If Tears Were Wishes And Other Short Stories by Ruth Nestvold Page A

holding a hand to his neck.
    Officer Anderson forced her way through the crowd blocking the door of the men's room, followed by another plainclothes detective and two uniformed officers.
    "Interesting getup, Crystal," she said, shaking her head. "Trying to take the law into your own hands, huh?"
    Crystal lifted her chin. "That's right."
    "Release them," Anderson said, and the big guys let her and Sean go. The officer took her arm. "Your sister was found at the door of the emergency room at Sacred Heart Hospital. She said she escaped from the basement where she was being held, and she was able to give us the names of her kidnappers before passing out."
    Brooke escaped . A cloud lifted from Crystal's soul.
    She glanced over at Sean behind the officer's shoulder and smiled. "You got your wish."
    The detective turned to Peter. "Peter Glass?"
    Peter nodded.
    "I'm afraid I have to arrest you for the kidnapping and assault of Brooke Morey."

    ****

    Dotty hardly recognized Crystal when they picked her aunt up before going to the hospital to visit Brooke. "What did you do to your lovely hair?" Dotty asked.
    Chris only ran a hand through the short tufts and grinned.
    But when she entered the hospital room, Sean and Dotty behind her, and saw Brooke unconscious on the hospital bed, face discolored with bruises and her arm in a sling, Crystal broke into tears.
    Dotty patted Crystal's shoulder, crying herself. "Shhh, shhh, dear. She's all right. Brooke is all right."
    Crystal just cried harder.
    "Oh, dear," Dotty said, even more distressed. She leaned over and brushed the tears from Crystal's cheeks. "I wish neither of you would ever cry again."
    Which of course solved all their problems.

    END