"Thank you so much for coming on such short notice,” Catalina said.
"My pleasure," I replied.
"I'm just going to take them around, introduce them to the other staff, and implement recommended security protocols."
"Fantastic," Catalina replied. "If you need anything, please don't hesitate to ask Delilah or me."
"Thank you," I said.
The ballroom had already filled up. It was a little late to be doing this kind of thing. It all seemed like an afterthought.
There were several more auction staff keeping an eye on the jewelry tables, but it just didn't seem like enough.
Commotion stirred amid the crowd, and there were shrieks as a man clutched his chest and collapsed.
By the time I got to him, somebody had already started CPR. I flashed my badge and shouted, “Coconut County.”
"I'm certified," the person attending to the man said.
Jack called dispatch and had them send EMTs and paramedics.
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.”
