the other two left, he went back to the warden. The warden had passed out. “What’s the matter, sleepy?” When he didn’t get a response, he dumped some water on him.
The warden opened his eyes, “Go to hell.”
“Maybe we will just force some meth down your throat before we leave you to die.”
*****
After Cat calmed herself down, she looked through her scope again, thinking, I know I can hit one, maybe two. No way can I get all three before they kill the warden. Maybe if I kill the one closest to the warden, it will give me time to hit the other two. No, probably not. At least one of the others would be a moving target. Then she saw two of them get in the truck and leave. If I shoot the one that’s still here, the other two may hear the shot and come back. Watching the thug beating the warden, she knew she had to do something pretty quick. As she was contemplating what to do, the thug headed back to the campfire. He took another drink and fell down. Maybe he passed out. I’d better make my move. Cat snuck down to the warden, walking up behind him. She put her hand over his mouth so that he wouldn’t yell.
“It’s me, Cat.”
“Cat, what are you doing here?”
“Later, let’s get out of here.” She noticed they had handcuffed him to the tree; her knife was worthless.
“I have a key sewed on the inside of the collar of my shirt.”
Cat found it and unlocked his cuffs. The thug started moving.
“Want me to kill him?”
The warden knew if he said yes, she would do it. It might have been safer for them if she would. Still, he didn’t want that to be on her conscience.
“No, not unless you have to.”
“Want me to cuff him?”
“No, he’s still passed out. As much as he drank, he should be out long enough for us to get away.”
The warden had been severely beaten, and one of his legs was broken. With Cat’s help he was able to get to the cave. Cat opened her sleeping bag and helped him onto it. She loosened his shirt and belt, elevated his legs, and then folded the sleeping bag over his body. She placed a folded sheet under his head.
“I’ll be right back. I’m going to cover our tracks.”
“Be careful.”
“Always.”
She went outside and covered their tracks. Bushes hid the entrance to the cave, and with the clouds covering the moon, it would be hard for the thugs to find the warden. She went back in the cave. The warden was still conscious.
“That guy still passed out?”
“Yeah, I think he’s down for the count. I’m going to get help. I will leave my 410 Rossi here with you. It’s loaded. The hammer is back. Just flip off the safety, and it’s good to go. Here are three more shells. Now, don’t die on me.”
“Don’t plan on it. Be careful. The other two might spot you.”
“Not to worry, I’m going out the back way.”
“The back way?”
“See ya.”
*****
Cat ran into the house.
“Mom, Dad, wake up!”
Dave jumped out of bed and ran out of the bedroom with Betty right behind him.
“Cat, what is it?”
“It’s the warden! He’s hurt bad!”
Dave, trying to get coherent, said, “Okay, Cat, slow down. Take a deep breath and tell me what’s wrong.
Cat took a deep breath and let it out slowly. “It’s the warden, he’s hurt real bad. He ran into some drug dealers. They beat him up and broke his leg.”
“Where is he now?”
“I hid him in the cave that I camped in. We have to get help!”
“All right. Betty, call Judge Bean. Tell him we’re heading his way and the warden is hurt.”
“You two be careful.”
When Dave and Cat got to Judge Bean’s house he was up, dressed, and drinking a cup of coffee to wake up. Cat explained everything.
Judge Bean said, “I’m going to call the state police, probably need to get SWAT.”
Cat replied, “Make sure they don’t use radios, because they have the warden’s.”
*****
The SWAT team met them at the courthouse. Judge Bean introduced Cat to the team commander.
“I’ll let her tell you the situation.”
Cat pulled a TOPO map out of her pocket as she told them what happened. “I usually get there by hiking through Dad’s place, but there is a fire road to get you to the trail.”
The commander listening to what she was saying asked, “There’s a trail that goes down to that valley?”
“Yeah, it’s overgrown, but I cleared out a path for a shortcut.”
“May I use your map? You stay here, and we’ll go get him.”
“No, I’m going with you. I know that area like the back of my hand. The warden is scared, and I left my shotgun with him. He will recognize my voice.”
The commander, knowing that this would go against protocol, looked at Judge Bean. He smiled a little and nodded. The commander was quiet for a bit then said, “Sometimes you have to go with your gut.”
Cat got into the SWAT van. As they left, Dave said to Judge Bean, “Good thing the wife ain’t here.”
“Yeah.”
*****
Getting everyone and equipment to the cave by Cat’s trail was not an easy task. The EMTs went into the cave with Cat. The SWAT team set up on the hill above the meth lab.
The SWAT commander said, “What dumbasses! As close as that fire is to the trailer, it could blow anytime!”
One of the officers asked, “What’s the plan, boss?”
The commander looked through his binoculars, taking mental notes. The other two thugs had not come back yet. The third was still passed out by the fire.
“You two go down, cuff that bastard, and drag him back here. Make it quick. That trailer could blow anytime.”
*****
Cat walked
