Chapter 17 #2
She could see everything unfolding. The robbers would be hammering away at the safe, and the police would race in with their guns at the ready and catch the thieves in the act. She and Bellamy would be credited for saving the bank. In fact, they would be heroes for the daring deed.
Beside her, Bellamy was motionless, still leaning against the door to hold it closed. She wanted to say something to him about her ideas, but with the commotion and voices only feet away, she kept her hand over her mouth so she didn’t give away their location.
From what she could tell, the man with the keys was opening a different door and ushering the others inside. “We’ll be finished and locking up within the hour. You have to wait until well after that to make sure everyone is gone.”
Was the fellow a bank teller? Maybe a manager? Or even a custodian who took care of the property?
Whatever his role, he was obviously aiding the robbers, perhaps intending to take a percentage of what was stolen.
With a final word of caution, the man with the keys closed the door on the robbers, then made his way back down the hallway.
As soon as the far door squealed open and then closed, she could feel Bellamy finally release his tight hold on their door. He didn’t move away completely, almost as if he was afraid of someone still coming in and discovering them here. But at the very least, for now, they’d escaped detection.
They wouldn’t be able to go until the robbers across the hall left in an hour or so.
Until then, they were stuck waiting in the cramped room.
If they could see where they were and what was around them, maybe they could move a little and find a place to sit down.
As it was, they probably needed to remain motionless so they didn’t accidentally bump into anything and make noise that would give them away.
After long minutes, Bellamy’s hand circled her arm. He tugged her toward the door and positioned her until she had her back against it. Then he drew her down to the floor so they were both sitting with their backs against it.
Her shoulder and arm were pressed against his, and even though she wasn’t scared, she drew some comfort from the fact that he was here beside her. She rested her head back against the door, and from the position of his body, she could tell that he was doing the same.
The minutes ticked slowly by. She was going to be even later getting home than she’d stated in the message she’d had delivered to Alannah.
The biggest problem was that she wouldn’t be able to turn in her next story segment by the deadline. By the time she and Bellamy left in an hour or so, the newspaper office would be closed, and Mr. Knapp would be gone.
Maybe she could give it to Bellamy, though, and ask him to deliver it first thing in the morning. Surely he would be willing to since he’d offered to deliver it in the past.
Whatever the case, being late in delivering the manuscript was worth this adventure and this opportunity to catch thieves in the process of robbing a bank.
Finally, when her backside was starting to get sore from sitting in one place for so long, the door of the room across the hallway clanked open.
“Mr. Wright said it would be better to wait two hours,” came a loud, high-pitched whisper from one of the robbers.
Mr. Wright. At least she and Bellamy had the name of one of the men—possibly the bank worker—involved in the plot. Even if all Mr. Wright did was unlock the back door and let the two men in, he was still an accomplice and would need to be held accountable.
“We’ve waited long enough,” said a rougher and lower voice. “We’ve got to get started now so we can get as far away as possible before morning and the bank opens.”
Zaira almost smiled. The two wouldn’t be going anywhere except the calaboose, as the city jail was called.
The whispered arguing continued down the hallway, then the door squealed as it opened and shut. Once silence settled over the hallway, Zaira started to scramble to her feet.
“Ach, hold on with you now, lass.” Bellamy was on his feet, too, and positioned himself in front of the door. “I’ll be the one checking to see if we’re clear to go, not you.”
His whisper seemed loud in the silence. And his warm breath was beside her face, which meant his face was also near.
She had the urge to stroke his cheek and reassure him that everything would be alright, but in the next instant he was fumbling for the door handle. He tried turning it and pulling, but nothing happened.
“What’s wrong?” she whispered.
He tugged again. Still the door didn’t budge.
“We’re locked in, aren’t we?”
“Oh aye, that we are.” This time Bellamy heaved hard, shoving the door with his shoulder. He did so several times, but the door was solid wood and seemed to fit in the frame snugly. “When Mr. Wright tried to unlock the door, he actually locked it instead.”
“Probably so.” Did that mean they were trapped?
The possibility didn’t necessarily disappoint her. Surely they’d find a way out. They were both smart people, and they could put their minds together to figure out something. Even if they couldn’t discover a means to free themselves, she was getting the adventure she’d been longing for.
The only frustrating thing was they wouldn’t be able to rush to the police right away and alert them to the burglary in process.
Bellamy slammed into the door again. This time it seemed to rattle the walls.
She grabbed on to his arm. “If they hear the noise, they’ll come back and look for us.”
He stopped himself short, his breathing labored.
“Besides, maybe it’s time to admit you’re not as strong as you think you are.”
“You’re probably the one who thinks I’m strong.”
She released a soft snort. “Aye, that’s why I agreed to the match. Because of the size of your muscles.”
“I thought so.” He seemed to draw in a steadying breath. “You can’t get enough of my muscles.”
“You know me so well.”
“So I do, enough to also realize how enamored you are with my blarney.”
“I do love your blarney.” She spoke the words sarcastically, but truer words had never been spoken. She loved his charm and his humor and even his sarcasm.
If she had to pick one person to be stuck with, it was Bellamy McKenna. In fact, she would relish every moment.