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Panic filled the elegant lobby once again and Ray jumped to his feet. Before he could get halfway up, the man with the gun at Sarah's head jerked the barrel and pressed it into her flesh, just as he had with Ray earlier.

Ray felt his heart stumble then stop, the metal gleaming evilly in the bank's overhead lights. Sarah stood still within his grasp, her face white but her expression determined. She was going to do something, and Ray didn't wait to see what. He moved forward without even thinking.

The robber stared at Ray. His eyes were filled with a terrifying intensity. "Stop it! Right there." Turning to the others, he waved the gun. "Shut up," he screamed. "Shut up or I shoot the cop!"

The huddled group near the wall fell silent while outside the bullhorn continued.

"We know who you are and we have the bank surrounded. Put your weapons down and come to the front door now. Release your hostages."

The man holding Sarah tightened his fingers on his weapon. Ray could see his knuckles going white with the effort and that was all it took. Something seemed to explode behind Ray's eyes, a white-hot rage over the idea that anyone, anyone! would dare to hurt her.

He started forward again, two long strides, but this time Sarah raised her hand to stop him. When the robber felt her movement, he yanked her back with an abrupt jerk. "Stay there, damn it!" he screamed at Ray. "I'm telling you, man! Stay there or she gets it!"

Ray had no choice; he froze, a giant hand constricting his heart. Without another word, the man unexpectedly pivoted and pushed Sarah hard, his palm in the center of her back.

"Tie her up, damn it." Swinging the gun in Ray's direction, the robber pointed it at him. "And him, too! Then put them by the other wall." He looked over his shoulder. "Get out here, Bobby Lee, we got trouble!"

Sarah went flying across the room, stumbling into the arms of the robber who'd been counting off the minutes. He caught her roughly and tried to spin her around, but she reacted faster. With a vicious kick straight to his groin, she sent the man down. She turned instantly to the next one, but she still wasn't quick enough. The fourth robber was tall and muscular, a huge man with a beefy red face, the largest of the four men. He grabbed both her hands in one of his and despite her best efforts, subdued her quickly.

Seeing Sarah in the robber's grasp, a stab of something rippled down Ray's back. Something uncontrollable this time. He couldn't define the emotion but all caution fled as adrenaline surged through him. He barreled toward Sarah and the big man, a mist of anger filling his vision. Sarah cried out and shook her head, but Ray kept on.

A second later, he saw movement from the corner of his eye. His brain defined the motion and he understood what was happening; the man Sarah had kicked had recovered and he was coming at Ray; but Ray didn't really care. The only thing that mattered was getting to Sarah.

The sharp report of the pistol filled the lobby, then unbelievable pain detonated behind Ray's temple, white stars on a field of black. He went down.