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“I had no part in this!” Babs screamed as a second SWAT officer slid down the rope. “I’m innocent! I’ve been trying to rescue Jamie, to free him! These people here”—she gave an accusing nod at Theodosia and Drayton—“kidnapped him! They’re ka-pow crazy!”

The more Babs fussed and pleaded, the more she was ignored. Theodosia picked up the gun, handed it to one of the SWAT guys, then ran to Jamie and started undoing his bonds. Once that business was taken care of, she turned to one of the SWAT guys and said, “But how did you know…?”

Like a crazed wildebeest, Bill Glass burst out of the woods and galloped toward them. His hair stood on end as if he’d been plugged into a light socket, his face was smudged with grime, and his jacket hung askew. He looked like a refugee who’d just been spit out of a coal bin.

“I followed you guys!” Glass shouted at Theodosia. “And when I saw you were in trouble, I called your boyfriend.”

“You what?” Theodosia said as her phone dinged in her jacket pocket. Startled again, she grabbed it and said, “Hello?”

“Are you okay? Tell me you’re okay,” Riley said, urgency coloring his voice. “SWAT got there in time?”

Theodosia let loose a convulsive shudder. “Riley! Yes! Just in the nick of time. And, thankfully, we’re all okay. Well, Jamie’s reasonably okay even though Babs did try to kill him.”

“And Drayton?”

“Drayton’s good.” Theodosia looked over at Drayton, who gave her a confident thumbs-up sign.

“You’re lucky Glass called me in time.”

“But…but you deployed an entire SWAT team? Just for us?” She felt overwhelmed with gratitude.

“There was a bit of serendipity involved. SWAT was actually out there already, flying nighttime training maneuvers.”

“Wow,” Theodosia said. She was still trembling as adrenaline coursed through her veins like a fast-moving stream. “I guess we’re going to need to talk about this, huh? Like, tonight? Soon as I get home?”

“You got that right,” Riley said.

“Is this…” Theodosia tried not to cry. “Is this going to be a problem? For us?”

Riley gave a deep chuckle. “Only for you.”

Everything seemed to jump into hyper speed then. Theodosia said goodbye to Riley. Babs was formally arrested and read her rights. Bill Glass was suddenly talking a mile a minute and backslapping everyone. And Jamie was ceremoniously helped to his feet. He staggered a short way, then spun in a circle, looking like he was about to collapse like a cheap card table.

“Whoa, buddy,” one of the SWAT officers said to Jamie. “You don’t look so good.”

“I don’t feel so good,” Jamie said. He touched a hand to his stomach and let loose a noisy belch.

“We’ll take you back in the helo with us, okay?” the SWAT guy said. “It’s faster than an ambulance. Meanwhile, you’d better take it easy. Sit down and try to relax.”

Jamie fixed the SWAT officer with a one-eyed, vacant stare. “You want me to relax? After a concussion, broken nose, and hand surgery? After which I got tasered, kidnapped, and strapped to a board for the last twenty hours where every mosquito within ten miles dined on me? Seriously?”

“Jamie?” Theodosia said.

Jamie wobbled around to face her like an arthritic old man. Flapping his arms, he said, “What?”

“Just say thank you to the nice officers,” Theodosia said.

“And you can thank Theodosia for doggedly searching for you,” Drayton added. He pulled himself to his full height, straightened his bow tie, and stared forcefully at Jamie. “She’s the only reason we’re out here.”

“Thank you,” Jamie stammered.

“Wait, wait, wait!” Bill Glass shouted. “Hold everything, guys. Before you go all kumbaya on me, I need to snap a picture!”

“Seriously?” Drayton muttered. “A photo?”

“He did kind of save the day,” Theodosia whispered to him.

“That’s right,” Bill Glass said encouragingly as they all milled around. “Everybody crowd in together. SWAT guys, let me see those guns. Theo, edge closer to Drayton, will you? Jamie, you’re great, just keep that dazed, wonky look on your face. Oh yeah, this is gonna be perfect to go with my big story.”

“Glass,” Theodosia called out. “Are we just about done here?” She couldn’t wait to get back to Charleston. To hug Earl Grey, take a long, hot shower, then snuggle in with Riley and explain (leaving out the really bad parts) exactly what had happened.

Bill Glass lifted his camera. “Big smiles!”

Click.