Midnight Hero - By Diana Duncan Page 0,65

her arms around his wide chest and rested her cheek against his back, offering comfort. She angled her chin toward the lowered mic. “How did you escape? Where were the robbers?”

“I stuffed paper towels into the toilet inside the bank until it overflowed. One of ’em had to take me out to use the mall restroom. I went in, waited a few minutes, then started moaning. When he poked his head inside, I knocked him cold with the metal trashcan. The rest of the crew are in the bank loading money.”

Con turned and kissed Bailey’s cheek in a wordless thank you. His body language was once again capable and confident, his tone strong and steady. “Tell her we’re on the way.”

He strode to the balcony, leaned over and peered downward. He gave a thumbs up, then pointed toward the escalators.

Bailey continued talking to Nan as she followed Con down the three-flight jog. “Con’s with me. We’ll help you.”

“Thank goodness! I wondered how you’d wiped out two gun-toting bank robbers and thwarted Tony all by your lonesome.”

If she had been alone, she’d be a captive too, helpless and scared.

Or dead.

She reached for Con’s hand. He squeezed gently, and she returned the gesture. Silent support and reassurance flowed between them. “We’re double-teaming them.”

Con shot a smile at Bailey over his shoulder that arrowed straight to her heart, and asked, “Bad guy head count?”

“Nan, how many bank robbers are there?”

“Not including the one I clobbered, three more. And they talked about drivers outside. Someone named Manny and another name I didn’t get.” Nan moaned. “Ooh, Bailey, I think the baby’s coming fast. Hurry!”

“Hang in there, girlfriend. We’re on the way.”

At the bottom of the escalator, Con pulled her aside. “As soon as the crew in the bank notices how long she’s been gone, they’ll come looking. When we reach Office Max, recover the walkie-talkie and deliver it to me. We have to stay in touch with the suspects. Especially as the incident heads toward crisis.”

Another crisis? Wonderful. Bailey empathized with Con’s minor meltdown upstairs. She might blow a gasket any second. This night had been one blasted crisis after another. An endless, nerve-racking emergency, interrupted by moments of sheer terror. When they got out of here, she’d have T-shirts made up for everyone imprinted with the words, I survived New Year’s Eve at the Mall.

She counted to ten. Get it together. The last thing Con needed was for her to freak. He had enough on his plate. “Okay.”

As if sensing her need for comfort, he kept one arm around her and switched on the red walkie-talkie. She didn’t need to be told how blessed she was that he was always tuned in to her feelings. “Command, be advised. BLO, one or more suspects possibly outside. Wheelman ID’d as Manny. Do you copy?”

“Ten-four,” Aidan replied. “What’s your-ten-twenty-eight? Over.”

“One of the hostages has escaped, and she’s gone into labor. We’re in the process of retrieval and transfer to a more secure location. Over.”

“The medic is on site if you need emergency childbirth procedure. Over.”

Con scowled. “Pray it doesn’t come to that, but thanks. Over and out.”

She snuggled closer to his solid warmth. Every moment with him had become precious. The next hour, the next minute could make the unthinkable a reality. “What does BLO mean?”

“Cop talk. Be on the lookout.” He consulted his watch, gave her one last hug. “Rendezvous here in ten minutes.”

Keeping to the dusky edges of the corridor, they sprinted toward Office Max. Con melted into the shadows out front, and she strode inside the dark store.

She veered right. “Nan, it’s Bailey. Where are you?”

“Behind the computer armoires. On the left.”

The emergency lights were few, and the ceiling-high shelves and pervasive gloom made it hard to see. The crisp, cottony smell of new paper sliced through the smothering darkness. Bailey switched sides and crept among the aisles. Bulky shapes loomed ahead, warning that she’d reached the office furniture. “Nan?”

“Here,” her friend shakily hailed from behind a big bookcase.

Bailey rounded the corner and Nan gasped. “I’ve never been so relieved in my life as when I heard your voice on the walkie-talkie. I’d been in labor for hours and didn’t know what to do.”

“Don’t worry, I’ll get you out of here.”

Nan choked off a sob. “I was afraid Tony would kill the baby rather than fuss with moving me to the multiplex. And taking a crying newborn on the helicopter?” She shuddered. “No way.”

“Stay calm, sweetie. Everything will be okay.” Bailey patted the