Part 25 (1/2)

”Why?” Bud asked, his brow crinkled.

”Why not?” She laughed. ”I just think this is an area that, for many years, was neglected. And I think there's a lot we can learn and more that we can do for our elderly.” She looked down at their hands, and said, ”Bud, I think there's a lot to be said for outlook. So many doctors today are focused on some of the wrong things when it comes to treating the elderly. We need more positive reinforcement and less major surgery, if that makes sense. I mean, putting a ninety-year-old man through major elective surgery just doesn't make much sense to me. Sure, I believe in quality of life and I'm not against surgery. But I think some of our doctors today are frivolous in their recommendations where the older generation is concerned.”

Brianna tilted her head. ”You're staring at me,” she said. ”Are you even hearing a word I'm saying?”

”Yeah, you like old people and doctors are frivolous,” he said flippantly. He turned serious. ”You know, I really like your hair curly like that.”

She displayed her palms, smiled and said, ”This is the real me. I'm afraid I have curly hair.”

”So yesterday I was with an imposter?” he said laughing.

The couple pulled away from the table and watched as the pert waitress placed two plates in front of them. She poured more coffee into their cups and then retreated. Brianna looked down at her veggie omelet and fruit bowl with l.u.s.t in her eyes. ”Mmmm, looks good,” she said.

”Not as good as my meat-lover's meal,” Bud said.

”Eplied. After they'd gone a few blocks, he reached down and felt his cell phone in his pocket. Not wanting to be obvious, he inched it up from the bottom until he was able to work it out the top of his pocket and into his hand. He glanced down and hit the b.u.t.ton for 9-1-1. He set it to speaker and then turned down the receiver volume, easing the phone onto the floorboards beneath him.

”What are you doin'?” the gunman growled.

”Scratching my leg, what do you think?” He glanced into the rearview mirror and asked, ”Okay, where are you taking us?”

”Just drive, will ya? I'll tell ya where to turn.”

”Did it ever occur to you that you just committed an armed robbery back there at the 7-Eleven on Fletcher?”

”So what? Needed the money.”

”You may have killed that clerk when you hit him with the b.u.t.t of your gun.”

”Then he ain't gonna follow me, is he? And he won't be callin' the cops, neither.”

”And now you'll have a kidnapping charge. When you get caught, you're going to be in a whole lot of trouble.” Bud thought for a minute and then said, ”You know, I may run out of gas in this dark blue Explorer.”

”You just got gas back there at the station.”

”You mean where you kidnapped us five minutes ago? I tried to get gas, but the cap was locked and I couldn't get it off. I came in to ask for help getting it off.”

”c.r.a.p,” the gunman mumbled. He looked over at Brianna and said, ”And just when you and I had a chance to get acquainted. Guess I'll have to bail and find me another ride.” He leered over at Brianna and said, ”Maybe I'll just take you with me. I could use a little fun.”

Bud could see Brianna in the rearview mirror. She was coiled up against the right side back door, fear on her face. ”The lady just may be getting out at the next stop, jerk,” Bud said, catching her eyes in the mirror. Just then, he turned the car sharply to the right, throwing the gunman off balance against the left rear door, and then he slammed on the brakes. ”Jump out, Brianna!” Bud yelled. She scrambled toward the door, jumped out while the car was stopped, and ran right into the arms of a police officer who was just stepping out of his patrol car. Bud escaped out the pa.s.senger door, remembering to take the keys with him. He ran around the car, grabbed Brianna and pulled her aside, saying to the officer, ”He's in the backseat. He's armed.”

”You two get behind the squad car.” The officer motioned. He pulled the gun out of his holster, crouched behind the front of the car and aimed toward Bud's car. ”Throw your weapon out,” he called.

The gunman hesitated just for a moment before tossing his gun out onto the pavement.

”Come out with your hands up,” the policeman ordered.

”Aww right, man. I'm comin'. But I didn't do nothin'. These guys were just givin' me a ride home. My buddies left me hangin' as a joke.”

”Yeah, armed robbery and kidnapping isn't much of a joke. Just then, a second police unit arrived and one officer jumped out to help the first while a third one began halting traffic. Once they had the gunman cuffed and secured in the backseat of a squad car, the first officer walked over to Bud and Brianna, who were sitting on a curb. Bud had his arm wrapped around her and she was leaning into him.