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Thankfully, the police kept the media away from everyone leaving their vehicles.

“Thanks for all your help,” Andy said to the Richardsons, shaking their hands.

“We owe you for all you did,” Mr. Richardson said, his wife agreeing. “In all our years on the force, we never faced as many challenges as you had to go through in so few hours.”

“Me either,” Andy said.

Then, they wished them well. The Richardsons joined their son-in-law and got into his vehicle, and he drove off. Their daughter drove the Richardsons’ car off.

After the EMTs checked out the mother, her brother and sister-in-law picked her and her daughters up. Monica wished them well. The other older gentleman had found a ride with a friend and thanked them for their help.

She was glad everyone had someone to take care of them after the harrowing ordeal.

Afterward, Monica and Andy talked to DEA agents about the drugs in Harvey’s vehicle. The agents confiscated the Yukon.

Federal agents met with Monica and Andy to discuss the stolen bank money. They explained what had happened. The blue Ford Bronco would be hauled in for forensic investigation.

Five vehicles pulled up into the parking lot. An older couple and four men who looked like Andy and were about his age greeted him. He hurried over to talk to them. She smiled as they hugged him, and then Andy pointed to Monica. She waved in their direction but continued to speak with the agents.

Then she explained to the agents about the kidnapping case she had been working on alone until Andy joined her to assist. “So Helen was not a kidnapped victim. We tried to tell her boyfriend, Pierre Johnson, that she was safe and was part of the whole scam but couldn’t get through to him.”

Andy rejoined her.

“We’ll make sure Pierre gets word. We understand you were injured in the first vehicle accident with the trooper’s patrol car. We’ve been looking for the two of you all this time. We need to get you checked out,” the agent said, who was someone Monica had never met before.

“We’ve got the money bags from the Yukon,” another patrolman said.

“Good,” Monica said.

“Thanks,” Andy said.

Then, the EMTs checked her out.

One of the men told her, “We want to take you to the hospital to run some tests."

Andy quickly shook his head. “She has a local doctor here. She’ll see him.”

They looked surprised because she hadn’t said anything about having a doctor in White Bear and didn’t live here. “Of course. That’s what I want to do.” She hopedshehadn’t looked too startled.

“Craig and I will give you a ride over there.” Andy took her arm as if she suddenly needed help walking, which amused her. Then he led her to his brother’s car, a silver SUV.

“Don’t get into any accidents.” She sat in the back seat while Andy buckled her in.

That had been a chore with her injured hand, so she was glad for the help this time.

“Don’t intend to,” Craig said cheerily. Then he drove her to the clinic.

“We have a wolf doctor who runs the clinic,” Andy explained from the passenger seat.

“All shifter run?”

“Yes.”

She couldn’t believe it, but that was good news.

“Craig is the pilot in the family. Once the doctor checks you out, we’ll take you for a meal at the White Bear Tavern. Then you can stay at one of our places and rest up. Or we can get a room at one of the local hotels or a bed for you and a meal if you would prefer.”

They hadn’t eaten for hours, and she was dead tired. She really just wanted to sleep. But maybe she could sleep better after a meal.