Raegan kept the man’s gun pointed straight at him as she carefully pushed herself back up to her feet. After retrieving her own weapon, she switched guns, keeping hers trained on the cuffed assailant while sliding the confiscated weapon into the waistband of her uniform pants.
She glanced around, her lips parting with the intention of asking those still inside the bank if they were okay when a swarm of police began flooding the bank’s entrance. A quick glance at her watch, and she realized the whole terrifying scene had taken place in less than ten minutes' time.
The questions that came later, however…
Half an hour had passed, and she was still at the bank, still standing in the lobby, answering more of the same questions and giving yet another local FBI agent her full account of everything that had gone down.
The bank’s manager was also being questioned, as were the remaining customers and other bank employees. The perp had already been hauled off by two of Chicago’s finest, and Raegan’s weapon and empty magazine had been taken as evidence.
“I think that’s all I need for now.” Special Agent Lisa Atwell closed the small notebook she’d been using to jot down what Raegan had shared. “I’m sure the other detectives explained how all this works.”
“I may have to come down to the station for more questioning…if this goes to trial, I’ll have to testify…” Her voice trailed off with the other woman’s confirming nod.
“Hopefully, it won’t come down to that.” The seasoned detective shoved the small notebook into her jacket pocket. With her long brown hair pulled back in a tight ponytail, the thirty-something woman’s big, striking blue eyes searched hers. “If it does, I’m confident you’ll handle yourself on the stand just fine.”
Raegan’s brow furrowed at the unexpected compliment. “What makes you so sure?”
“Look around you, Miss Perry. You did this.”
All she saw when she glanced around the bank’s interior was a mess of splintered wood, broken glass, shattered tile, and smeared blood.
“I…destroyed the bank?”
“You saved lives,” Agent Atwell corrected. “Normally we’d advise someone in your position to stand down and do exactly what the robber says. But given what you told me about the young man’s behavior, and considering statements from numerous eyewitnesses, you made it possible for a mother and child to escape unharmed, as well as another hostage by providing cover like a pro. After that, you came up with a solid plan and followed through.”
“I lost my weapon.”
“You did.” The other woman nodded. “But you also gained physical control over both the suspect and his weapon. And as the threat was neutralized, you retrieved your weapon and kept him under your control until help arrived. I watched the footagefrom the security cameras, and overall, I’d say you did a damn fine job.”
You’ll do better next time.
Hoping like hell those unspoken words rang true, she shook Agent Atwell’s offered hand and forced a small smile to lift the corners of her lips. “Thank you.”
“No, thank you. Oh, and here…” She dropped Raegan’s hand to reach for something in her back pocket. When her hand appeared once again, it was holding a small, white business card. “The number on the card rings directly to me. You think of anything else, give me a call.”
“I will.” Raegan took the card and nodded.
The pretty agent had just started to turn away when her mobile dispatch radio—along with several others belonging to the surrounding FBI and CPD agents—came to life with a rush of staticky alerts.
Agent Atwell stopped mid-stride to retrieve the handheld radio at her hip. But before she could bring it closer to her ear for a better listen, a younger agent hurried to Atwell’s side.
“We’ve got another one,” the other agent announced. “Armed robbery in progress at the US Bank Cosmopolitan up on North Clark.”
Atwell and several others raced toward the lobby doors. As they did, Raegan heard dispatch come through the radios once again. There was a third bank robbery going down at yet another US Bank branch across town.
Three robberies at the same time? That can’t be a coincidence.
“Let’s go!” Atwell ordered the group of agents as she and the others hurried out the doors.
Raegan turned her attention from the bank’s entrance and wrapped her arms around her center. With her mind still whirling to make sense of all that had happened—and prayingfor those inside the other two banks—she stood in the middle of the lobby, watching woodenly as the remaining agents finished working the scene.
A short stretch of time later, she wasstillstanding there, wondering what the hell was going on, when she heard a deep, male voice calling out her name.
“Raegan!”
She swung her head around just in time to see Rocky burst into the lobby from outside. His worried gaze found her almost immediately. The relief reflecting back at her was so instant and profound, it created a slight hitch in her breath and a tightening in her chest.
Raegan blinked, and he was there. His imposing form loomed over her as his assessing blue gaze ran in a continuous line from the top of her head all the way down to her feet.