“Guess I’ll have to,” Albert Lee said, wiping his face again. In spite of being scared to death, I felt sorry for him. Chances were that he had never known the violence existed in him that had welled up when Susan laughed at his proposal.

We turned off Highway 11 in Springville and headed for the interstate.

“Goddamn interstates. I hate them,” Albert Lee said turning onto the entrance ramp. Below us the pond I had admired several days before shimmered in the sun. The black and white cows grazed in the pasture.

And below us, several police cars blocked the entrance.

“Shit,” Albert Lee said, slamming on his brakes and throwing the car into reverse. But more police cars had pulled in behind us, lights flashing, sirens wailing.

Men in uniforms surrounded us, guns drawn.

“Oh, shit,” Albert Lee said, clasping his arms around the steering wheel and laying his head on them.

“You did what?”

“She led us all the way,” Virgil Stuckey said. “Isn’t she something?”

We had just been untaped and were watching Albert Lee being led to a patrol car. Virgil had his arm around Sister and was looking at her as if she had just invented the wheel.

“I dialed 911 on my cell phone while Albert Lee was getting in the car,” she said. “Everytime I mentioned a place, I was telling them where we were going.”

“Well, I’ll be damned,” I said. “I’m proud of you.”

Sister gave an aw-shucks shrug. “I saw a woman on CNN who had done it in Atlanta when she was car-jacked,” she admitted. “And my purse was on the floor right in front of me and I remembered it.”

“She probably saved your life, you know,” Virgil said. And I knew I would hear about it for the rest of my life.

I watched a handcuffed Albert Lee being put into the back of a patrol car. I couldn’t believe it.

And him an English teacher.

“I heard,” the phone message from Debbie said. “And I’m signing you both up for karate lessons. God knows you need them. And, Aunt Pat, if you haven’t read your E-mail yet turn it on and then call me.”

E-MAIL

FROM: HALEY

TO: MAMA AND PAPA

I’m E-mailing Debbie and telling her to save the neutercal. I’m going to need it Labor Day. Labor Day. Isn’t that a nice coincidence? I was suspicious when you were here for Christmas but not positive. We’re both so happy. No more unruffled retirement for you, Mama!

I love you both so much,

Haley

I had just turned off the computer and was sniffling for joy when the phone rang.

“Now aren’t you glad I saved your life?” Sister asked.

Told you.

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