Ethics of a Thief by Mary Gale Hinrichsen Page A

said, while turning to kiss his cheek.
    “We’ll bring the children on our next visit, they’ll love it here.”
    “Yes, David, but now it is our time.”
    He beamed. “I bet Danny would have been halfway down the volcano before we could stop him.”
    Her eyes twinkled, “He’s a lot like you.”
    She looked out the car window. “It looks like we’re going to have a downpour.”
    David watched the dark clouds coming closer. “It sure does.” Then he turned his attention to the driver. “It appears you got us out of there just in time.”
    The driver nodded. “It seems the weather turns bad daily at this time. I try to take my passengers before or after our wet weather.”
    The nameplate on the dashboard read Jessie Rodriguez.
    “How long have you lived on the island?” David asked.
    “I don’t. I have a place near UCLA. I’m with my parents to save money for next semester.”
    “What’s your major?”
    “Law,” Jessie said, while turning on the windshield wipers. “Wow. It’s really coming down.”
    When the road became slippery, David tightened Alisa’s seatbelt. He told the driver, “You need to pull over.”
    The young man tried to comply, but he hit his brakes too hard and caused the car to spin. The driver lost control of the car, and, within a second, the car rolled down the thirty-foot embankment and landed on the rear driver’s side.
    Officer Jim Robinson drove as fast as he could to respond to a reported car accident, but it still took twenty minutes before his rescue team could reach the scene. Several cars were parked near the place the taxi disappeared off the ledge. His partner, Randy Drake, jumped out of the van and stood at the edge, staring below. “This won’t be easy, Jim. You better get the gear.” For a 200-pound man, Randy moved quickly. His eyes carefully watched for loose rocks and safe places for his feet. Soon, he reached the taxi and peered through the window. He turned his head and yelled, “I see a woman.”
    “Is she alive?” Randy called out.
    “Don’t know yet.” After he tried to open the back door without success, he tried the front. It took time, but he finally got it open enough to climb into the front seat. He reached for the woman’s pulse. After retreating from the front seat, he yelled, “She’s alive, but unconscious. There are two males, a driver and passenger.” Randy reached for the pulse of the driver. He smiled. “He’s alive.” He took the male passenger’s hand and checked his pulse. Randy took a deep breath. He bowed his head and silently prayed.
    Within a short time, Jim reached the taxi with a stretcher. They pried open the back passenger door and carefully pulled out the limp body of the woman. They secured her in the stretcher and slowly moved up the mountain. When they reached the street, a new van was there waiting. They placed the woman inside and watched as the paramedics quickly started an I.V. for her.
    Randy moved fast, back down the wet, slippery mountainside. When he returned to the taxi, he re-checked the pulse of the male passenger -- there was still no pulse. No matter how often I do this job, I hate this part. His throat felt tight.
    When Jim came down to the taxi again, Randy shook his head as he crawled out of the back seat.
    “Well, this one’s gone. We need to call the coroner.”
    Jim asked, “Was he wearing his seatbelt?”
    “No, but I noticed that the woman’s belt was on tight. That’s what saved her life.”
    Jim shook his head, slowly. “They never learn, do they?”
    Randy quickly returned to the front seat. “My God! He is so young, he’s just a kid. His legs are pinned, hand me a crowbar.”
    “Can we get him out?”
    “I think so. When I pull up the dashboard with the crowbar, lift him out.
    “Randy, you need to move the seat back as far as possible. It’ll give us more room to release his legs.”
    “Good idea. That might help.” Randy reached around the young man and lifted the lever. The