Page 15 of Stilettos and Outlaws

“Where are we, Eddie?” Julie demanded.

“The 303 and Sun Valley Parkway.”

I keyed my mic and gave the dispatcher our location.

“Copy Charlie-23.”

Julie and I turned off our radios.

The ambulance came to an abrupt stop.

“There are four masked men armed with assault rifles,” Eddie advised.

A scary smile on her face, Mom ordered, “Jerry, you and Eddie put your hands up and don’t say a word.”

“Yes, ma’am,” they replied.

“You two moan and I’ll do my crazy granny act.”

Julie and I exchanged grins and hid our weapons.

The rear doors were yanked open and the men pointed AK-47s at us. “No one moves.”

Oh goodie, they were armed to the teeth and wearing body armor too. I groaned pitifully.

“Where is the old man?” the taller thug demanded.

Mom cried, “Freddie! It’s about fucking time you showed up. Where is your brother?”

“Brother?” the taller thug repeated.

With a bloodcurdling scream, Mom jumped to her feet. “Rattlesnake!”

“Rattlesnake?” The masked men backed up a step.

“Nah, it’s just a bull snake.” She held up a snake. “See?” Mom tossed it at them.

It hit the tall guy in the face, and he yelped, “It bit me!”

“Whoops, my bad. Guess it was a rattlesnake.” Mom cackled wildly and asked, “You guys got any antivenom?”

Jerry shook his head.

“Guess you’ll have to come to the hospital with us. Is your face going numb yet?”

“No.”

“It’s only a matter of time,” Mom said sadly.

Jerry asked, “How is your breathing?”

“Shut up! All of you shut the hell up,” the squat thug shouted. “Where is Chuck Hennessy?”

Jerry shrugged. “Dunno.”

“You don’t know where the love of my life is?” Mom screeched. “Why not?”

Jerry’s eyes widened. “Cause the other ambulance took him.”

---