudy and cuddled in close.. 

trudy joined whole heartedly in the hug,, but kept one eye trained on buzz so as to rate his reaction.  by the look on his face,, she could tell he was dumbfounded. 

“well, if you..” buzz stammered,, quite taken aback by trudy’s proclamation.. “if that is what you truly want.. well i guess all  can say,, is i’ll be waiting for you when you’re ready to come home..”

he couldn’t believe what he had just said,, i mean in front of his fellow officers no less.. had he actually told trudy she had a home to come to?? ‘oh my god”, his mind drifted back to mrs. dunn.. ‘how am i ever going to explain this one,, and while she is recuperating in the hospital as well?’

“oh. buzz!!” trudy cried out as she broke away from the sisters and ran across the parking lot falling head long into his open arms.. 

“oh buzz, do ya mean it?? i mean for real?? do you mean it?”

buzz pulled her close.. she felt strangely like  child in his arms as opposed to the sequined dynamite he was used to feeling when he wrapped his arms around her.. 

“yes.. yes i think i do.. no, i'm sure i do!!” he whispered in her ear,, and squeezed her even tighter. 

“but what about that crazy house keeper,, i mean mrs. dunn?? she hates me.. she will never let me back in that house without a fight.." trudy took a step back so she could look buzz in the eye..

“well,, ya see, that is just one of the reasons you going home with the sisters will work out even better for me,, i mean,, for us.” buzz paused as he looked trudy straight in the eye, and if his eyes were not deceiving him he could have sworn he saw a flash of red,, but just a flash,, not the usual fireworks he was expecting..

he paused for a minute to see if trudy was gonna throw a fit,, throw a tantrum in her own defense.. but, no.. there was just that momentary flash,, and buzz could easily just have read that into it based on past experience.. 

“trudy, mrs. dunn is in the hospital.."

“oh my god!!” trudy exclaimed in a tone of genuine concern.. “what the hell,, i mean heck,, happened?? is she alright??” 

even trudy couldn’t believe her response,, just a few weeks ago, mrs. dunns being out of the house,, even if it was because she was in the hospital would have been reason to rejoice in trudy’s old world.. 

“well you see,, an old nemesis of mine,, a guy by the name of joe tobin,, well he and a couple of his thugs broke into the house.. they subdued mrs. dunn with the butt of a gun,, and tied her up in the kitchen.. they thought they had pulled the wool over my eyes,, but when they came for me,, i was ready..”

“oh my god!! that must be the guy!! the guy you shot in your living room! i saw it in the paper!!” trudy let go of buzz and took a step back.. 

“yes,, that was the guy.. they put quite a hurting on mrs. dunn before i was able to subdue them.. and the truth is,, well trudy,, don’t take this the wrong way,, but i have to get back to the hospital.. i have to make sure mrs. dunn is gonna be ok.. you see,, if it wasn’t for her being in my employ,, this ass,, i mean this guy,, would have never gone after her the way  he did.. he was dead set on hurting anything that was close to me,, dead set on getting his revenge..”

“hey buzz,, just for curiosities sake, what does this guy look like,  this joe tobin guy??” 

trudy had suddenly begun to wonder if he might not have been her attacker as well,, after all,, it was pretty common knowledge that she and buzz had the hots for each other.. 

“uh,, well,, maybe six foot,, large build,, black hair,, you know that slicked back mob style hair??”

“trudy burst into tears.. “that’s him.. that’s the guy,, the guy that offered me the ride when i got released,, and had nowhere to go!! the guy that shot me!!” 

“shot you??” this was the first buzz had heard about trudy getting shot.. “shot you?? how the hell,, i mean heck,, did that happen??”

trudy lifted the sleeve on her sisterly frock to show him where the sisters had bandaged her arm..

“it was my fault!!” trudy continued to cry, “it was all my fault!! i shoulda never…”

buzz grabbed on to trudy and pulled her in close.. “no baby,, it was not your fault..”  he said as he gently stroked her hair.. 

“he targeted you,, because he evidently put two and two together,, and thought he could use you as leverage against me,, just like he used mrs. dunn.. it’s not your fault.. it’s not your fault..” he continued to whisper in trudy’s ear as he held her close.. 

“but i..” trudy started,, but was unable to finish her confession through her tears.. 

“no matter what you would have done,, don’t you see?? it wouldn’t have mattered.. he had it in for you.. he would have found a way.."

buzz held trudy until her tears subsided,, and the lump that had formed in his own throat subsided.. 

he squeezed her tight,, and then let her go.. 

