Page 6 (2/2)

"Everyone be cool," theback to encompass all the customers and tellers in one sweep of that weapon "Arer Anyone hits a panic button and she’s the first to go"

Until that last stateht have let it play out But at the e swirled together in a co, his focus narrowing

"No one overreacts Tellers, unlock your drawers, and re move and you lose one of your own"

White-faced, the tellers did as told

"Great Now everyone, get to this side of the rooht It put hiroup, using his body to block the elderly couple in front of hi a five-year-old The last custouy, watched the robber with sharp-eyed wariness Two of the tellers were forty-so women The other was probably in her twenties

The robber aie boy froze

"Go collect the money Empty the drawers of bills and rolled quarters Make it fast"

The youngthe robber handed hi, Ar up often

A noise, like soainst the door, sounded in Merissa’s office Armie’s senses sharpened further, but otherwise he didn’t hed, as if a down in that s the robber’s attention Ar his view of the boy Surprised, the robber looked into his eyes, and whatever he saw there clearly alarmed him

"Don’t try it," the robber warned

Armie held up his hands--but he didn’t look away

"Give uy ca out to hi a kiosk filled with deposit and withdrawal slips "Then get your ass over there with the others"

"Okay, sure"

I down slowly and back away College boy looked to be nineteen or twenty at theArunman looked skittish Above the scarf, faded blue eyes repeatedly flinched left and right The hand holding the gun tre his feet as if resisting the urge to run

Rolling a shoulder, Armie loosened up Should be a piece of cake

Another thu a stab of fear straight through Ar what little patience he had left Taking a step away froained the robber’s attention The college kid, pitching in, went in the opposite direction

"What are you doing?" Panicked, the thug swung the gun left, then right "Stopsure the idiot focused on him and only hi shoot you, that’s what!"

Ice-cold with fury, desperate to see Merissa safe, Armie suy breathed fast Even beneath the thick coat, Ar of his chest "Glocks don’t have safeties"

"That’s not a Glock, asshole"

The second the guy glanced down, Ar It skidded across the floor and under the kiosk The college kid slid down to his knees, trying to retrieve the gun