Chapter 4
The crowd watched with horror and intrigue as the Good Samaritan continued with chest compressions on the elderly gentleman.
The lights went out.
More shrieks filled the ballroom.
Pale moonlight filtered in through the French doors, silhouetting shapes. That was the only light for the moment.
I dug a small tactical flashlight from my pocket and panned the beam across the crowd while the Good Samaritan kept up with the chest compressions.
Adrenaline rushed through me. Something was up. A heart attack and a power failure?
Too coincidental.
By that time, people had taken out their cellphones and used the built-in flashlight to illuminate the area.
JD and I kept scanning the crowd for threats.
It didn’t take long to find them.
Four shadowy figures wearing tuxedoes and bunny masks had infiltrated the ballroom. They had gotten the jump on the four security guards. They moved in unison with tactical precision. With pistols at the guard’s heads, the bunnies forced the security staff to the ground and flex-cuffed them.
We were outnumbered, and I didn’t want to escalate the situation. Especially since a fifth goon had grabbed Catalina and put a gun to her temple. She was their insurance policy.
The other evil bunnies were at the jewelry tables in no time, looting the goods.
My hand found the grip of my pistol, and I drew it quietly. I didn’t take action or announce myself. Too many people. Too much collateral damage. If bullets started flying in a place like this, it wouldn’t be good.
Catalina’s face contorted with fear.
The bad bunny used her as a shield with the pistol still at her temple. His head on a swivel, he constantly scanned the area for threats. But with that bunny mask, his visibility had to be diminished.
“Please don’t hurt me,” Catalina begged.
“It’s only money, lady,” the bunny said. “Don’t do anything stupid, and nobody gets hurt.”
It didn’t take long to scoop up all the jewelry, including the egg. In under a minute, the bunnies were done and heading for the French doors.
The head bunny dragged Catalina toward the exit, and I followed. When he’d reached the door, he pushed her away, then bolted outside.
I rushed to Catalina. “Are you okay?”
She nodded, still trembling.
I sprinted outside with JD, and we chased after the bastards.
Feet kicked up white sand as they sprinted toward the surf.
It wasn’t going to do any good, but I shouted, “Freeze! Coconut County.”
One of them glanced over his shoulder at me.
They splashed into the water and climbed into a white Go Fast boat with red trim that waited in the shallows. The outboards howled as the boat crashed through the surf, heading out to sea, disappearing into the inky void.
I called dispatch and alerted them to the situation. With a BOLO out on the perps, the Coast Guard and the Harbor Patrol would be looking for them. But for now, they had gotten away clean.
“Pretty smooth,” Jack said.
“Pretty smooth,” I agreed.
My jaw tightened, and I may have let a few obscenities fly.
JD and I sucked it up and marched back to the ballroom, feeling defeated.
By that time, EMTs and paramedics had arrived. Their flashlight beams slashed the darkness as they hurried in. “Who called for a medic?”
“Over here!” someone shouted.
They made their way through the frazzled crowd and found the victim. The socialites stood around as the medics went to work.
Sirens warbled in the distance, drawing near.
JD and I cut the flex cuffs from the security staff and got their take on what happened.
The power finally came back on.
The jewelry had been completely cleaned out.
Chatter filled the ballroom.
I found Catalina, who still looked flustered. “I’m sorry. There was nothing we could do. But I assure you, every law enforcement officer in the county is looking for them.”
“This is completely unacceptable! Why didn’t you stop them?”
“Because escalating a situation like that could have resulted in casualties.”
“Forty. Million. Dollars.”
I frowned. “I hope you have insurance.”
She was not amused.