The Crossroads

Judy looked up at her rearview mirror and saw Miss Spratling swerve off the road.

Then she heard the explosion.

She eased onto her brakes, executed a U-turn, and drove back to where the small car had erupted into a fireball.

No way could Miss Spratling still be alive.

Zipper stood up in the passenger seat, his front paws planted firmly on the headrest so he could look out the rear window. He yipped and wagged his tail. The bad man was gone. The Thunderbird was nowhere to be seen.

Judy dialed 911 to report the accident.

“Your name?” the operator asked.

“Judy Magruder Jennings.”

“Mrs. Jennings? Sheriff Hargrove said if you called, I should tell you Zack is fine. Apparently, he was also very brave.”

“Is that so?”

“That’s what Ben told me. Said your son is a hero, saved a baby’s and an elderly gentleman’s lives tonight.”

The operator informed Judy that a fire truck and an ambulance were on their way to the crossroads. Judy hung up, climbed out of the car, and hurried toward the flaming wreck. She moved as close as she could until the heat forced her to step back. The fire department would have to handle the blazing wreck.

Judy needed to go see her son.