The 6 am to NYC

Jake splashed into the Port Authority Bus Terminal approximately forty-five minutes behind schedule. They had made better time than expected, considering the multi-car accident he had to work his way around, plus the reduced speed everyone was driving at. None of that mattered now. He had gotten his passengers there safely, and that was what it was all about. Jake opened the door and stood at the bottom of the stairwell, offering a hand to anyone needing assistance. Most of them thanked him for getting them there safely, and two of his regulars even gave him five-dollar tips for getting them there without incident.

,“We’re coming. She’s just a slow little bitch.”

Annoyed by his treatment of the young girl, Jake looked past him and told her,

“It’s okay, sweetie. Take your time, there’s no rush.”

She offered him a meek smile and quickly stared back at the floor. Her traveling companion had a different response.

“You may not be in a rush, but we have somewhere to be, and your driving made us real late, so if you’ll move out of the way we can get out of here.”

It was all Jake could do not to respond with a fist in the gut, but he remained professional and stepped aside without saying anything. The scruffy guy hustled the young girl down the bus stairs, onto the platform, and into the terminal. Jake shook his head and muttered; it takes all kinds. He pulled out a plastic trash bag and began collecting the newspapers, coffee cups, and pastry boxes people left behind.

It wasn’t until he reached the last seat where the young girl had been sitting that he spotted it. Just a single piece of paper with one word scrawled across it, but the word hit him like a locomotive going 100mph and it would change his life forever. The word was Help. Jake snatched up the paper and traversed the forty-five feet to the front of the bus in blazing speed, then leapt from the top stair to the platform. He raced inside and was about to run up the escalator when he spotted Dom, a Port Authority cop, and changed direction to get to him.

“Dom, you need to come with me. Hurry, it’s an emergency.”

“Jake, buddy, what’s got you all worked up?”

“A young girl just left this on my bus. I think the guy she’s with has kidnapped her. If we hurry, we can catch them.”

Both men bolted for the taxi rank, and Dom used his handheld radio to place an APB. Because of the heavy rain, there was only one empty cab, and that’s where Jake spotted the man and his captive.

“That’s them,” yelled Jake, and both men redoubled their effort to close the gap. Mr. Scruffy saw the men coming, released the girl, and did his best to run, but he was no match for the former high school linebacker. Jake flattened him face first in a dirty puddle.

“Hold still until the cops get here or I’ll drown your ass in this nasty puddle.”

“No, man, you don’t understand. If I don’t deliver the kid, I’m a dead man and so are you for interfering.”

Jake wanted to ask the guy what he was talking about, but by then Dom had the cuffs on him and a cruiser was pulling up to take him away. Through all the commotion, the girl stood rock solid, hoping the bus driver had saved her and too terrified to run if he hadn’t.

“Hi, I’m Jake. What’s your name?”

In a quaky voice, still not sure if she was safe, she finally said, “Bethany, but you can call me Beth.”

“Nice to meet you, Beth. Leaving that note was a very brave thing to do. Are you hurt?”

“No, just hungry. I haven’t eaten since yesterday.”

Jake saw Dom waiting patiently nearby. He motioned him over and said to Beth, “I want you to go with the officer now. He’ll get you some food.” Beth threw her arms around Jake and sobbed uncontrollably. Her ordeal was finally over; his was just beginning.