CHAPTER 27

"Manda! Are you all right?" She heard Michael's anxious voice next to her, feeling his hands shaking her by the shoulders.

Where was the bullet? Shouldn't she be dead by now? The next thing she knew she felt a warm hand patting her cheek gently.

"Manda, wake up. It's all right now. I've got him unconscious," Michael assured her.

She forced her eyes to open, and found them focusing on Michael's worried expression.

"I'm not dead?" she murmured quizzically.

He laughed. "No, you're not dead."

She lifted her body in a sitting position, and glanced around her. Her uncle was sprawled on his back next to her. His eyes closed, and the gun lay a few feet away from his outstretched hand.

"What did you do to him?" she asked him with a quizzical look.

"I knocked him out with this -" He lifted up a telephone with a sheepish look. "The gun blew off at the same time."

"Oh, no! It hit you!" She looked at his bloodied upper arm in alarm.

"It's just a graze," he assured her, wincing slightly.

"We need to call the police, and the paramedics," she told him seriously.

"Doing it right now." He nodded, before he reached for the receiver and dialed 911.

After he had done talking, he turned to Manda with a serious look that made her feel like a child who was going to get scolded by a parent.

"Manda," he began slowly, "don't ever pull that stunt again without warning me." He winced.

"You mean there'll be a next time?" she prompted mischievously.

"No!" he almost shouted. "You don't know how much your kicking hurt my... uh, pride."

"Sorry, I didn't have time to warn you," she admitted, but she couldn't keep her face from smiling.

"It's okay. This time I'll make an exception," he told her. He bent down and planted a gentle kiss on her forehead.

She looked at him in surprise. "What's that for?" she asked shyly, feeling her face grew warm.

"We solved this case," he replied cryptically, giving her a devilish smile. "Come on, I'll help you get up and then we wait for the police."

Manda Rider was waiting for her father outside of the courtroom impatiently. It had been one hectic month for her. Since the arrest of Uncle Byron, Assistant Chief Devlin was promoted as the chief police of Apple Point. Chief Devlin had assured them that the evidence they had found in Uncle Byron's study, especially the surveillance tape would definitely send her uncle to prison. According to him, he had suspected Uncle Byron's connection with UltraSecurity long time ago. It had been difficult for him to get more details since Uncle Byron was always cautious around him. He figured Uncle Byron must have known that Devlin was onto him.

Manda had to give testimonies for her father's trial, and another one for Uncle Byron's as a witness. Her father had removed his attorney, Mr. Foster, from representing him in court. Instead of getting a replacement, he'd decided to defend for himself. Now, that her father was found not guilty of Aunt Wilma's murder, she'd never felt lighter in her life. As for Uncle Byron, he had been convicted for several felonies including first degree murder of Wilma Salvatore and Pearl Sullivan. He had pleaded guilty and was given the sentence of life imprisonment without parole even before his penalty trial had begun.

She paced around the room as she waited for her father at the wood-paneled hallway. The Apple Point Courthouse looked worn and drab. It badly needed a new makeover.

"Stop that. You're making me dizzy," a deep voice suddenly spoke up wearily. "Sit down and let your legs rest. You're still not healed, remember?"

"I just can't stand it! When is my Dad going to come out of that room?" She jerked her thumb toward the double mahogany door. Then she glared at Michael Mackenzie, who was resting on a wooden bench with his long legs stretched out, looking utterly calm and relaxed. Since that day after they had left Uncle Byron's house, they hadn't spoken much to one another. They had been too busy juggling schedules between classes at the university, and the trials. Her life at the university seemed to have gone back to normal - no more suspicious looks and gossips from her peers. In fact, it couldn't have been better.

"It's only five minutes after the judge had given the verdict, you know," he replied, looking amused.

"I know, I know. It's just -"

The door burst open, and Mr. Rider finally came out of the room. Manda was elated to see him. Her father was shaking hands with another man before he turned and caught sight of Manda. A wide smile formed on his face. He gave her a bear hug as soon as he neared her.

"It's great to see you, Dad!" she said happily.

"Manda. My little Manda," he murmured, giving her a peck on her slightly bruised cheek. It was still in its healing process.

She pulled away slightly and made a face. "I'm not little anymore, Dad."

He looked down at her with a proud smile. "True, but you'll always be my little girl."

"Dad!" she said, feeling her face flushed in embarrassment.

Her father pulled away when he noticed a young man, who was watching the reunion silently.

"And you've brought your friend here, too," her father asked, quirking an eyebrow at her teasingly.

"Dad, this is Michael Mackenzie," she introduced the two men shyly.

"Yes, I know. I haven't had a chance to thank you for giving the testimony," her father said with a smile.

The two men shook hands.

"Don't mention it. Nice to meet you, too," Michael replied. Manda couldn't help noticing how both men stood at the same height.

"What about Uncle Byron? What will happen to him?" she couldn't help asking curiously.

"He would be transferred to Federal Correctional Institution in Otisville," her father replied grimly.

"That's about an hour away," she murmured.

"You're not thinking of visiting him, are you?" Michael looked incredulously at her.

She shrugged. "It doesn't hurt to know where he will be placed," she replied, carefully avoiding his question. Then she turned to her father. "Dad, when Uncle Byron told me how he and Mom were -"

"Manda, your mother broke up with him long before she went out with me," Mr. Rider cut her off gently. "I don't know the reason why, but I had a feeling Byron didn't take the break up well. That's what had made our friendship strained once in a while. I didn't steal her away from him like he had claimed."

"I had a feeling it was like that, but sometimes I can't help feeling sorry for Uncle Byron," she admitted quietly. "He was, after all, your best friend."

"I know. Sometimes we can't distinguish between true friends and enemies. Desperation and greed can change one man's credo until he is forced to choose between good and evil," her father explained. "But let's not think about that now," he suddenly said, moving away from the disturbing topic. "I'm proud of you to be able to solve the case, Manda."

"I've got a lot of help from Michael," she corrected modestly.

Her father studied them curiously. "You two would make a great team. Any plans of doing that again in the future?" he asked them.

"Dad!" Manda looked mortified. "This is a one-time job for us, right?" She turned to Michael with a cursory glance.

"Uh-huh." Michael nodded. "I don't mean to be rude, Mr. Rider, but your daughter has a violent streak that I'd rather stay away from."

"See?" Manda said to her father triumphantly.

"It's too early to assume, Manda," he murmured. "Too early."

THE END.