The Girl Most Likely To ... Part 41
By Barbara Lynn Terry

Chapter 1 - Naomi uses a special talent.

Naomi drove to the truck stop without her siren blaring, because she didn't want to let the offender know that she was coming. As she drove along the highway, she saw a green, 1998 Ford sedan parked on the shoulder, just a little ways away from the truck stop. Naomi drove in to the truck stop, and Jim O'Donnell went to tell her what the situation was.

"Naomi, thank God you're here. The guy inside, as you can see from here, is Nate Wilkins. He lives over on the other side of the county. You can see from here, by the way he is waving his gun, he is agitated about something. He hasn't attempted to make contact, and we don't want to spook him."

"All right, thank you, Jim." Naomi then took off her utility belt, and placed her handcuffs on the back of her civilian belt. She picked up the megaphone and talked to the man inside. "Mr. Wilkins, this sheriff's deputy sergeant, Naomi Petersen. I am unarmed, and I would like to come in and talk to you. I promise there will be no tricks. If it is all right for me to come in and talk, raise your right hand." Mr. Wilkins didn't budge. "Mr. Wilkins, I swear to you, as a public servant, I will make sure there will be no tricks. I will not attempt to disarm you, or even rush you. I just want to come in and find out what the problem is. If this is all right, please raise your right arm." Still nothing.

Holding one of the patrons in front of him, Nate Wilkins opened the door to the truck stop.

"I know all about you, dragon lady. You aren't coming in here and doing to me what you did to that Buck guy."

"Mr. Wilkins, I give you my word."

"Turn around, slowly." Naomi turned around. "Leave your handcuffs outside, then you can come in." Naomi put her handcuffs on the hood of the first squad, so Nate Wilkins could see them. "All right, dragon lady, come on in."

Naomi didn't like using her martial arts if there was another way. Apparently, Mr. Wilkins called it. Naomi entered the cafe part of the truck stop.

"Mr. Wilkins, what is the problem? Why have you placed these people in harm's way?"

"Because the world sucks, dragon lady. I asked the bank for an extension on my loan, and they said no. I have made my payments on time, but I have had a little set back with my crops. All I asked was for an extension. They told me that if I couldn't make my next payment on time, they were going to foreclose."

"If we got a hold of the bank, and had them reconsider, do you think you can let these people get back to their dinners? You haven't hurt anyone, yet, and we don't want you to, either. There is a problem, however, and that is you will be arrested for endagering safety, but I think we can make it a misdemeanor where you can do community service for your sentence. Mr. Wilkins, there are two ways you can leave here. With me, or dead. The state police have the whole truck stop surrounded. If you want to live, you can leave with me. If not, well, the alternative isn't very nice."

"How do I know this isn't just a trick to send me to jail, then prison?"

"Because you have my word. You are my prisoner, Mr. Wilkins, not anybody else's. I am the one making the arrest. I swear that I will put mitigating circumstances down as the reason you were upset, and I will detail those mitigating circumstances in full, in my report. Does that sound like a deal?"

"I...don't know, dragon lady. I am not sure that what you are saying is true."

"Have you ever been arrested?"

"No."

"Have you ever had a speeding ticket?"

"No."

"Have you ever had a parking ticket?"

"Yes."

"So have I, Mr. Wilkins. So see, your police record is actually clear, except for a few parking tickets. That is nothing to worry about. But, if you insist on hurting anybody in this restaurant, then the state police are going to kill you. Is that what you want?"

"Well, no. I...I'm just...upset."

"Mr. Wilkins, may I have the gun, please?"

"You're sure this isn't a trick."

"Very sure."

"All right, I will trust you. But if you try anything, I will get you, sooner or later, but I will get you."

"Now, Mr. Wikins, please. Let me have the gun and we will talk just a bit longer, before we both go outside."

"All right." Nate Wilkins is 42 years old, and lives in the house he was raised in. He has a full head of greying and brown hair. He handed the gun to Naomi, and Naomi put her hand up to stop the officers outside from running in and scaring Mr. Wilkins.

