Wordz Press

5:45 p.m.>

Sarah was yanked to her feet and found herself staring straight into the robber's eyes. Green and filled with anger, they were frantic in their intensity. Time was passing, and he knew it, the counting man a constant reminder.

"Is that so?" He shook her roughly, as if he were a dog and she a bone. "Are you a goddamned cop?"

"Yes, I am." She hoped she sounded calmer than she felt. Inside her chest, her heart felt as if it were about to explode. She'd been trained for situations like this, but actually going through one was something entirely different. She wasn't prepared for her fright. Knowing Ray was there didn't help, either. A rush of incompetence, sharp and edgy, sliced through her and her emotions pushed in, everything crowding her closer to panic.

Drawing a deep breath, she forced the terror back down, making herself speak with a clear, strong voice. "If you think you're going to get away with this, you're wrong. You made a bad decision when you picked this bank."

"Get over there and get those damned bags filled up!" he screamed over his shoulder at the man by the hostages, ignoring Sarah's warning. The other man nodded then ran past them and Green Eyes turned back to Sarah, his head tilting toward Ray. He'd obviously seen them talking.

"I picked the right bank," he said curtly. "You and your boyfriend aren't gonna stop us."

Sarah followed the track of his movement to where Ray was poised. A ripple of something went down her spine at the look in Ray's eyes. When they'd been together, every moment had seemed more intense, the light more blinding, the smells sharper. It had seemed as if he had the ability to turn up the volume on her senses.

Looking at him now, across the lobby, she felt the same thing happen all over again, a sweep of emotions rushing over her. What was she going to do? How could she protect him and everyone else?

She pulled her gaze away and turned to the man who held her. "I don't think my boyfriend and I will stop you." She took a breath, then continued. "But you will be stopped. I'm sure of that."

"You're crazy —" He swung his head around. "How many bags, Bobby Lee

"Five more! Maybe six

"The Emerald Coast SWAT Team is the best there is, "Sarah spoke again. The longer she could stall him, the better the team's chances were of getting there. "Once they get involved, you're history."

"What the hell makes you think they'll find out?

She shook her head and started to speak, then stopped herself. He didn't need to know about the silent alarm the tellers could trip with their feet. Surely Lucille had managed to get to it. Sarah opened her mouth to answer him flippantly, but she never got a chance. From outside the bank, the startling sound of a bullhorn could be heard.

"This is the Emerald Coast SWAT Team," a voice boomed. "We've got the building surrounded and you are now under our command. Put down your weapons and come to the front of the bank."

Sarah's heart leapt as she recognized Beck Winter's voice. A huge blond giant of a man, he was the chief negotiator of the team and she'd seen him in action many times. If anyone could resolve this without violence, it would be Beck. He was phenomenal, his tones liquid, his presence incredible.

But her relief was short-lived. A second later, the robber's gun was at her head and his arm was around her neck. All she could think of was Ray.