“Not particularly,” Vera said.
Lola’s eyes flashed. “Where is it?”
Vera shook her head. “I have many notebooks. I can’t be sure which one is the one you’re looking for.”
“You told me it was here.”
“And I thought it might be here.”
Her large purse shifted slightly as she pressed the gun harder against Vera’s side.
“Don’t play games with me. Someone like you would have your notebooks organized. You would know how to find out exactly which notebook the info was in.”
“I do organize well,” Vera said proudly.
I almost laughed. Vera wasn’t being foolish. She was purposely buying us time. She was wiser than I thought. But I wondered how the box was cleared out when I recalled her telling Bill that they had to clear out Chesterfield and Ridgemont. It dawned on me then. She had said—we. That could only mean one thing, Bill had a safety deposit box here for Vera.
“You’re going to get me the notebook I want or else,” Lola threatened.
“Then we should head to the bank in Chesterfield,” Vera said. “I know for sure those boxes aren’t empty.”
More time to be rescued. I only hoped Vera’s plan didn’t backfire.
A shout was suddenly heard from somewhere beyond the vault door.
“Everybody freeze! This is a stick-up!”
Lola’s head snapped toward the sound.
My own heart nearly jumped out of my chest.
Not another robbery.
The last thing I needed was to be caught in another bank heist. I could see it now spread all over social media. Don’t let this person in your bank… robbers follow. Not to mention I was already in a safety deposit box heist.
Lola forced Vera to the door with her.
She moved to the vault door and cracked it open just enough to peer into the hallway.
For a moment, I thought of rushing her. But with the gun on Vera, I couldn’t take the chance. Besides, with a bank heist in progress, the robbers and Lola might just shoot it out. The only thing I needed to do was make sure Vera and I were out of the way.
Another voice rang through the lobby.
“Hands up where we can see them!”
Lola pushed the door wider.
“Come on,” she muttered, dragging Vera with her, and I hurried after them.
We stepped into the hallway and peered around the doorway edge. And there they were.
Two men stood near the entrance of the bank wearing long dark coats and scuffed cowboy hats. Black bandanas covered thelower halves of their faces. They both held six-shooters, looking ready to shoot if necessary.
For a brief moment, I thought we had somehow walked into an old Western movie.
The bandanas didn’t do much to hide their identities. I recognized them instantly. Ian, and beside him stood Beau, looking equally like a gunslinger and equally determined.
Lola was not impressed.