“you go.. you go home with the sisters where i know you will be safe."“  he said as he wiped the tears from her fiery red cheeks,, and brushed back a wisp of her undone,, and yet ever so much more beautiful free flowing hair.. 

“you go do what you have to do for you.. i have to get back to the hospital.. when i left her,, mrs dunn was still out like a light.. i need to be there.. i need to talk to her when she comes to. joe tobin may be gone,, but i got two other scumbags that need to be put behind bars for a good long time.. and i need mrs. dunns testimony to be able to do that..”

“go gettem’!!” trudy exclaimed..  “and don’t you worry about me,, i’m gonna be just fine.. you just go do what you do best buzz!! you go get the bad guys!!” trudy said her heart bursting with pride.. she was so thrilled to see buzz,, the real buzz, the buzz she had fallen head over heels for in the past,, back on the job!!

“we will take excellent care of her detective.. you can be sure of that!” sister ruth assured buzz.. 

“yes we will” said a beaming sister esther,, “and when you’re ready,, and well when trudy is ready,, god will see to it that the three of you are amicably reunited.."

trudy gave buzz one last squeeze,, and then released him.. she knew he had work to do.. she knew how important it was that he get back to mrs. dunn.. for all she knew, buzz was all she had too.. 

“i’ll be back!!” buzz called out to trudy as she rejoined the sisters and the three of them locked arms as a symbol of their solidarity.. 

“and trudy!!” he yelled across the parking lot as he opened the door to the squad car, “you can take that one to the bank!”

trudy smiled and waved..  she knew in her heart now that buzz did love her..  and she was really gonna try,, no she was really gonna do it.. she was going to recreate herself,, with a lot of help from the sisters that is,, and when buzz did come back for her,, she would be the woman that he truly deserved..

the sisters beamed with a sense of real accomplishment as the three of them made their way back to the convent..

and trudy beamed too.. but hers was a different kind of glow.. it came from her heart,, and from the knowledge that despite all she had been,, in the end she had won buzz’s love.. 

trudy and the sisters scampered back to the cloister like a trio of school girls,, tittering with joy,, and  a genuine belief that the best was yet to come..

Chapter 136

word count 1158

Buzz sat at Mrs. Dunn's side at the hospital, his huge frame tucked in an undersized bedside chair that squeaked with every movement. Lazily glancing at his watch, he tried to chase worst case scenarios from his mind. She would wake up soon. She had to.

The longer he sat viewing her still body, the stronger his resolve to get back on the street and be a real cop again. Innocents should not be harmed like this. He wanted to call her family, but she had listed none on her application. No “notify” people at all were on the form. He assumed her family must all be in the UK, and he had no idea how to reach them. She had mentioned one friend, a fellow named Algernon, “Algie” for short. Buzz called and left a message. So far, no response.

He got up and stretched. The tiny chair was torture. A trip outside to check his phone messages seemed in order.

When he'd stepped out, the sweet fresh air was such a relief from the stale “hospital” stench he'd just spent two hours breathing. He paused to take it all in—sunshine, trees, birds chirping—such a contrast. Next he pulled out his cell phone and switched it on. A cacophony of beeps sounded indicating missed calls and messages. All from the precinct. He checked in immediately.

“Detective Miller, we got an odd 911 from someone who claims to be”...the dispatcher paused to check his notes...”Trudy Hunt, claiming to be kidnapped and requesting you, in particular, to answer the call.”

Buzz blinked in surprise. Well, haven't heard from her in a while, but did I really think Trudy would simply disappear. 

“Look, I'm with a sick friend at the hospital. Find someone else.” He hung up even as the dispatcher's voice still sounded over the line. He didn't care. It was time to get back to Mrs. Dunn.

Buzz had hardly sat down when a fellow popped in, pushing past the privacy curtain.

“Hi there, Algernon English here. I came as soon as I got your message.”

Buzz gawked at the fellow. He looked to be Mrs. Dunn's age with gray hair, shaggy and a bit long, and an equally gray mustache. He was dressed in a tweed suit with a vest in proper English fashion.

“How do you do? I'm Buzz Miller.” Buzz extended his hand in greeting. The fellow offered a good, strong hand shake in return.

“As soon as I heard I was so worried about Winifred, Thank you for sitting with her.”

“Have you known her long?”

“Yes, yes! Lifelong friends, we are. Yes, lifelong friends.”

Buzz smiled, seeming satisfied. He paused to consider the single chair, how there were now two of them, and how much he hated that chair. An idea occurred.

“Mr. English, are you planning to sit with her for a while?”

“Yes, of course. There's nowhere I'd rather be. Call me Algie, please.”

“In that case, I really need to run some errands...if you don't mind, Algie.”

