Chapter 18
CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“Where’s the other one?”
Jane heard the high-pitched male voice full of nerves and guessed him to be in his late teens or early twenties. A glance back up at the mirror confirmed her guess. He had dirty brown hair and unfocused eyes. The gun in his hand trembled. Maybe inexperience, maybe nerves, maybe something else.
The other two patrons lay face down, their hands behind their heads. He didn’t look at them, unconcerned while he stared at the clerk as if the poor kid had all the answers.
He waved his gun. “I said, where is she? And get over here.”
“Who?” The poor clerk held his hands high in the air, barely past the age of consent, and walked around the counter toward the gunman. “Please don’t shoot. I know the drill. Take anything you want. It’s yours.”
The man swore, trembled a little, then just as suddenly steadied the gun in his hands as he raised it to the clerk’s face. When he glanced toward the far aisle where she hid, she hurriedly backed out of sight before he could see her.
Or so she thought.
“Hey, you. Come here,” the robber ordered and flicked the safety off. “Or I’ll blow his brains out.”
Jane had no choice but to stall for time and keep everyone safe. Law enforcement had already been called, but who knew when they’d arrive.
“Coming out.” She rose, hands in the air, and stepped out. She had to see the robber’s eyes before being able to read him.
Her time in the Corps had taught her a lot about hand-to-hand combat, but not nearly as much as her time spent training with Team Ten. She knew exactly how to handle situations like these, though she’d only been in two like this before.
First rule, don’t give your opponent more of an upper hand than he already had.
She stepped closer, slowly, her hands up, and slouched to appear smaller.
Sweat beaded at the gunman’s temples. Though his gun hand looked steady, he wavered while staring at her. He looked and smelled like a drug addict, but the sudden clarity in his gaze didn’t fool her.
He had the look of a man intent on more than robbery. On murder.
“I’m the only other person here,” Jane said, trying to look and sound scared.
“Toss me your gun.”
She blinked. “I don’t have a gun.”
“Yeah right. Show me.” The robber took his aim from the clerk and centered his weapon on her. “Slowly.” His finger tightened over the trigger, ready to fire. “Your side piece too.”
At least he no longer aimed at the civilians.
She raised each pant leg to show him nothing but socks. “Is it okay if I open my jacket?”
“Slowly.” He didn’t sound nearly as frazzled, not like before. She was right. He’d been acting.
Jane slowly unzipped her coat and showed him she wasn’t carrying.
“Now the sweater.” He didn’t flinch or shiver, and his arm remained extended, the gun pointed at her. No jitters for the drug addicted mugger. She didn’t think she’d have time to wait for the police to save the day.
Not when this guy planned on shooting someone—likely her.
She raised her sweater to show her stomach.
“Now turn around so I can see you’re unarmed.”
Sounded like he’d done this before. She moved very slowly, her sweater and jacket up to show she had nothing tucked into the waistband of her jeans, all the while taking tiny steps in his direction. Closer. Just a little bit closer…
The clerk stood still. He’d been down this road before. The couple on the ground remained unmoving, flat statues frozen in fear.
“Good. Now empty your pockets.” The robber frowned at the card, wallet, and keys she dropped to the ground. “Where’s your phone?”
“I dropped it back there.” She nodded to the aisle behind her.
When he glanced toward it, she made her move.
She could have punched him in the throat. But she didn’t want to kill him. She wanted answers.
With a burst of speed, she jerked his arm down while punching him in the nose. Heard the satisfying crack. He screamed in pain and fired into the floor.
His eyes watered, and he raised his hands to protect his face.
Using a move Min, another of Team Ten, had once taught her, she took advantage of the robber’s disorientation.
She deadened his left shoulder and ripped the pistol from him.
It skittered a few feet away. With a grim smile, she flipped him onto his back and ended the move with a classic Marine Corps foot stomp to the face.
In a calm tone, she spoke to the others.
“Everyone, go to the back room and lock yourselves in. We don’t know if he’s alone.
I already dialed 911, but another call can’t hurt.
You.” She pointed at the clerk. “Duct tape, please.” She nodded to a roll near the register while shoving the robber onto his belly.
He sobbed and swore at her for breaking his nose, struggling past the snot and blood down his throat.
The clerk took a few shaky moments to rip a few strips for her, which she used to tie the robber’s hands behind his back.
The lite beer woman was crying into the phone, talking to an emergency operator while hustling toward the back with her companion.
“Thanks for saving us,” the clerk said before running for the back.
Jane had the situation in hand, but jacked up on adrenaline, she needed a few breaths before she settled. “Robbing the place?” she asked the would-be thief. “Or are you after something else?”
He didn’t answer. Just struggled against his bonds.
He had the right build for their Code Blue Killer. Been light on his feet, too. She needed to see him move to be sure, though. They’d have to go over the surveillance footage outside the store for more information. But again, why would their killer be stalking her? It didn’t make sense.
She gave him a quick pat down but found nothing in his pockets.
“Who hired you?”
Sirens sounded louder, and the flash of red and blue lights lit up the place.
“Not…hired.” He wheezed. “Wanted cash…for drugs.”
“Yeah?” She pulled up the sleeves of his scummy hoodie but didn’t see any track marks.
That didn’t mean anything, yet… She looked him over and when moving his hoodie and hair from his neck, spotted a hidden tattoo at the base of his skull.
Not a prison or gang tattoo. She made note of it. “What’s your drug of choice?”
He tried swearing at her, but as nasal as he’d become, he sounded like a cartoon villain.
Then the police burst through the door and robbed her of the opportunity to ask more questions.