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Monica immediately called Andy back. "Helen was in Wendell’s truck."

"Okay, I've called Roger, and they're having some patrols coming to meet us.”

“As soon as we transfer the detainees over to the patrol cars, and an ambulance is on the way for Wendell?—"

"I see one of the patrol cars now. His lights are flashing. There are two more, and an ambulance following them. Have Rob pull over, and we'll make the transfer. Craig and Rob can come with us with the additional patrol car, and we'll return to the house and grab Helen." Andy was concerned about Helen’s health, but also wanted to get her into custody with her fellow co-conspirators.

"Pull over, Rob. We're going to transfer these two to the patrol car and the ambulance," Monica said.

"Gotcha."

"What about Helen?" Wendell asked.

"We're going back for her."

"What about Andy's car?" Rob asked.

"We'll take the two cars, and one of the patrol cars can come with us so that they can transport her to jail."

Then, the patrol cars pulled up alongside them, and the transfers began.

Smiling, Roger shook his head at Andy as the other officers transferred Denny and Eloise to separate patrol cars. EMTs checked out Wendell and then put him in the ambulance.

“I can’t believe you’re still on this case,” Roger said.

“You know me. Just like with the guy trapped in his vehicle that no one else could find, I was bound and determined to locate him. Are you ready to go with us to pick up the last of the perps in this case?”

“Yeah, sure.” Roger got back in his patrol car.

Though Pierre was really the last of them.

Andy and Monica climbed into his car and turned it around to return to the cabin. Craig and Rob followed behind the patrol car as additional backup if needed.

“I hope she’s not unconscious in the truck,” Andy said.

“Yeah, I know. I’m just glad we thought about it and questioned Wendell further. I thought Helen might have fought with him, or he was trying to protect her.”

“So Denny and Pierre still have a thing for her?”

Monica shrugged. “Some women have it. But boy, when I mentioned Helen was having sex with Denny, and that’s why we believed she wasn’t a kidnapped victim, Eloise was furious.”

Andy laughed.

“Also, she was angry that Helen would even go to the cabin. I’m really sure Helen planned to go inside, but once Wendell saw your car, he told her to stay put while he checked it out.”

They finally arrived back at the cabin. Monica and Andy exited the vehicle to check on Wendell’s truck and camper. Roger parked behind him and left his patrol car to help them. Craig and Rob quickly joined them.

The truck was now on its side, and Monica guessed it had slid that way afterward but had only been tilting in that direction before that. They opened the driver’s side door, but no one was inside. Maybe Helen’s moving around inside the truck had unsettled it.

They all returned to their vehicles and drove up to the cabin. Once there, they quickly left their cars, but as soon as they did, Helen opened the window above the patio and started to shoot at them, the bullets ricocheting off the trees nearby.

Okay, so Monica hadn’t planned for that to happen! The woman had just staged a kidnapping scheme for money. Now she was responsible for firing at law enforcement officers?

Monica was so perturbed. “You’re only wanted for a kidnapping scheme, Helen. If you pursue this, you’ll get many more charges tacked on.”

Helen had retreated away from the window. Right now, they needed a polar bear to take over. Which they could if they didn’thave Roger with them. She knew his vehicle was the perfect one for taking her into custody, which they needed, but?—

Then Andy said, “I’m going around to the back of the house.”