Forgotten by Evangeline Anderson Read Free Book Online Page B

things to notice when something really
important was happening until it was too late.
    But was it too late? She had her own gun, of
course, but the Glock was tucked under her arm in the holster she
wore beneath her jacket. How could she get to it without causing
suspicion or getting her customer’s head blown off? Well, the first
thing was to get the assailant away from Mr. Denrek, who was
shaking like a leaf.
    She looked around for help but there was no
one there. Store policy stated that there should be two employees
behind the cases at all times but Rosalie, the other clerk who was
working that night, had asked if Kate minded if she ran to the
bathroom. That had been five minutes ago, just before Mr. Denrek
walked in to look at the watch and she still wasn’t back. There
were no other customers either—she would have to handle this on her
own.
    Kate took a deep breath.
    “ Let’s just take it easy,”
she said in a low voice. “If you’ll just leave Mr. Denrek alone I’m
sure we can get you what you want.”
    “ What I want is that watch he’s
wearing and every one like it you’ve got in the store,” the guy in
the hoody snarled. “Now.”
    “ Take it! You can have
it!” The customer suddenly unfroze and started fumbling desperately
with the clasp on the Rolex. He got it unsnapped but unfortunately,
a great deal of his arm hair was caught in the microfine links. He
howled in pain as he ripped it off and dropped it onto the glass
jewel case with a clunk.
    “ That’s a start.” The guy
in the hoody snatched up the watch and looked at it eagerly. Then
the expression on his face turned to one of disgust. “Ugh—there’s
hair all up in it—fucking nasty!” He looked at the customer. “You
know, they have like, hair removal laser surgery you can get. If
you’re rich enough to afford a watch like this, you sure as hell
could get some of that done.”
    “ I…uh…” Mr. Denrek looked
offended but also still scared to death.
    “ Shut up you fat furry
fuck—nobody cares,” the assailant snapped. He shoved Mr. Denrek to
the ground and pointed his gun directly at Kate’s face. “Okay now,
pretty lady, you’re gonna open the case and give me every single
watch in this place and you’re gonna do it fast.”
    “ All right.” Kate was
tense but despite the explosive situation, she still felt in
control of herself. “Just please stop pointing the gun at me and
I’ll give you anything you want,” she whispered, letting her voice
tremble appealingly. “Please.”
    She doubted her soft plea would have worked
if she’d been a man or even a larger woman but her diminutive size
worked in her favor this time.
    “ All right, cutie.” The
guy in the hoody smirked and lowered the gun just a little so that
it was pointed at the jewelry case rather than her. “I’m not gonna
hurt you if you give me what I want,” he told her.
    “ Anything,” Kate
whispered, still letting her voice tremble and pasting a look of
abject terror on her face. In reality, she felt calm and collected
inside. I can take this guy—all I need is
just one good shot.
    It was strange that she should have had a
panic attack earlier when confronted by the man from her dreams and
yet now, faced with a gun-wielding robber, she felt as cool as a
cucumber. But she’d never been the type to cry or faint—unlike her
customer, Mr. Denrek who was huddled in a ball on the floor
whimpering.
    No help there, Kate thought grimly. But she didn’t need any
help. All she needed was a split second and a little
luck.
    “ I’m going to reach into
my inside pocket,” she told the assailant, moving her right hand
carefully up to the left side of her jacket. “That’s where I keep
the keys to the cases. Okay?”
    “ Yeah, all right.” Clearly
he still suspected nothing. After all, how could such a tiny little
girl hurt him?
    Oh, I’ll hurt you plenty,
asshole, Kate thought grimly, though she
was careful to keep the look of fear on her face.