Page 21 of Halloween in Sleepy Hollow
Rylan, Kane, and Ian join our small group, and we close into a small circle. Quietly, Oliver says, “Ben and Cash need weapons. They’re both good.”
Cole glances at Rylan. Seconds later, Rylan hands a gun to me, and then to Cash. “They’re Sig P365s,” he murmurs. “Should be easy to use.”
I nod at him. “Thanks.”
“Okay.” Oliver casts his gaze around us. “We move in through the back. I checked the door already. It’s unlocked. Which, along with the light, makes me think someone’s in there. Then we check the vault first.”
“It’s in the far northwest corner,” Cash says. As everyone’s attention turns to him, he explains, “My parents had one here. I had to clear everything out when the bank closed.”
Cole nods. “Alright. So the northwest corner it is.” He raises his hand in a hold gesture. Then he drops his hand and we fall into single file as we head to the door.
As I walk into the bank, my adrenaline surges.
But I’m no good to Thea if I let my emotions influence my actions. So I shove everything down—the fear, theanger, the desperation—and channel all my focus on the mission at hand.
Because that’s what this is. A mission. To rescue Thea and her friends.
The first few minutes inside the bank are almost anticlimactic. It’s just echoing hallways and empty rooms and motes of dust that catch the light from the tiny Mag-lite Cole keeps aimed at the floor. We move cautiously through the hallways, our footsteps soft and silent, communicating through hand gestures and shared looks rather than spoken words.
Finally, we reach the hallway that Cash indicates leads to the vault.
The overhead light isn’t on, but a small handheld lantern is set on the floor—another promising clue that we’re moving in the right direction.
Cash glances over his shoulder to meet my gaze. He doesn’t have to say what he’s thinking.
Someone’s here.
At the end of the hallway, a metal door gleams dully. It’s shut, effectively stifling any sound that might come from behind it. So we can’t know for certain if anyone’s in there.
But a bone-deep certainty tells me there is. And that it’s the man we saw on the video footage.
There could be a dozen other explanations for what we’re seeing. Equipment left behind by a careless contractor. Teenagers sneaking off together, thinking the abandoned bank would be the perfect spot for a secret rendezvous. It could even be someone trying to find shelter for the night, now that the evenings are dipping into the thirties.
I don’t think so, though.
I think he’s in there.
And I think—hope—Thea’s in there, too.
Alive. Unhurt. Waiting for me to find her.
The alternative is unthinkable.
Maybe fifteen feet from the door, Cole holds his hand up in a gesture to stop. He waves all of us over to him, so we’re clustered in a small huddle. In a low, almost inaudible tone, he says, “Once we enter the room, things could move quickly. So let’s go over the plan now.”
We all nod silently in agreement.
“Okay,” he continues, “I’ll take point. Oliver, follow right behind me, Then Kane, Ian, Ben, and Cash. Ry, you’ll come in last. Once we move in, we need to identify the tangos quickly. If there’s only one, Oliver and I will neutralize him. Two or more, Kane, Ian, and Rylan will tag team them. Assuming the women are in there, Cash and Ben, your priority is protecting them. Get them into a corner, if possible. Is everyone good with that?”
“Roger,” Rylan replies quietly.
“On it,” Kane and Oliver echo in unison.
Ian glances at me and Cash. He gives each of us a brief nod. “I’m good,” he says.
“Ready,” I reply.
“Ready,” Cash murmurs. “Let’s do this.”