“Of course! Go! Go! It would my pleasure to sit with her.”

Buzz nodded farewell and lost no time heading for the exit. He'd had second thoughts about Trudy. The woman had a childlike innocence about her, easily led astray, victimized. She always needed people so much, she couldn't see their dark sides in the pursuit of friendship or “whatever.“ He feared that was the kind of scenario that had played out for her today.

Algernon settled in next to Mrs. Dunn, extracting a paper back from his pocket. At that moment, Mrs. Dunn opened her eyes. She managed a tiny smile.

“Algernon, you've come.”

“Algernon English, Her Majesty's Secret Service at your disposal, madame!”

“Yes, Algie, I know.” She smiled again, stronger this time.

He reached over and took her hand in his. “The agency always takes care of its own, you know. When you feel up to it, you can debrief me on your latest endeavors.”

***

"Cops? What cops? Why are you asking me about cops?" Trudy asked Ahem, plastering on her most innocent face.

"The ones you told me to call!"

"I...didn't tell you to call the cops." She struggled to keep the screams of exasperation she felt buried--deep inside.

"If I didn't call them, then why is that squad call pulling up?"

"I have no idea..." Trudy had hardly said the words when the car stopped and the doors flung wide open. Buzz and a slew of uniforms emerged, guns drawn.

"HANDS UP!"

The sisters were a sight to see, their faces like Halloween pumpkins, lit up and glowing with rounded mouths and triangulated eyes.

Ahmed stuttered, "I'm a U.S. citizen, not a terrorist!"

Buzz looked from one to the other, until his eyes rested on Trudy. "What's going on here? Everyone keep your hands in the air. Trudy, what the hell is that you're wearing, a potato sack? Oh, sorry, sisters, I meant 'what the heck'..."

Trudy's heart blasted out a rhythm in her chest like a giant drum pounding. She'd never seen Buzz in action before, gun drawn, in the "kill" mode. She could barely contain herself.

"It's a little something the sisters gave me to wear while I stayed with them."

"So who kidnapped you? Was it him?" Buzz swung on his heel to point his service revolver directly at Ahmed's face.

"I'm legal. I'm good! U.S. citizen!" Poor Ahmed looked ready to wet himself.

"No, Buzz!" Trudy stammered.

He swerved again, aiming for the sisters. The ladies in unison pawed for their rosaries while Sister Esther started murmuring the Apostle's Creed to start if off.

"No, Buzz! No one kidnapped me. I lied."

"What?"

"I missed you. I just wanted to see you." She stepped forward and touching his wrists, she lowered the gun down. "I've changed, Buzz. These good sisters have been helping me find myself."

"Huh! You're not gonna talk a lot of psychobabble, are you?"

"No, Buzz! I just want ya to know I'm a different person now." She looked away, pensive. "I've been through a lot." Memories of Simone, her drunken sprees, falling in with the stranger, being threatened, running, getting shot...all those memories washed through her mind in one glorious sweep. "I'm more serious, more mindful, now. But I was also very lonely today, a little confused...I couldn't control the urge to see ya." She took a step back. "Now I have to decide whether to go back with the sisters and learn to connect with myself more, or to go with you and resume my life...in a whole new way."

Buzz appeared dumbfounded. They were both in a state of change. He wondered if they drifted in the same direction. If they were, it could be glorious to make the journey together.

Trudy shifted on the other foot and took a deep breath. "Well, I've made my decision," she said. "I'm..."

chapter 135

word count: 1250

trudy returned the newspaper to its metal rack,, and approached the young shop keeper.. he continued texting,, and trudy had to come off with a stern, “uhump!!” before he even bothered to look up at her.. 

“can i help you?” he asked,, still not looking up from the keypad on his phone..

“um, yes,"  trudy answered.. “it seems as if i have been kidnapped!! held against my will!! i need you to call the police right away!!”

the word “kidnapped” seemed to get some attention out of the store clerk,, and he looked up from his phone long enough to see trudy clad in what passed for a dress at the local convent.. 

“kidnapped??” he asked as he took a better look at her.. she looked clean and well cared for.. she was wearing clothes that he easily identified as belonging to the sisters of mercy cloister just up the road.. 

“kidnapped?? by the sisters of mercy?? i find that hard to believe.. you see i happen to know…” the young shop keeper began to respond to her most unlikely predicament in a disbelieving tone..

“just call me a god damn cop will ya!!” the old trudy reared her ugly head.. 

