“Do you want to help me make dinner?” she asked when we’d finished with her reviews.
“Sure. What are you making?”
“I found a vodka pasta recipe online that’s supposed to be really good. Does that sound okay to you?”
Nothing sounded appealing to me. My stomach had been in knots since I arrived at the safe house, and it was a daily struggle to eat. Since there wasn’t anything she could do to change that, I nodded and lied. “Sounds great.”
The dish was relatively easy to make and made the house smell wonderful. I even managed to have a few bites and a piece of garlic bread before I felt like I was going to be sick. Josie, however, had no problem finishing everything on her plate.
I glanced at the time on the stove. “Where’s Tatum? Shouldn’t she have been home by now?”
“She called and said she was going to be late because she had a meeting to go to.”
After we cleaned up and put the leftovers away, Josie asked if I wanted to watch a movie with her, but I declined her offer. I appreciated her keeping me occupied for the majority of the day, but I was ready to be alone in my room where I didn’t feel compelled to put on a brave face.
After a quick shower, I climbed into bed and willed myself not to cry. But I couldn’t help myself. I burst into tears and cried myself to sleep.
16
LUKE
After days of waiting and watching for Pamela to show up at the bank, I finally spotted her. Her hair was shorter and darker than it usually was, and she tried to disguise herself with a large hat and sunglasses, but I recognized her instantly.
I had already alerted my team and was on my way across the street to the bank when my phone vibrated with a message from the bank manager telling me what I already knew. Pamela was in the building.
Picking up my pace, I entered the bank through the back door and went to the office we’d previously designated to use for Pamela’s transaction.
Pamela entered the room first, followed by the manager, who closed the door behind them. I waited until they were both seated to step out from the shadows and make my presence known.
“Pamela Perry, you’re under arrest,” I started but was interrupted by Pamela’s laughter.
“Oh, Luke, did you really think I wouldn’t be prepared for this?” she asked and slowly stood up.
Then, she turned to me and ripped her shirt open to reveal a bomb strapped to her chest. She smirked. “I suggest you choose your next move very carefully.”
“The only way you’re leaving this building is in handcuffs or a body bag. The choice is yours,” I said calmly with my gun trained on her.
I could hear a flurry of activity outside of the office, but I didn’t dare take my eyes off of her to turn and see what was happening on the other side of the glass wall behind me. Assuming it was members from my team and the bank’s security clearing the building, I tried to buy them some time by keeping her talking.
I nodded toward the bank manager. “This doesn’t have anything to do with him. Why don’t you let him leave while we sort this out,” I suggested.
“And give up an innocent hostage I could otherwise use to my advantage?” she shook her head. “Clearly, I’m not as dumb as you think I am.”
“Oh, I’ve never thought you were dumb. But I do think you’re desperate.”
Her face contorted with anger, and she opened her mouth to respond, but managed to get control of herself before she did. Which was unfortunate, because I was hoping to upset her enough that she’d slip up and give me an opportunity to apprehend her without blowing us all to smithereens.
Bombs weren’t my specialty, so I didn’t know anything about the one she was wearing. There appeared to be a button to push to activate it, but it was anyone’s guess as to how strong it was.
When the phone in the office rang, the manager looked at me with wide, fear-filled eyes.
“Answer it,” I said at the same time Pamela said, “Don’t answer it.”
“They’ll keep calling until someone picks up. You have to talk to them to negotiate.”
“I’m not negotiating,” she said and pointed to the manager. “You are going to get my money.” Then, she turned to me. “And you are going to call off your team. Then, you and I are going to walk out of here, get in my car, and drive away. I have no problem killing you or anyone else if they try to follow us or stop us.”
She emphasized her point by producing a gun from her pocket and shooting the phone when it started to ring again. The bank manager screamed and ducked under his desk as the phone exploded into pieces.