"That's it, I'm going in." Gray growled and raced for the door, gun drawn. Andy was right behind him.
"I've got your back. Try the door handle."
Both men were surprised that the door wasn't locked. They opened it slowly and saw Jordi being bear hugged from behind by a giant of a man. At their feet lay an unconscious man while another one was reaching toward the young girl, holding his privates as though in pain.
"Police, freeze right there! Put the lady down, now."
Andy held his gun on the second man.
The large man peeked over Jordi's shoulder, loosening his grip on her slightly. She was able to get some air back into her lungs and revived somewhat. When she saw Gray, she looked surprised, then angry.
"Put the lady down. This is your last warning," Gray said, his tone lethal as he held the gun on the man.
"Back off or I'll kill her," he growled, moving back toward the kitchen.
Rolling her eyes, Jordi lifted her arm and smashed her elbow into the man's nose. He dropped her like a rock, bending over as he began swearing up a blue streak.
Leaning down, Jordi hissed, "You are a nasty man!" Then she grabbed a blanket off the sofa and walked over to where Jennifer lay, sobbing. Covering her, she took the girl into her arms and held her, waiting for the ambulance to arrive.
"You'll be just fine, sweetheart. Your parents will be waiting at the hospital for you. You're safe now."
"Jord,i thank you so much for saving me! I don't know how you found me, but thank you." Tears flowed freely now that her ordeal was over.
"This is the good part of my job, Jennifer. I get to see the happy ending." Hugging the girl close she held her while she cried.
While the men were cuffing the large man and making notes, the man at the door revived and pulled a gun out of his jacket. Jordi grabbed the first thing she saw, a bronzed baseball, and shouted, "Down! Gun! Down!" just as she threw it, hitting the man square in his chest. The gun went off, firing into the ceiling leaving two surprised cops and another wounded criminal.
Andy ran over to cuff the man while Gray stared at Jordi, who just shrugged.
"Cops 101; never turn your back on a criminal, alive or dead."
)