“i mean please,, could you call the police?? and when you do,, could you ask them to send detective buzz miller?? did you get that?? detective buzz miller.. it is important that he comes to get me, personally..” trudy softened her tone.. after all,, she had no way of placing the call herself,, all the phone booths had long since been removed from the streets of new albany.. 

“well none of this makes any sense to me..” the young man said as he tapped 911 into the keypad on his cell.

trudy listened in on the one sided conversation the clerk was having with the 911 operator.. 

kidnapped. detective buzz miller. quick shop convenience store.. so far he seemed to be getting it all right.. 

“hey,, what is your name?” the clerk leaned over the counter and asked her as he had evidently been prompted to do so by the 911 operator.. 

“trudy. trudy hunt.. just make sure they tell buzz,, um, i mean detective miller,, that it’s me.”

she listened as the shop keeper gave her name to the dispatch operator,, and reiterated her desire for detective miller to respond to her call.. as he clicked off the call trudy was satisfied.. her distress flag had been sent up.. now it was up to buzz..

there was nothing she could do but wait.. she decided to take a seat on the front stoop of the store.. if buzz came for her,, that meant it was written in the stars,, and she would go off with him and live happily ever after.. if not,, she still had the sisters to fall back on,, after all they hadn’t exactly kicked her out,, they had just suggested that she take a walk till she calmed down.. 

“what was it with them and their suggestions??” trudy asked herself as she sat down on the cool cement step.. 

“why on earth would anyone choose to live such a ridged existence based solely on suggestions??” trudy pondered as she waited to hear the scream of a siren in the distance,, a siren that would mean her knight in shining armor was at last coming to her rescue.. 

as some time passed,, and trudy heard no siren in the distance,, no knight in shining armor coming to sweep her off her feet and take her away from all of this,, she wandered back into the store to verify with the shop keeper that he had given the right address.. she even went so far as to suggest that maybe he ought to call them back and verify they had taken all of the information down correctly.. 

once again,, not looking up at her as he was dedicated to typing in yet another text message,, he assured her that he had done everything that she had requested of him,, and no he wasn’t going to call them back.. he suggested maybe the delay was due to them trying to locate her detective miller.. 

“ugh!!” trudy, visibly disgruntled,, and very much wanting to rip the guy a new one,, decided she better keep her lid on and go back outside.. it was safer that way,, if she continued to watch him texting,, his total lack of concern for her and her well-being very well might push her over the edge.. and she didn’t want buzz to walk in and see her flying off the handle.. 

no.. this time she wanted to present herself as cool, calm, and collected.. she wanted him to see that she had changed.. and looking down at herself in this burlap sack the sisters called a dress,, she just knew buzz would be moved by the changes she had outwardly made in herself, and would be only too happy take this new trudy back home with him.. 

as she plopped herself on the cement stoop,, still listening for the siren song that would surely come and save her,,  she was more than unpleasantly surprised when she saw the plump little faces of sister esther, and sister ruth turn the corner and approach her with wide welcoming smiles.. 

“you had us worried, “ sister esther said as she extended her arms to trudy, inviting her to stand up..

“we are still quite unsure as to who it was that hurt you in the first place,, and decided he may still be lurking,, and that maybe we had been wrong in sending you off all alone in the dark of night.. “ chimed in sister ruth.. 

trudy shifted uneasily as she stood up and joined the sisters.. she didn’t want to burn that bridge just yet.. after all she couldn’t be sure buzz was going to come for her.

“well,, thank you for your concern sisters, but as you can see i am fine.. just needed some time to think things through,, so i thought i would sit here for a while and…”

just then the young shop keeper poked his unwelcome head out the door.. 

“sister esther!! sister ruth!! how nice to see you both!!”

“good evening, ahmed!!” the sisters said in chorus.. 

“i see you know miss hunt?  i had presumed you did based on the fact that i recognized your signature attire.. “ ahmed started.. 

trudy could see where this was headed and quickly jumped in to head him off at the pass,, she couldn’t allow him to spill the beans about her having him call 911 and report her as kidnapped!!

“well sisters,, what do you say we head back.. it’s getting chilly out here this evening!!” trudy exclaimed nervously..

“i feel as if i am ready to apologize to sister rebecca,, in fact i feel a strong desire to do so right now!!” trudy continued as she took each of the sisters hand in hers and attempted to guide them away from ahmed as soon as possible.

“glory be to god!!” sister esther proclaimed.. “i just knew you would see his light!!”

“hallelujah!!” sang out sister ruth as the three joined arms and began to walk off into the darkness.. 

“hey!” ahmed called out to them as they began to walk away,, and the distinct sound of a siren could be heard in the distance..

“what do you want me to tell the cops when they get here?”

