When we stepped out of the hallway into the lobby, I caught sight of Stone. He looked relieved to see me, then his attention shifted quickly between the two robbers, measuring distances, angles, and timing.
He was waiting for an opportunity.
But how could I give him one?
The robber gave me a shove forward to keep me moving. The sudden push made me stumble a step, and in that moment the memory of my unfortunate encounter with Ian’s phone and the rug flashed through my head.
The thought forming in my mind was either very clever or very stupid. It was, however, an opportunity.
With my phone still resting solidly in my hand, I didn’t wait. I let my toe drag enough to trip me up. The stumble was real enough that I pitched forward with a startled gasp.
The robber reacted exactly as I hoped he would. His hand jerked sharply, yanking me back so I wouldn’t fall and pull him off balance with me.
The sudden pull twisted my body sideways, giving me enough momentum to strike him hard. The phone connected with a solid whack to his eye. He staggered with a shout, releasing me as he instinctively raised his hand to his eye.
It was just the moment Stone and the other agents needed, and they didn’t hesitate.
Stone surged to his feet and the second robber swung his gun toward him, but he never got the chance to aim it. Two agents took him down and secured his weapon.
Stone raced toward me, pushed me aside, then swung his fist catching the robber square in the jaw and knocking him out.
A cheer broke out across the lobby.
Stone and his agents soon had the robbers cuffed and the situation under control. Local police and more FBI agentsentered the bank to process the scene and talk with the witnesses.
After the dust settled, Stone walked over to where I parked myself at the bank manager’s desk. I could see he was ready to lecture me, his suit jacket open, and his hands planted firmly on his hips.
I spoke up before he could. “So, did you switch professions when I wasn’t looking?”
He shook his head and smiled. “How is it that you always manage to find yourself in the wrong place at the wrong time?”
I shrugged. “Just lucky I guess and lucky for you that I do. I gave you the opportunity you needed to grab the two.”
“You also provided the robber with a hostage he would not have necessarily had.”
“But then you would not have had me to tell you that the robber had particular box numbers he had Walker open.”
“Walker would have provided that information.”
I huffed dismissively. “I doubt he remembers half of what happened. He was so frightened. And that is a super-duper clue since it tells you that someone provided box numbers. An inside job?”
“But he came out empty-handed,” Stone reminded me.
“Walker explained that people were closing their boxes due to the recent robberies. So, it looks like the robbers were late to the heist. But if the robber had the numbers, does he also have the names of the box holders?” I tilted my head a moment. “And if he had a few numbers then maybe he wasn’t sure of a specific box only the area where the box might be.”
“You have quite the mind for detective work.”
“So, I’ve been told,” I said. “Usually right before someone suggests I stay out of police business.”
Stone gave me a look that suggested the lecture he had planned earlier was still very much on the table.
Before he could begin it, my phone rang. Ian.
“Don’t leave yet. I need to get your statement,” he ordered and walked away.
“Ian,” I answered, glad he called.
“Does supper at the Treetop with Beau and Amy work for you tonight?” he asked.
