17 hours Page 2

we reach the nearest police station, we burst inside.

  “We've brought news on the Smith Kidnapping!We call over the big desk. It's marble, and filled with stacks of papers. A beautiful design lines the bottom of the desk, so it looks as if it is floating in the air. As soon as the officer talks though, I quit looking at the desk.

  “Our friend, Sarah Smith was kidnapped just yesterday, less then 7 hours ago. She called us, from the kidnappers phone, that gave us the location of where she is being held. I pause, then add, We think.

  The cop studies us, then talks into her walking-talkie. We wait patiently and soon she turns back to us.

  “We thank you for your time, but this is a police matter. We will send a cop to drive you home now. I see McKenzie's cheeks flush and she steps forward.

  “I don't think so ma'am. We brought you the info- so we GET TO GO.” She says this so harshly even I take a step back. The cop recovers first.

  “Absolutely not! Absurd, no I refuse to let you go. She sputters.

  “What if we have MORE information?My friend asks slyly. She had her there.

  “Well,the officer mumbles. It's your responsibility to care for the citizens of the world, and your responsibility to help in all ways that you can. She gets out.

  “We would be helping out friend when she gets out. She'll need someone to lean on, right?I say reasonably.

  “I don't know- maybe I should call your parents. For someone with such a large role, she wasn't very confident at all!

  “THAT won't be necessary, I already called them to let them know we'd be saving our friend. Kenzie bluffed. Finally the police officer sighs.

  “I give in. You can come, but if you cause the slightest trouble- then your going straight home. We both nod, and promise to be on our best behavior.

  Soon we're riding in the back of a cruiser. Up front a male officer gets a call from his walking-talkie.

  “What?! Yes sir, on the double sir. He hangs up and says, A story appeared that if the Smith's don't pay $10,000,000 by tomorrow then, she's done for. Girls, we have 10 hours.”

  McKenzie and I sit quietly in the back seat, processing the bad news.

  “So when we started we really had 17 hours?Kenzie figures out. I don't bother answering, just staring out the window as the scenery changed. Drifting, floating, blurry- sleep.

  The next thing I know we're parked in front of a general store. Officer Conner is picking up some tape, cigarettes, beef jerky, and apple juice packs.

  “What's the apple juice for,I say curiously.

  “You girls and Miss Sarah. I almost giggle, 'Miss Sarah?' McKenzie sneaks me a grin. As tragic as the situation was- we couldn't get enough adventure.

  The road never seems to end and I get bored fast. McKenzie and I fall asleep again, and when we wake up we are in the town of Larkspur.

  “This is really old-fashioned. McKenzie remarked. Officer Conner grins over at us.

  “Yeah, I love this old town. So peaceful and quiet. Nothing like country air I say. I smile back at him.

  “The scenery is a lot nicer then our town. Then we all fall silent to admire the nature.

  Soon Officer Conner is pulling over to the police station. He talks for awhile, and we wait.

  He comes back into the car and sets the car into gear. We drive off.

  “Officer Conner? Why did you pull over?I call up to the front seat.

  “Oh that? I was asking for directions to Eddie Traunton's house. It takes another good 20 minutes before we pull into the house. By now it is 3:20 PM. That leaves 8 hours to save Sarah.

  Officer Conner orders us to get down in our seats as we near the house.

  This guy is kind of dumb. I think. He goes somewhere the police know about. I duck behind the protection of the seat. We near the house and pull behind a bush. Other cops are there talking into phones, giving orders, and snacking on goldfish.

  “This is so cool,I whisper to McKenzie. She nods, her eyes big. Before we know what we're doing, we get out of the car swiftly ans silently. We follow Officer Conner into the side if the house. No one's looking so we open a window. We hear thumping sounds in a room, and I the big muscle guy reclining in his chair. Sound asleep. Perfect.

  I open up the door that's making all the noise.

  “Hello? Sarah?I call into the darkness.

  “Mph? Phere!Comes the reply. McKenzie hits the light and we gasp. There sits Sarah in a chair, bound with ropes. The criss-cross over her feet, and tie her head back towards the ceiling. We run forward and untie her as quickly as possible. She breathes heavily, and starts to cry.

  “It was AWFUL!She sobs. We hug, and cry together before I notice the door cracking open.

  WHAT ARE YOU DOING IN HERE?A voice booms out over our heads. I look up and see the burly guy- Eddie standing over us. I snort, trying not to act afraid, even though I am.

  “What do you think? HUGGING!I yell, just as loud as him.

  He frowns and scoops me up.

  “You have a bad attitude, how would you like to sit in the chair of honor?McKenzie stares at me wide-eyed, before taking action.

  “PUT HER DOWN, you FREAK!She screams loudly. Eddie reaches down and slaps her hard.

  McKenzie goes flying, and hit's a wall. She crumples. I yell, and Sarah crawls forward, desperate. Then the door goes flying- hitting Eddie Traunton right in the head. He drops me, and Sarah and I reach for McKenzie. We huddle, crying for joy and for grief, I'm not sure which one. The cops come over and scold us, but then tell us we did “marvelous” We even got an “AWESOME!” from Cop Conner.

  Soon we're on our way home, everyone pronouncing that me and McKenzie are hero's.

  “It was nothing- honest. I say modestly for the newspaper the next morning.

  “Can we have the story miss?One reporter questions. McKenzie jumps right in, twisting the story.

  “Well, Sarah was kidnapped- I decided that loyal friends should go after her, Juliana (that's me) decided to come along. Then we walked the train tracks to follow the Black Sudan, and we informed the police. I gave them the address from my phone, and then we found the house. I untied Sarah, and Juliana got in a fight with the bad guy. I tried to save her, but he punched me into the wall. I was going to get up- but then the cops came in and here we are. She finishes the story looking satisfied.

  “Got all that?She asks the reporter, who's still jotting notes down.

  I pick up my phone and decide to call Sarah.

  “Did you ever get a present for your Mom?I ask.

  “No, do you want to go looking for one tomorrow with McKenzie?She requests.

  “Um, I-Sarah cuts me off.

  “My Dad's coming with us, and we can get vanilla and strawberry ice cream. Now I'm tempted.

  “Fine, I'm coming. I laugh, and so does she.

  I hang up, and go home.

  THE END

  BTW: Sorry guys- I rushed this story. And open office is acting really weird, it adds this white boxes and spell errors- I.e: I write “strawberry ice cream!” and it rewrites as “strabery1crem!”

 

  SEE what I mean? Anyway- sooooooo sorry about that.