Chapter 134

word count 987

The hogs, Abraham and Sarah, grunted greedily as they attacked the scraps Trudy dumped in their pen. She stood, looking at the sky, reviewing the day. Remembrances of Father Brown's sanctimonious attitude still rankled her. It was an itch she couldn't scratch. She longed to tell him off, or kick him, or just scream at the guy.

“It seems to me this is my life, and his stupid penance has nothing to do with anything.” She muttered the words out loud, projecting her frustration into the inky, dark night.

“What on earth are you talking about?” Sister Rebecca had come up behind Trudy, toting another pot. “There were a few more scraps,” she explained nodding at the container.

“I confessed to Father Brown today, and he was so 'holier than thou'--it just irked me, that's all.”

“Well, he is holier than thou!” Sister Rebecca's sizable frame wiggled as she stated the fact with determination.

“Says who?”

“Well, God, I guess.”

“He's just a man! And believe me, I know men, and they don't have any kind of moral superiority. You can trust me on that!” Trudy stood firm, hands on hips, ready for battle.

“Trudy, dear, don't you think you're taking it just a bit too seriously. It's all symbolic. The priest represents the Lord on earth to us. That's all.”

“That's preposterous! To give a man so much power. Look, sister, I've just been down a long, tough road learning how to not let men dominate me, and this really goes against my grain.”

“If you don't mind my saying so, don't you mean domination in the sexual sense?”

Trudy looked at Sister Rebecca in horror, and next proceeded to advance forward in anger. With her fist clenched, she issued a punch with all her might, smacking against sister's cheek sending her flying backward. The sister squealed and landed with a thud on the ground. A red bruise painted across her cheek. She held a hand on her jaw, crying.

Trudy froze. What had she done? She slapped around a holy woman!

The commotion sent the others rushing outside. When they arrived and spied poor Sister Rebecca, all faces turned to Trudy. Finally, Sister Esther spoke.

“Trudy, what have you done? We love having you here, but this...hitting Sister Rebecca.” She paused, hand to forehead as though to contain herself. “I think perhaps you should take a long walk and contemplate your actions. I don't know why you hit Sister Rebecca, but she will forgive you. You need to think carefully about what you've done. Take that walk. We'll look for you at vespers later.”

With that, Sister Esther turned to go and the others followed like a mother duck leading her chicks. Sister Rebecca walked in their midst receiving their comfort. Trudy was left alone. She started her walk.

There was a lot to think about. The sisters were demonstrating grace and dignity, also humility, but at what price? Why should they demean themselves to any other human being? It was a stumbling block for Trudy. She was a new woman these days, growing more every day. Why did she feel certain aspects of the church, like buckling under to Father Brown, were a step backwards?

By this time, Trudy had reached a tiny store on the outskirts of town. It was open, so she slipped in the door. Perhaps she could find some chocolate or something to lift her spirits. She had a decision to make. Would she go back and see what else she could learn from the sisters, take comfort in their cloistered life, give herself time to rest and grow...or was it too much, demeaning herself to “holy Mother Church”--to play by their rules and treat the priest and other authorities as better than her.

The store was warm and well lit. She realized it had been a while since she stood under electric lights. A radio played Tammy Wynette in the background, and a fellow at the register was busy texting, barely noticing her arrival. She sighed and looked around.

A newspaper stand sat nearby, and a name in the headline caught her eye, “Buzz Miller.” Her pulse raced and with shaky hands she lifted the paper off the rack. The story of Buzz's heroic efforts were front page news. She read of his bravery and tears welled in her eyes. She ran a finger along the page over his name, and it brought back memories. Buzz, he always was the best. With a sigh, she put the paper back. Standing there in the little store, she knew it was time to either go back to the sisters, or return to her old life. The sisters demanded a lot, maybe more than she could give, but her old life—was she ready for the mainstream again? Was she strong enough?

***

While the uniforms removed the scuzzbags from his living room, Buzz ran to the kitchen to find the paramedics lifting Mrs. Dunn to a gurney, The lady was out cold.

It hit Buzz like a brick to the face. This poor woman had come in harm's way, all because she was in his employ. She hadn't done a thing to anybody, and now she had been brutalized and lay unconscious in his kitchen. He never intended for an innocent to be in danger.

His cop instincts, long dormant, were now renewed. Innocent people shouldn't be getting hurt. He had to do something. It was time to get back to his job, maybe do more work on the street. He'd been behind a desk too much in recent years. It's what made him wander from life, from his marriage...the restlessness doing paperwork, when he was a cop in the true sense of the word—it made him crazy to push papers. He needed to go back to work on the street, and he needed it now.