Chapter 7

Through the open window Ironside saw them. Now Eve proved that she had once been Ironside's student: She stamped down on her capturer's left foot to distract him and then kicked him where it really hurts. When his grip loosened she took off towards the window, then she took cover below it. She managed to get away from Levy far enough to allow Ironside a clear shot. The Chief, still a crack shot, didn't hesitate a second. He hit the kidnapper exactly where he wanted to, in his right shoulder. The kidnapper went down heavily. Eve picked up Ed's gun and pointed it at the injured criminal.

Meanwhile Ed and Ryan had got into a vicious fight. Ed knew that the ex-champion outclassed him by far in wrestling and in weight. But Ed had been on the streets long enough to know quite a few dirty moves, and he only used the very dirtiest ones he could remember. This obviously wasn't the time for Greek-Roman wrestling. Apparently Ryan hadn't been expecting much resistance from the slim man, let alone this kind of fight, therefore Ed managed against all odds to bring the man down.

Breathing heavily he took his handcuffs off his belt and secured Ryan around a heating pipe, not bothering to read him his rights. Next thing was to take his gun back. Levy, who was lying on the ground, clasped the wound in his shoulder. He would not raise trouble for the time being.

Suzanne stormed in. She took in the scene in front of her eyes. A word sprang in her mind: 'Singlehandedly'. This time she didn't compare Ed Brown to her deceased father, but Ed Brown to the two heavy-weight wrestlers. And her judgment turned out differently. Chief Ironside had shot one of them, and her mother had contributed her part to the success, but Ed Brown had done a fine job as well. Chief Ironside, whom she respected so much, had been right all along with what he had hinted. Maybe it wasn't necessary to do things singlehandedly, but just to the best of one's capabilities.

Hank was the next to arrive. He had handcuffs with him as well. He searched the prisoners for weapons and finally read them their rights.

Ed let him do his job, turned to his wife and embraced her. No words were needed between them.
Eve wasn't hurt, just very shaken. Now her life seemed to start all over again. For almost 24 hours she had been afraid that her husband was dead. The insecurity and fear had been by far the worst part of this nightmare for her. For quite some time they just stood there, holding each other tightly, relieved beyond measure.

Ironside came in, helped by Hank, and thinking about a crooked cop – the one telling Levy and Ryan where to look for the Browns. Chief Brown would have to take care of that soon.
When he saw that for the time being everything was under control he nodded contentedly.
He glanced at the couple and wondered briefly about who was supporting whom. He decided that it didn't matter. If there had ever been two people who belonged together it were Eve and Ed Brown.

He wanted to be taken directly to the airport to get a late evening flight back to San Francisco. On the plane he still wondered which one of the Browns was most relieved.

It felt great to be part of this family.

It took Ed a long time to get his son to bed this time. It was after ten o'clock when Suzanne heard him enter Eve's and his bedroom.

Five minutes later she knocked at their door.

"Come in!"

She found Eve laying on the bed and Ed sitting at her side, holding her hand.

She threw an envelope onto Ed's nightstand. "This is my resignation letter."

Her voice sounded more defiant than ever.

For a moment nobody spoke.

"Why, honey?" asked her mother finally, sitting up. Her voice betrayed her shock and incomprehension.

Suzanne swallowed. "Because you can't tell your boss that you don't like his tie. Or that you are angry at him because he worries your mother by not eating properly."
Tears started running over her face. "Damn, I want to be able to tell my father that I love him. I want to hug him!"

Ed stood up and pulled her into a tender embrace. "Thank you, Suzanne. Thank you so much, sweetheart."

Eve gave them a moment together, then she joined the hug. Ed's arms were more than long enough to wrap them around both of them.

Ironside hung up the phone.
"That was Mark Sanger. He asked if I could come down and help him with a difficult case. Say, Katherine – will this ever end? Their calling me when they are in trouble? Ok, Ed and Eve didn't call me this time, but Danny is so to say the next generation already!"

Katherine hugged him passionately. "Would you want it to end?"

He caressed her hand with his chin, then kissed it and grinned, a sparkle in his blue eyes, "No, I wouldn't. Harvest is still a long way away. Come with me this time!"

Author's note:
Jodi and Lemonpig both helped with this story. Thank you, dear ladies!
And thank you, dear readers and reviewers. Your interest means a lot to me.