"Mr. Wilkins, let's sit down and talk a bit."

They sat at a booth by the window.

"Mr. Wilkins, I am going to help you as best as I can. So far you have only waved a gun around. You didn't use it on anybody, and you didn't really threaten anybody with it. The report that I was given is, when you walked in with the gun, everybody just sat where they were. The cook actually called the state police. Also, you may call me Naomi. I am going to do you a favor, and take you to the bank in the morning, and I am going to talk to Mr. Withers, and see if you and the bank can come to an agreement. Sound like a plan."

"I would like that. The only reason I was here tonight like this, is because I didn't know what else to do. I was really beside myself. I grew up in that house. It has a lot of sentimental value for me."

"Well, I am sure that we can get Mr. Withers to extend your loan, say, for sixty days."

"That is more than enough time. If he will go for it."

"Well, that is why we need to see him when the bank opens at nine. You be there. But first, I have the sad duty of placing you under arrest. I have to book you, and fingerprint you, and then I will let you go home. But you meet me at the bank in the morning at nine."

"Yes, ma'am."

"C'mon, let's go." They walked to the door of the truck stop, and Naomi called out to the other officers. "Stand down, put your weapons away. This is my prisoner, in my custody. Everybody stand down." Naomi waited until all the shotguns, rifles and handguns were put away. Then she went out by the first squad, and picked up her handcuffs. "Do I need these, Mr. Wilkins?"

"No, Ma'am."

"I am going to place you in the back seat as soon as Trooper O'Donnell is finished searching you. Then you and I are going to the sheriff's station where you will be booked and fingerprinted. I am charging you with misdemeanor endangering safety. After you are booked, I will release you on your own recognizance. I have that authority in the absence of a judge. But I want to remind you, you meet me at the bank in the morning at nine o'clock."

"Yes, ma'am."

Naomi drove to the sheriff's office and took Mr. Wilkins in to the booking room. Another female deputy fingerprinted him, and Naomi took his mug shot. Then she took Mr. Wilkins in to a conference room, where she pulled out a recognizance form, and filled it out. When it was completely filled out, she signed it and so did Mr. Wilkins. Mr. Wilkins was given the last copy, which said Defendant's Copy at the bottom.

"I want to say one thing to you, Mr. Wilkins. I am a very peace loving person, and I don't like using violence if I don't have to. But, if you don't show up at the bank, a warrant for your arrest will be issued. Is that clear?"

"Yes...yes, ma'am...ma'am."

"All right, go home." Nate Wilkins left the sheriff's office and jail, and when he got out on the sidewalk, he wiped his brow, as though he were sweating.

"Well, I guess I scared him enough and I didn't even have to get rough."

"Naomi," deputy Carol Smith said, bewildered. "Do you think it was wise letting him out on his own recognizance?"

"Carol, I have his gun, and from what I could tell, he was scared just being there with me in that restaurant. No, I think I did the right thing, Carol. Of course, we will see at nine in the morning. I hope I don't have to go after him."

"Naomi, I'm glad you came here to work."

"Thank you, Carol."

Chapter 2 - At the bank.

Naomi went to get in her SUV and found Jim O'Donnell waiting by the driver's door.

"Well, Mr. Trooper, may I help you?"

"You certainly can deputy. I am looking for the love of my life. Have you seen her?"

"Would you please described the person that you are talking about?"

"She has the softest lips I have ever touched, the prettiest doe like eyes I have ever looked in to, the lightest touch, and the most passionate kisses I have ever felt."

"Do you mean like this, trooper?" Naomi and Jim O'Donnell kissed passionately.

"Yes, exactly like this."

"Well, whomever she is, I know she has found the right man in you trooper James O'Donnell."

"Thank you, m'lady, and I am the luckiest man in the world for having her by my side. I am going home, take a shower, and get in to something I can wear on a date. Would you like to join me at San Francisco's Ghiradelli Square just off of Fisherman's Wharf?"

"San Francisco!!!!" Naomi exclaimed. "Jim, that is about seventeen hundred miles from here."

