The Return

The Chief

    Brody Goodwin had spent most of his childhood with the sole ambition of becoming a doctor like his parents. When he got into high school those ambitions shifted to girls, and secondly to becoming a doctor. Then in an instant those lifelong goals shifted. He strode into the market and nodded or waved as people called out to him. 

    Point Wallace was a hub of tourism. It boasted beautiful lakes and hiking trails. While being a smaller community, the area exploded in the spring and summer with those wanting to explore and enjoy the restful mountains; although the year-around population stayed closer to 5,000. It was a place where people took care of each other and  a hand was always there when needed. Brody loved his hometown, he knew that no where would pull at him like Point Wallace did. Even while he did his training, this was his home. 

      Brody went straight back to the little coffee shop that sat at the back of the market.

    "Hey there Chief, do you want your regular?" Claire chirped, her flame red hair spiraling down her shoulders.

    "I sure do, make it banana instead of blueberry for the muffin today though." Brody glanced around, it was still a little early for the morning caffeine rush, but several people lounged around the small cafe section of the market. 

    "Alrighty Chief, here are your coffees and muffin." Claire loaded the carrying tray and bag into his hands. 

    Brody strolled down main street heading to the office. It was that early morning quiet he loved the most in the day, an hour and it would look like a completely different place. People would be meandering and window shopping, or bustling and trying to keep their schedule. He walked into the shop and passed out coffee to the dispatcher and his two deputies. 

    "Mornin' Chief" Della's sandpaper voice called out. She had been the dispatcher since he was a kid. She was a short 5' 3" and built like a linebacker. No one dared question or look crossly at her. She was a staple of the community and earned the respect she had.

    Brody settled down at his desk to start the never ending paperwork he seemed to have. 

    Savannah got a later start than she anticipated. She wanted to be in the market right at opening and before the rush. After her nightmare, she slowly built up her courage to take a rushed shower then took her time getting ready and dressed.  She decided she would just go to the market for her groceries. There was plenty of time to explore the town and see what was the same and what had changed since she was here. Absolutely no need to be anxious, no one would likely remember her and that helped ease some of her nerves. She wasn't ready to talk about that long ago day yet.  

    She walked through the house making sure that all the windows and doors were locked. She would get a security alarm system. That would make her feel better she decided. She loaded up her purse with her grocery list and took a deep breath.

    "Just to the market."

    The market stood as it always had on the outside of town. It was the first store on main street, a vibrant red paint and white trim announced it. She pulled into the lot and gathered up her purse, and courage. While the outside of the market stayed the same the inside was a completely different place. There was still the old school ice cream counter and the same basic set up, but an addition had been added where there was a cute little cafe. A girl with gorgeous red hair, and a cute pixie face manned the counter. A long case was next to her filled with muffins, cakes, scones, and plenty of decadent treats. The board above her boasted a sandwich and salad list. There was a copper espresso maker that she watched steam milk. 

    She could enjoy sitting in the little cafe, having a coffee and muffin, or even taking one of the sandwiches and going on a hike around one of the lakes. Her nerves smoothed at the familiar rhythm of picking produce and gathering her list. She was just walking down the last aisle, when she heard shouting behind her. She saw a shelf of bread be tossed to the side and a man covered in a black sweater and baseball cap come running toward her. She tried to move back but wasn't fast enough. His shoulder slammed into her knocking her back against the shelf. Her head smacked smartly against the metal leaving her dazed.

    "Hey Chief," Della called over the intercom, "we have a situation down at the market."

    "Alright Della, I'll head on down."

    Brody walked into the main room and gestured to his newest Deputy. "Come on Briggs, let's go see what got turned up."

    They headed down the couple blocks in the cruiser. He could see a crowd of people huddled together and knew they would be murmuring gossip. As the cruiser pulled in, the store owner rushed out to them.

    "Thank goodness you're here chief. You'll never believe what happened. There..." Brody cut him off with a glance, he saw everyone edge closer trying to gather more juice for gossip. 

    "Why don't we go inside and see what's what" Brody said casually.

    Once they were inside, Brody had the store owner Steve take him back to the office. 

    "Alright now what is the trouble?"

    Steve led Brody through the whole story. He was in the back restocking when he heard someone yelling stop. He came out in time to see a guy trying to steal a handle of whiskey. Steve hollered at him to stop and the guy just took off in a sprint. Plowing through anything in his way, including some young women.

    "Dwayne, you know him, senior football player? Well anyways, he chased after him but the guy took off down the street." 

    Brody stopped him, "where is the woman?"

    "Well luckily Doc Stevens was in and he took her up to the hospital. Rapped her head pretty hard on the shelf. She was insisting she was fine but Doc and Claire convinced her to get checked out at the hospital"

    "I'm going to head up to the hospital, Briggs you finish talking to Steve and head back to write up the report."

    Brody took the cruiser the couple miles to the hospital. His mom and dad had retired a couple years back and now were on what they coined their forever honeymoon. Right now, they were exploring the hot sands of Greece. Brody knew every hallway and room in this hospital, he walked straight to the nurses desk to find out where the woman had been taken.  

    "One of you beautiful ladies want to tell me where I need to go?"

    The girls blushed, "Down in room 3 Brody." 

    "How did we get so lucky with the top pick of nurses in all of Washington?" He could hear them giggling as he walked away. 

    Brody saw the door was open and knocked twice on the door frame, Doc Stevens turned and came out.

    "Ah just the man I was expecting, our patient is awake and just as cross as you might expect."

    Doc Stevens went back into the room and winked at Savannah, "As soon as the Chief gets your statement, I'll come back to release you." He squeezed her hand and left. Savannah smiled despite herself, the doctor was charming and had a way and easing nerves. The curtain by the bed was partially closed so Brody walked around the side to reach the bed. She turned her head to look at him and everything fell out from under him. 

    "Savvy Martin?" Brody took a stumbling step. It took every ounce of training and self control, to have him not drop down into the chair beside the bed. "Savvy Martin." He repeated.