The two tellers immediately began putting money into the bag. The one in front of the gunman reached for the silent alarm.
“Hey, I said stay away from that.” The robber pointed the gunat the teller.
“He’s going to shoot her!” Holly started forward then stopped. There was nothing she could do.
At that moment, Jerry yanked on the gunman’s foot, sending him to the floor. Gunfire pierced the ceiling. The other man at the door aimed his weapon and pulled the trigger, shooting Jerry multiple times.
“No!” Holly turned her head away from where Jerry lay on the ground even as Johnand the manager ran up the hall.
The man near the door yelled. “Grab the money!” His partner yanked the bag from the teller even as the semi-automatic sprayed the hallway.
“Dad!” Holly flew to John.
Malcolm looked down as Joy gripped his arm, her fingers digging in hard. “It’s so hard not to help when I know what to do.”
Her words tugged at his conscience. This scene was mild compared tothe many he’d worked as a Glasgow Watchman, but Joy was a healer, and it was probably traumatic for her even though she didn’t know the victims.
He looked at Holly, tears tracked down her face as she knelt by John. “Dad? Dad? Please be okay.”
Stealing himself against the softening of his heart, he waited.
The gunmen exited the front door and ran for their car. Still, no sirens could be heard.The thieves had done their homework. The local police department changed shift at two o’clock. It was a small department for a small rural town. By time they arrived, the suspects would be long gone and Jerry would bleed out.
“Dad?”
John started to get up, but his knee gave out and he rolled over grasping it. “Fuck.” Taking a few deep breaths, he pulled himself up and hobbled over to Jerry.John dropped down next to his friend, despite the gory mess that had once been the man’s back. “Anyone have medical training!”
Holly floated up and over to the counter where the date was posted for customers. She crossed her arms and spun back around to glare at him. “This isnotgoing to happen.”
He raised his brow. “Why not?”
“I won’t let it.” She took a furtive glance at Jerry. “I’ll keepmy dad and uncle from coming here and you can’t stop me.”
Malcolm nodded. “Then the teller will be dead instead.”
She threw her hands up in the air. “Well, holy crap, what do you want me to do?”
Joy finally let go of his arm and took Holly by the shoulders. “Let’s discuss this outside.”
He followed the women as they phased through the roof.
Holly pulled away from Joy and advanced on him.“Why show me this? How am I supposed to change it?”
“I never said you were.”
She poked her finger into his chest. “Listen, Mr. The World Sucks, you don’t have to prove to me that life is tragic. Just tell me what I’m supposed to do about this.”
He shrugged. “Why do you want to do anything about this?”
Her hand dropped, and she stared at him as if he’d just killed a hundred puppies. “Becausethat’s my father who just got shot and my dear friend. I love them both to pieces. I don’t want to see them hurt never mind killed.”
“But you’re in Scotland and they’re here. How much can you really care?”
“Malcolm.” Joy’s stern tone wasn’t going to stop him from driving his point home.
He raised his hands out to the sides. “You’re over there because a man who is already dead means more toyou than people who are still alive that you say you love.”
Holly’s mouth opened but nothing came out.
He pressed his advantage. “Oh, that’s right, there’s the One of a Kind Christmas Shop. That commercial endeavor must be more important than the people you love.”
“That’s enough!” Joy grabbed his hand, and before he could blink, they were racing through the ether.
