Chapter 19 - Page 283 - Louisiana Law

   The officer looked out the glass door at the men Jim was pointing at. "Oh, those guys," he said. "They're four construction workers convicted of murder. They're being transferred to the big house. I've got their files right here." The officer pointed to four folders lying open on his desk. The officer had been fastening additional forms to them.

   Jim could see the ex-cops' fingerprints on the bottoms of the forms, and their mug shots, attached with paper clips. No evidence of Jim's and Rhasha's folders could be seen.

   "Thank you, sir," Jim said, preparing to leave.

   The officer was closing the folders and slipping them inside a manila envelope. "I'm sorry I couldn't be of more help," he replied, "but if you check in Dallas, I'm sure you'll find your friend there."

   Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha smiled as they walked out the front door. They stood on the front steps, holding hands.

   Shanha was the first to speak. "Papa, how are we going to get home?"

   Jim's truck was no where to be seen. As Jim and Rhasha knelt down and kissed Shanha on the forehead, he could see she really was worried. "I'm so glad we're all together again," Jim said. "Let's not worry about how we're going to get home. Let's give God praise and count our blessings."

   "We've had a lot of blessings lately, Papa," Shanha said as she cradled her teddy bear in her arms. Jim and Rhasha smiled and nodded their agreement.

   The prisoners, still waiting in the patrol cars, heard every word Jim and Shanha said. One officer waited with them, watching for a second officer to return to the patrol car with the manila envelope. As the four ex-cops looked on, a light blue glow surrounded Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha. Poof! In a flash, they were gone. No one but the four prisoners saw them disappear. Speechless, the ex-cops could only stare at the spot where Jim, Rhasha, and Shanha had stood as the patrol car sped away from the police station.