"Hart! Hart! Wake up!" Verna was yanking my arm and lifting my head with less than a lover's touch and my eye opened to a grey smog.

"What--?"

"They set fire to the house! Both doors are blocked!"

I hauled myself to my knees and let her help me stand. "Where are--"

"They locked Audrey in a bedroom and set fire to all the doors to make it more difficult.  We have to save her!"

"Where--?" A shot rang out and my mind cleared a little faster. "What was that?"

"Alice stopped them from getting to their cars right away, at least she's trying to."

I thought of the big revolver then stumbled down the hall to where the bedroom door was on fire. Across the little hall was a linen closet and inside I found a fairly heavy blanket. Holding it up in front I launched myself from the wall, foot up and hit the door with my heel. I thought I broke my leg but panic made me try again and the second time I heard the frame split. Another jolt, this one from my shoulder and I was through and into the room.

A pane of glass had been broken but the window was closed and Audrey was on the floor. I wrapped her in the blanket and staggered back through the wrecked door and down the smoky hall to the living room.

"Is she alright?" Verna took over and I bent down gasping and rubbing my leg. Another shot drew me to the kitchen door. Alice was by the sink shooting out the front window into the driveway. At first I wondered what she was doing then realized she was trying to hit the tires of the cars.

There was no return fire from Reagan or Dysart who must have been trying to stay out of sight of any neighbours and Alice's bullets and still get to the cars. I took her arm and pulled her back from the window, quickly telling her about her mother and taking the gun.

"Is there any more ammunition?"

"In that saucepan." And she was gone, calling to her mom.

Saucepan? Did she have a recipe? Sure enough there was a pile of bullets in the pan and I reloaded the big revolver.

I heard an engine turn over and I lurched over to the window to see Dysart trying to manoeuvre the SUV around his car that sat on two flats. He had to drive up onto the lawn to get space to turn and I took aim and fired. The kick surprised the hell out of me. How had Alice fired this thing? The SUV stopped and the horn started blaring. I looked up and saw the shattered window with Dysart slumped over the wheel.

Smoke was getting thicker in the house and the fire was spreading rapidly; we had to get outside or be barbequed. I filled some pans with water and went to the front door, drenching flames as best I could. Verna saw and rushed to help. In a minute or two we had the door down to smouldering and I told her I was going out first and that they should get in the hall by the door, ready to come out; I would whistle when they should follow.

Neighbours were gathering in the street and I jumped down in a crouch on the lawn, shedding my protective blanket. The shock to my leg set off the pain in my head and I forced myself to show them the gun and wave them back as I edged up to the SUV. Dysart was a mess and I almost felt guilty that I had done that. A curse brought me back into my crouch and I crept around the back of the vehicle to find Reagan lying on the edge of the drive, his knee a mess of blood and bone.

I leaned against the vehicle and whistled, another shock to my head, and watched as Verna and Alice helped her mother out and away from the house. We could hear sirens in the distance and knew someone had called the fire in. Things would be in hand shortly. I put an arm around Verna when she came to me and squeezed her tight.

"Are they okay?"

"A little smoky but yes. That was quite a heroic move, Hart, smashing down that door. Just like in the movies."

The comment brought the pain back to mind and my head stung as well. "I think I need to sit down."

"What about Reagan?" She looked around nervously.

"He managed to field one of Alice's bullets in the knee. He isn't going anywhere; he's over there in the driveway." I put more weight than necessary on her shoulder and even managed a convincing groan.

The street was suddenly a carnival of vehicles with different coloured flashing lights and people dashing all over the place. Firemen were dragging the man Alice had conked from the house and hoses were attached and opened to release gallons of water. Police officers and paramedics had Reagan strapped onto a gurney, ignoring his painful cries and others were caring for the two Comfort women.

Meadows stood looking down to where I was purring under Verna's ministrations.

"Are you alright, Miss Scott? Do you need any medical attention?"

"I'm fine thank you, Detective."

"Ahem, I could use some." I glared at their mutual smiles.

"Why am I not surprised it's you." Meadows gave me his tired attention.

"Because you showed up when the call came in and you were worried."

"The call to this address, Hart." He turned serious. "Care to enlighten me?"

********

After what seemed like hours at police headquarters being questioned and giving statements after we had all been checked over and cleared, Alice took her mother to her suite at the King's Arms. I managed entrance to Verna's without having to buy my way in. I let her tend my leg and head even though the paramedics had done their job. Playing the wounded hero to the limit while praising her own part in the event I thought might ingratiate me a little more . . . delete Jones from her memory.

"You are so full of it, Hart."

"Verna, no! You were amazing! I nearly died when I saw you get in that SUV. When I saw it at Audrey's I knew it was Reagan and he was aiming to tie up loose ends. I didn't expect Dysart to follow me though. That was a shocker."

"I think the shock he got in the end was a lot worse."

"Yeah . . . that gun still gives me pause. Alice must have some arm strength to control that kick."

Verna squeezed my arm and snorted.

"Very humourous, Miss Scott. You know all that stuff I told Meadows while we were giving statements was my theory. I was going to try it out on you when I picked you up from work. By the way, you were worried enough about me to get in the car with him weren't you?"

"You were late; it was a ride."

"Ha ha ha ha. You're a caution. Seriously, Verna, thanks for fixing me up and- and thanks for being you."

She stood abruptly and went into the kitchen and I thought I glimpsed a wetness in those eyes. One of those moments when I never know what to do. Talk? Wait? Both? A moment later she came back and sat on the bed. Wait, I told myself.

"I can't keep doing this, Hart."

Oh no! "Doing what?"

"Getting mixed up in your messes. Worrying. This," she pointed to the first aid she had applied to my head and leg.

"Worrying?"

"That was an afterthought." She locked her eyes on mine and I froze. "Hart, I told you I loved you and I do. I just can't handle the rest as well." She watched me. "Well?"

"Verna . . . Verna I . . . you really love me?"

"Oh for heaven's sake! I'm beginning to wonder." She started to get up but I grabbed her arm and pulled her down on top of me. "Hart!"

"You bet, and it's beating like crazy!"

The weak struggle ended and we came together like a sandwich. Lips, Limbs, Hearts, Minds. The heat was luxurious. Verna eased away and brushed my cheek with the back of a finger.

"You are the best and worst thing to have happened to me, Rick. I suppose your career antics are a small price to pay. That is if you feel the same."

I stared at her. Rick! She really is serious!

Well, do you have anything to say?"

"Turkey wraps?"

The pillow came down like a hammer on my head followed by the weight of her amazing body and the flurry of pretend punches.

THE END