"Well, I do have plane tickets for two, we could go there and have a night of it and come back in the morning. I'm sure there is a flight on some airline going to Chicago where we can transfer flights to home."

Naomi took out her hand held radio, a pretended to be calling in.

"Squad 364, requesting wants, warrants and hospitalizations on one James O'Donnell...official nut case."

"You are so going to get that back."

"Listen, Mr. O'Donnell..."

"Yes, Mrs. O'Donnell?"

"Jim, has anybody ever accused you of being a gentleman?"

"Not that I recall." They both laughed. After a day of police work, it was refreshing to have a little hilarious banter to clear the mind of all the idiocy they have seen in a day's work.

"Anyway, Jim, I can't. Not tonight, anyway. I have to meet Mr. Wilkins at the bank at nine in the morning. I will take a rain check, though."

"I will hold you to that, deputy Naomi Petersen."

"And I will hold you to your promise to take me to Ghiradelli Square in Fisherman's Wharf." They both hugged and kissed again, then they both went to their homes.

On the way home, Naomi was thinking that Jim O'Donnell had finally lost his mind. Imagine buying plane tickets to go to San Francisco. She shook her head slightly, thinking he was just playing with her. But, if he wasn't, he was certainly crazy...in love.

She thought that their wedding was going to be an all out affair. The bridesmaids, Rachel as the Maid of Honor, the ring bearers, the little girls holding the train of her wedding gown. She didn't even notice that she was home, until Renée came out to meet her.

"Naomi, are you all right?"

"Huh? Oh! I was daydreaming again."

"About what, this time?"

"About my wedding with Trooper JimO'Donnell. Renée, this is going to be a wonderful wedding. Do you know what he wanted to do tonight? He actually wanted me to fly with him to San Francisco and have dinner."

"What!?! Is he mad? The tickets cost more than the dinner."

"I know, that is what makes it so crazy, and so...loveable."

"You really do love that hunky man. Don't you, Naomi?"

"Yes, little sister, I certainly do. It would be so romantic to go to Ghiradelli Square in Fisherman's Wharf, just so I can say one day that I was there. There are a lot of shops in that area. Oriental food, foot long hot dogs, Coney island dogs, pizza, little nick nack shops. But, he wanted to go tonight, and I am meeting the man I arrested tonight at the bank in town at nine in the morning."

"Can you talk about what you did tonight?"

"Well, this man was upset that the bank was going to foreclose on his home. So, he got a gun and went to the truck stop. I went in unarmed and talk to him, and he surrendered on my promise there would be no tricks and that I would help him at the bank."

"Naomi, has anybody ever told you that you are an angel?"

"Yes, little sister, they have. I don't know about being an angel, but if I can help, then that is what I am going to do. That is why I became a deputy sheriff, so I could make a difference. It doesn't have to be all arrests and putting people in jail. It can be helping my neighbors, if I can. That is what being a public servant means."

"Melanie and her mom went home about an hour ago. They said they would be back next weekend."

"Is your mother still up?"

"Yes, Naomi she is."

Naomi went in the kitchen, poured herself a cup of coffee, and sat down to talk to Carol.

"What happened at the truck stop, Naomi?"

"One of the men that live here in Pine Meadows County was waving a gun around in the truck stop restaurant. I went in and talked him in to surrendering. I booked him, his fingerprints were taken, and I let him go home on his own recognizance. He promised he would meet me at the bank at nine in the morning. He was upset that the bank threatened to foreclose on his house."

"That would make anybody upset, but most don't go waving guns around in a public place. What if he doesn't meet you?"

"Then I have to go and arrest him for breaking his bond, and put him in jail. I think he will keep his word though. I promised to talk to the district attorney and see if we can't get him community service. He didn't hurt anyone, and I doubt that he even wanted to. He just wanted to be heard."

"Well, at least it ended well."

"Yes. It makes my day when I don't have to use violence to make an arrest. But then most who commit crimes don't want to go peacefully. I had better get to bed, if I am going to make it to the bank by nine. Good night, Carol."

