Chapter 32

Jenny had asked Ben if she could be the one to tell her brother he was free to go. They had only just met and already she owed him so much. He had saved not only Roy and Isabelle, but Joey too.

Jenny shuttered to think what would have happened if she’d had to come up against Chief Cartright by herself. Thank goodness, Ben arrived when he did.

The police station was quiet when she arrived. The officers who had been working under Chief Cartright had been ordered to give detailed interviews about their involvement. From what Ben had told her back at the cabin, there was going to be a complete change of leadership in the department.

Regarding Lawrence, Ben had agreed not to press any charges. Lawrence was over the moon when Ben stopped in at the liquor store to tell him personally that he would remain a free man.

Ben now had a very expensive bottle of Scottish whiskey stored in the trunk of his car. As much as he protested that a gift wasn't necessary and that he was just doing his job, Lawrence refused to let him leave the shop without it.

Jenny parked her car in the lot. The station seemed less intimidating as the automatic doors swished open ahead of her. The desk clerk was deep in discussion with Ben on the far side of the lobby, so she hung back until their talk appeared to be finished.

When it was time to go through to see Joey, Ben motioned for her to follow him up the hall.

“Are you sure you want to do this?” he asked, a smile unfurling on his lips. “We could leave him in there another day or two. Make him sweat.”

“Very funny.”

Jenny waited nervously as Ben unlocked the holding cell door and led the way inside.

Joey stood up from his bunk at the sight of his visitors. He’d been expecting his transfer that day and was already on alert. He looked concerned when he saw Ben walking alongside her. It was clear to Jenny that her brother recognized his superior.

“Police Commissioner Gatrall.”

Joey extended his hand through the bars.

“I didn't expect to see you here. No one told me you were coming, he said as Ben shook his hand warmly”

“I didn't expect to be in Ombrea today, Officer Dale, but your sister was rather insistent I come take a look at your case.”

Jenny couldn't help but smile at his reaction when Joey glanced her way in surprise.

“Well, thank you, sir. It means a lot to me that you would even consider coming by.”

“You’re getting evicted, Dale.” Ben raised an eyebrow, “unless you’d prefer to stay.”

“No, sir,” Joey shook his head quickly, “not a bit.”

He waited with anticipation as Ben found the key on the chain and unlocked the sliding, metal door of his cell. Joey almost tripped in his rush to be free. He shook Ben's hand quickly again before he brought Jenny in for a long, strong hug.

“I can’t believe you did it.” he cried into her hair. “You got me out, Jen!”

“We don't like to keep innocent men in jail any longer than we have to,” Ben told him firmly. “The public frowns upon it. Now, if you’ll excuse me, I have a few more interviews to conduct. Officer Dale,” he said, offering his hand to the younger officer one last time, “on behalf of the Ombrea Police Department, I apologize for the way you've been treated. You are now free to go.”

“Thank you, sir.”

Joey was ecstatic.

“Thank you so much for all you've done for me.”

“Thank your sister and Roy Peters. They were the ones who didn’t give up on you. You’ve got a good family there, son.”

“Yes, I do, sir,” Joey said proudly. “I really do.”

* * *

Roy didn’t think he had any friends in town. That was until he got shot.

His hospital nightstand was littered with gifts and well wishes sent to him from various folks around town. Most of them he barely knew, let alone had a friendship with. Still, everyone wanted to wish him a speedy recovery.

Even Isabelle had jumped on the bandwagon. He kept his vase of colorful wildflowers from the Dale property right beside his bed so he could see them all the time.

The last time he had seen Jenny was after he had come out of surgery.

After passing out on the sand, there was little he actually remembered about the incident. He must have lost a lot of blood.

Jenny and Isabelle had been allowed to come in while he regained consciousness from the anesthesia. Their faces were as blurry as they were when he was still lying out there at the cabin, but it was comforting to know they had stayed with him.

Jenny told him that when Chief Cartright had gone to deliver the shot that would most likely have killed him, the dog had rushed up and knocked the chief back. Chief Cartright had fumbled, but remained standing, choosing to point his weapon at the child instead. That was when Ben had stepped in and delivered the shot that left Chief Cartright dead in the sand.

Roy was glad it was all finally over. He hadn't expected it to end this way. He had thought that the police commissioner would arrest Chief Cartright and he would stand trial for his crimes. Joey would be free, and Isabelle would finally be reunited with her father. Jenny would stay with him at his cabin, and they would all live happily ever after. It seemed a pretty good ending in his eyes.