Book 3- Annie Adams-College Years

Annie Adams-College Years

                                                                                        Chapter 21

                                                                                           Gotcha!

     "Is he coming?"  Jeanie shrieked.  Then she felt stupid for having said it.  Of course Len was coming.   "I'm sure Len is driving just as fast as he can.... sirens screaming."  Beth answered her.  "I just know that Annie wouldn't have willingly went up to that house,"  Patti said fretfully.  "Professor Barr would have recognized her," she ended.  "Maybe the maid had a gun on her," Trish suggested anxiously.  "Oh, you're just a well of optimism aren't you?"  Beth said in an irritated voice.

     "I'm sorry.  I'm just upset," Trish apologized.   "No.  I'm sorry Trish for being so harsh," Beth said, turning in her front seat and reaching back and patting Trish's hand.  "I think we all should take a moment to pray for Annie's safety,"  Patti suggested.  And all the girls immediately bowed their heads in prayer.  "Amen,"  Harmony said aloud, when they all had raised their heads again.

     "I think that Professor Barr will tell his two partners to leave the house now, fearing that Annie has discovered his secret," Harmony said.  "They can get away.  That's their car after all."  "I bet he will." Beth agreed.  "Those two wouldn't want to be found in the professor's company."  "But of course he will involve them anyway,"  Trish put in.  Just then the front door opened and the blond girl and dark haired boy hurried to the blue sedan and got in.

     "Without a word to her friends, Beth slid into the driver's seat as Jeanie screamed, "They're going to get away!  "No they're not!" Beth shouted, pulling the van into the driveway and blocking the sedan from escaping.  Suddenly sirens blared behind them, and Len and his deputies ran to the sedan, guns drawn.

     Len gave instructions for his deputies to arrest the couple and put them in a cruiser.  "I'm going to get Annie!" he shouted, running toward the house.  He entered to find her sitting in a chair in the large foyer, her hands and feet bound in gray tape.  But otherwise she looked okay.  Neither the maid nor Professor Barr was anywhere in sight.

     "Are you alright hon?"  Len asked as he cut the tape that bound her with his pocket knife.  "I'm fine.  I want you to know that I didn't come up here on my own accord.  The maid had a gun."  "I didn't figure you were that foolish," Len said.  "My guess is that the couple must have seen us following them," Annie said.  "So when we arrived Professor Barr told the maid to go get me and take me to the house."  "I wonder why she didn't take all of you.  She had a gun," Len said perplexed.  "That is strange, Annie admitted. 

     "Well, we'll get the whole story when we get them all down to the station house.  Meanwhile you're alright, and that's what counts," Len said, helping her up and hugging her tight.  Just then Deputy Steve came through the door (he had left his fellow deputy to watch the prisoners) followed by Beth, Harmony, Jeanie, Patti and Trish.  "Are you okay?" the girls chimed, running to her and enfolding her in a group hug.

     "Steve and I are gonna check out the house," Len announced as he and his deputy quickly looked around the bottom floor and then ran upstairs.  "Why did you come up here with that maid?"  Beth asked Annie.  "She had a gun,"  Annie said simply.   Annie had barely finished speaking when a gun shot was heard upstairs.  Annie and the other girls screamed.

     "Len!"  Annie yelled at the top of her lungs while Harmony's arm squeezed her tight.  But the girls' panic only lasted a minute, when Len's deep voice called from somewhere upstairs, "We're alright!"  Annie sniffed back her tears and sighed with relief as did the rest.  In a few moments they heard footsteps coming down the stairs.

     Next they saw Len and Steve marching the two culprits into the foyer.  Len was supporting Professor Barr, who seemed to have an injury on his big toe, which was bleeding through the handkerchief that someone had bound it with.  The red headed maid looked very sulky indeed, and Annie thought a bit embarrassed.

     "I've called an ambulance for this one," Len said with a nod at Professor Barr who grimaced in pain.  "What happened?"  Annie asked.  "The little lady here has a bad aim," Len said in amusement.  "Thank God!  She was aiming for me," he added.  Then he told his deputy Steve to put the maid under arrest and take her out to his cruiser.

     Annie was about to respond with horror to her husband almost being shot, but Harmony interrupted with, "Uh oh," with a hand on her swollen stomach.  "It's time!" she said anxiously.  "Okay," Beth answered, taking charge, one of her strong traits.  She and Trish each put an arm around her.  "Take the van,  Annie said.  "We'll meet y'all at the hospital later."  Annie gave her friend a hug as Patti filed in behind Beth and Trish, but Jeanie stayed with Annie.

     The ambulance pulled up in the driveway just after Beth had pulled away, heading to the hospital.  The E.M.T.'s got Professor Barr in the back of the vehicle quickly and Deputy Steve climbed aboard just before the door was closed.  Then the ambulance and Len's other deputy pulled out of the driveway one behind the other.

     Just then Annie's cell rang out the tune of "My Old Kentucky Home."  "Hi Auntie,"  Annie said in a cheerful voice.  "I expected you back home by now," her aunt told her, sounding worried.  "We'll be home...." she looked to Len for advice,  "Just a minute Auntie.  "In about an hour.  I just need to get your statement," Len said, "and I thought you might like to stay, to hear what the maid and the two suspects have to say."  Len said with a sly grin at her.

     "Just so you know y'all.  I don't want Auntie to know about any of this," Annie told Len and Jeanie.  "No problem," Jeanie said.  "I'll work it out with the press that your name's not mentioned in the papers," Len promised.  Annie nodded and then got on her cell again.  "Hey Auntie.  We'll be home in a hour's time or so."

     "Okay dear.  I'll see you then,"  Aunt Anne said, sounding calmer than when she had first called.  Bye Auntie,"  Annie ended dropping her cell back in her dress pocket.  Jeanie hopped in the back seat of the car, making herself comfortable.  Len went back to make sure all the doors and windows in the house were locked up.   And Annie stood by Jeanie's window to talk until he came back.  It was difficult for Annie to get into the car without help in her present condition.  And Len was the only one there strong enough to catch her if she would start to fall.

     "Boy Annie.  You sure live an exciting life," Jeanie said with a giggle.  Annie laughed.  "It's not always this crazy.  Of course the babies aren't here yet," she added with a giggle of her own. "I guess then you'll have to stop all this detective stuff and just be "Mom," Jeanie said with a sly grin, knowing, that like Beth had said once, mother hood wouldn't stop Annie from solving mysteries.

    Annie didn't have time to answer Jeanie's last comment because Len came back.  He helped his wife into his cruiser, then took the wheel and heaved a great breath.  Annie Adams Summers.  You sure make life interesting for me."  "Sorry about that," Annie said grinning at him.  "I'll try to tone it down."  Jeanie laughed heartily from the back seat.  Len laughed too and said, "No you won't.  And I wouldn't want you to.  Haven't you heard?  Being too normal is boring." 

                                                                                End of Chapter 21