"Good night, Naomi."

That night, Naomi slept peacefully because she didn't have to hurt anybody. The fact that Buck was violent and Mr. Wilkins wasn't, only went to show both ends of the criminal element. Mr. Wilkins was charged with misdemeanor endagering safety. Naomi didn't put "by conduct regardless of life," or it would have been a felony.

Naomi didn't like mornings, even though she worked in the sheriff's gym as a defense instructor. With the sun shining through her window, she slid out of bed, in to her slippers and put her housecoat on. She took her underthings along, and went to take her shower. When she was done, she dressed in her sheriff's uniform, and headed downstairs.

She was the only one up at eight in the morning, so she made herself a pot of coffee, one slice of peanut butter and jelly toast and sat down for a few minutes before going to the sheriff's office.

Carol came down, poured herself a cup of coffee, and sat down.

"So, I guess we will see if this guy shows up at the bank, or not."

"I guess so, Carol, but I have a feeling he will. He doesn't want me coming to get him. His record is clear except for a few parking tickets and the incident last night. I don't see why he would want a warrant issued."

"We have all had parking tickets. So, basically, he is a good guy, he just frustrated."

"Yes. That is why I let him go home last night. I think this experience though, has helped him see, that the next time he gets upset, he needs to talk out his feelings, rather than place other people in harm's way."

"I agree, Naomi. Can you tell me his name?"

"No Carol, not until after his trial."

"Well, I tried," Carol said, giggling, which got Naomi giggling, too.

"I suppose I had better go, then. I want this guy to get as fair a shake as he can from the bank. Be back fr lunch."

"Take care, Naomi."

As Naomi drove in to town, she picked up her microphone.

"Squad 364."

"Squad 364, good morning. Go ahead."

"Squad 364, good morning, I am checking in and I will be in just as soon as I finish a little business at the bank."

"10-4 Squad 364, you're signed in, take your time."

"Squad 364, 10-4."

Naomi got out of the squad, and headed in to Jim's Hardware Emporium, where Nate Wilkins was sitting having coffee and a donut.

"Good morning, Nate. I see you got here a little early."

"Good morning, Naomi. Naomi, I'm really sorry about last night. I really didn't want to hurt anybody. The only person that was hurt last night, was me. Let's go and wait for the bank to unlock the doors."

They walked the half a block to the bank. As they got there, a man of about five foot, five inches tall, with thinning, but not receding, brown hair was unlocking the doors. This was John William Withers, 42, the manager of the bank.

"Naomi, what brings you in so early in the morning?"

"Mr. Withers, may we talk to you?"

"Yes, of course. Come this way."

"Mr. Withers, last night Mr. Wilkins here was very upset about the bank not extending his loan. He got in a little legal trouble because of being upset. I was wondering if there was any way the bank would extend Mr. Wilkins loan, so that he can get his crops in."

"Well, it isn't that we don't want to extend his loan, but he has asked for an extension three times already. Bank policy says that three times is the limit."

"Mr. Wilkins," Naomi looked at Nate, "what is going on? Why did you ask for an extension so many times?"

"Because I lost half of my crops. I used the extensions to clear my fields of the dead crops. I have fifty two acres left to plow out and harvest. I just need this one last extension so that I can get my good crops to the co-op."

"Mr. Withers, would you please reconsider and extend his loan this one last time?"

"I will tell you what I will do. I will take it up with the board of directors, and see what they say. I will give you a call, Naomi, and let you know what they say. Nate, I am sorry, but right now, until the board of directors tells me yes, there is nothing I can do, right now."

"I work hard in those fields everyday. What you are telling me, is even though I am a hard working man, you can't see fit to extend my loan one last time."

"I'm sorry, Nate. I will let you know what the board of directors say."

"Thank you, Mr. Withers. Nate, let's go and have another cup of coffee."

Naomi and Nate Wilkins left the bank and headed back to Jim's Hardware Emporium. They went in and sat down in a booth.