“Are you kidding?” she snapped.
“Put your hands up, ma’am,” Ian ordered politely but firmly.
She laughed. “You really think to stop me with this ridiculous stunt? Nice try, but I saw the diner scene on social media.”
Ian pulled his mask down. “I’d still advise you to give up. You don’t stand a chance of getting away with this.”
Lola’s gaze flicked between the two men and then back to me.
My stomach dropped. I knew her thought since I would have done the same in her spot. And before I could react, she shoved Vera hard away from her. As Vera staggered backward toward a chair, Lola grabbed my arm and yanked me in front of her, a human shield.
She pressed the gun firmly against my side.
“Everyone stay right where you are,” she ordered sharply. “Or Pepper here is dead.”
Everyone, about a dozen in all, in the bank lobby froze.
“Easy,” Ian cautioned.
“Drop those fake six-shooters,” Lola ordered, grinning.
Ian and Beau slowly lowered their prop guns.
I noticed Beau glancing briefly toward the teller stations.
That was when I saw him—Mo.
He was crouched low behind the tellers’ counters, moving slowly along the floor like the world’s largest, furriest shadow.
He knew what he was doing, and so did I.
Lola pushed me forward. “Move.”
We started toward the middle of the lobby, the front door not far off.
“Everybody out of the way,” Lola barked. “If anyone tries to stop me, you die.”
Customers and tellers backed away.
My heart was pounding, but my mind was working faster than ever.
I knew Mo was creeping closer, getting ready.
Just a little farther.
Just a little—and the distance would be perfect.
Lola tightened her grip on my arm. “Keep walking.”
I took one more step.
Then another.
One more, then I let loose… “GERONIMO!”
Mo exploded into motion.
The massive Malamute launched himself over the counter like a furry missile.
