Richie asked Ignacio if he identified the dognapper as one of the passengers. He said no he did not but that was not unusual as there were at least 20 people on board and he had been ill for a time. The big US marine then asked Ignacio to stay with the dognapper as he would direct the local Sherriff's Department to it. .....
We could drive there but we have to care for the 2 injured car passengers. I'd be happy to walk there with a few others. I have a hand gun too, just in case. Jeff, Charly's handler, and the big marine both volunteered to come with me. Both have hand guns too, Jeff being Dolly's body guard as well as her Can-do man. Troy, the big marine also has binoculars. So off we head with the heavy snow fall giving us good cover.
What about you Staff Sergeant Richie? Want to come too or take charge here with driver Steve n Fancy n Dr Jeckle n Dolly n her crew and dozens of others? Your military experience would be greatly appreciated. Are you carrying a weapon? Jeff, Troy and I all have hand guns. I can lend you an old revolver if not. It was my old Dad's from Korea. So where is Dr Jeckle?
Richie Wentworth is the big marine.. seen these biceps. I could crunch a neck between them. Just kidding. I am a gentle giant, unless I have the enemy in the sites of my M27. What corporal Frank. I came alone. I will stay here with the two injured passengers until the paramedics arrive. Also phoned my parents and told them I will be a day late. Mum was not too pleased as she cooked a roast specially for "her big boy".........
Jeff and I crept up to the crest of the next hill and saw the suspicious truck. Ignatius joined us quietly and I lent him my Dad's old revolver. Creeping up behind the hedge row we got very close to the truck, even seeing Charly looking through the window. Jeff made a plan. Ignatius quietly let down his tyres while Jeff crawled up to the drivers side and me the other. Jeff then stood up and knocked on the drivers window with his gun shouting " You have Dolly's dog Charly you dog napper you. Open up now!" Meanwhile, I tried the passenger door which was locked so I smashed the window with my gun and opened the door grabbing Charly. The dognapper was so surprised he fumbled with keys and Jeff threw open his door dragging him out onto the snow. Ignatius rushed up too tying his wrists together with cable ties Jeff had given him. I put on Charly's harness and lead quite firmly as Jeff was interrogating the villian. Ignatius phoned SS Richie saying 'mission accomplished. Back soon.' Soon, four men and a fluffy dog were seen walking back to the bus with flashing lights and sirens approaching.
Taking on board the bus dognapper Ed with some of Dolly's people watching over this Edwon Aines, with Dolly's French words. They soon loosened his tongue. Literally too. I looked away and saw nothing. Meanwhile the wailing lights and sirens slid in fast circles around our Bus spitting out armed and armoured Swat guys. We were stunned doubly...and stunned some more when two flashing ambulances and a car sped past towards where the empty truck with slashed tyres and a shattered window which was the Dognapper''s truck. Why?? 'Oh God, this is too much for me, can someone else please sort yhis mrss oot, they got it bac to font. I have to sit down, away from the dognapper too. I'm done for a whi... snore... snore, ... Steve covered me with a blanket. He's a good yung man...' Junior Co Driver Steve looked at SS Richie and Fancy and many others with eyebrows raised, 'what should we do?' his mouth and face said. Staff Sergeant Richie or Fancy, please take charge and sort this, please.. my old teacher here needs his meds which I know where they are, I Steve will ask Dr Jekyll to check out our old Frank. He's very pale. Dr Jekyll scuttles to find his bag and heads to old Frank looking worried after only a few observations. 'We need that ambulance for Frank!' I'm truly earnest he yells! Sort it please someone. Hold this Steve and don't move.' Meanwhile a ring of steel and fire has formed around old Frank's Greyhound bus. All worried eyes are on SS Richie, Fancy or Jeff. Less on Steve the co driver with his hands in the air already yet many copied him.
The ambulance workers loaded Frank onto the ambulance and rushed away. What ever can be wrong with him? He was fine until just a few minutes ago. Has he been poisoned ? If so, how? The armed men surrounding the bus all had badges. Some say FBI. Some say CIA. Some say HSA. The man who seemed to be in charge approached me and identified himself as Jeff Tracy, FBI agent. He said that the dognapper was a known terrorist. He may have hidden a bomb underneath our bus. We must all evacuate immediately.
Ah, it was just Frank's angina said Dr Jeckyl, all the excitement got to him. He's good for his age. He'll be fine shortly now having taken his pills. I'm more worried about the two car crash victims now being braced and loaded onto the ambulance. Dolly's Jeff spoke to the police about the dognapper and soon Edwon Aines was thrust into a police car, handcuffed tightly. The bus was also evacuated with agents checking the bus for a hidden bomb. Even a bomb sniffer dog. Half an hour later the all clear was given with many of the police asking for Dolly's autograph and selfies with her. By then the colour had gone back into Frank's face.
Thankfully' Dolly's Can do Man Jeff Vucemelo had lot's of badges too. Some Gold and very shiny which seemed to weave some sort of magic upon them all, 'Certainly enough to impress them' said Frank sipping his sweet coffee. I bet he's got a 6 figure salary chuckled Frank again.
Soon all the news media, law enforcement and medics left and things quieted down. We loaded back onto the bus. Miss Dolly and Charly retired to her sumptuous room at the rear of the bus. The snow was still falling so we looked for a nice motel to stop at for the night. What about this one? It says it has a vacancy.
Sounds great Fancy, let's pull in Steve and park. The snow storm is getting very bad. We'd be psycho not to stop here. Best Jeff and I go in and speak to the manager re arrangements. We'll overflow the place no doubt so compromise and haggling will be on the cards. I have a chit book for costs. We'll use the bus food too if needed. Dolly will want her own room no doubt with her precious Charly. Someone should guard her door too! For a canine escapee.. Later my bright spark Co Driver Steve suggests a gps tracking collar with some optional extras for charly? So impressed Dolly's Jeff tried to order one on the web, but Bates Motel had no wi fi, nor flakey hard wire in the storm, and no towers about. Cyber marooned again!
Dolly holding Charly tight, SS Richie and Fancy bluster their way in too with me and Jeff, in what's becoming a blizzard. A young bespeckled shy and damp man comes running up to the Motel's counter. "Sorry, Mother was having a turn. I'm George Bates the manager. How may I help you?" Goodness" he then exclaims, "what a night, how many? A big bus load! Ok. Three dozen may be our max with room and tight sharing, even a blanket on a lounge I was just tending to my sickly mother. George Bates is my name and we have 22 bedrooms, half of which are at least doubles, ..we only have 5 guests currently ..,..yes we can do that, ... Dolly,..... my honour, ....Yes of course... Sure, thank you. Yes sofas at only $10 plus $10 per breakfast.., GEORGE: Emanuel, fire up the oven and light all the fires going, yes, all! Gerard and Macy, get to the kitchen and start getting ready for at least 3 dozen diners, led by Dolly Parton.Crab soup for sure. Yes, that Dolly, get moving and get them to park under cover in the big Patio. That outside in a very big big blizzard and getting worse.
George Bates called over Fancy and said quietly with a hint of sinister " if you dont want to go out to eat.. you can join me in my parlor up at the house for milk and sandwiches" pointing to the house atop a small hill behind the motel. I live there with my invalid mother. She will be pleased to have a guest drop in". Fancy looked at the twin story old weatherboard which looked gloomy and forboding in the dusk. "I was feeling rather tired after our busy day and decided not to eat out but sleep early. So if you dont mind may I have the keys to my room. "Oh mother will be disappointed, wont you change your mind. We wont keep you for very long and you must eat something before sleeping"..