Page 94 of A Very Un-Shakespeare Romance
He didn’t like it, but he nodded. Tyler and Sheila were talking as they approached the inner door, pretending nothing was amiss. Sheila reached for the door handle, nodding to him and Lily before opening it. Tyler went in first, going on about his time in Washington, DC, as Sheila followed.
Lily pointed her gun down and entered after them in a crouch. Unarmed, Robbie wouldn’t be of much help, but he still knew how to provide backup. He swept in after her, crouching low, signaling he’d stay put while she peeled off past the laundry room, which led to the family room.
“Freeze!” Tyler shouted. “FBI.”
Robbie was inside the kitchen a moment later. Janice and her muscle stood in front of the open patio door, a yard from the kitchen island. Four agents had their weapons trained on the pair.
“Shit!”The bulky dark-haired man next to her put his weapon down on the ground immediately and then crossed his hands behind his head. “What the hell are the Feds doing here? Dammit, Janice, you said this would be an easy score.”
“It was supposed to be!” Janice whipped her 9mm up, her hand shaky as she tried to aim her handgun. “Stay back.”
“You don’t want to do that, Janice,” Lily commanded in a low voice from the doorway leading from the family room, her body mostly shielded save her gun arm. “Five agents have their weapons trained on you, and we will shoot you if you discharge your weapon.”
Her arm wavered, her brown eyes narrowing. “I don’t understand…”
“Listen to me, Janice.” Lily kept her weapon trained on the woman, staying where she was. “You’re going to step away from the guy with you and lay down your weapon. Slowly.”
Robbie’s body tightened, knowing this is when people turned stupid. He watched as the woman cursed and then bent over, putting her gun on the floor. He breathed a sigh of relief.
“Okay, now hands behind your head like your friend here,” she instructed.
Tyler and Sheila swept forward as she took the position, their weapons still drawn. Tyler picked up the guns, placing them out of reach, as Sheila kept her gun trained on them, along with the other agents.
“Where’s Scotty?”Janice looked around and then froze when she spotted Robbie. “Hey! You were supposed to be here with Tara and the girls. Where’s Tara? Where’s—”
“I’m Tara today,” Sheila told her in a rough voice.
“And Scotty’s tied up on the beach,” Robbie said, his heart still pounding in his chest. “What were you going to do, Janice? Kill me and Tara if we didn’t agree to cooperate?”
“I am not talking to you, pig.” She lifted her pointy chin, defiance carving her beautifully made-up face. “I told Scotty you’d never go along with it. Men! They never listen.”
“And what about you?” Tyler gestured to her accomplice. “Sorry, I didn’t catch your name.”
A muscle ticked in his temple. “Bill Walpole.”
“Well, Mr. Walpole. Did you fancy the McLaren?”
“I was hoping for a cut of it, yeah.” He stared at Tyler. “What’s it to you?”
“Just doing my job.” Tyler glanced at Lily. “Can you get us some handcuffs?”
Agent Johnson and Mather pulled two pairs out of the deep pockets of his shorts. Lily stepped forward and took them.
“I think Robbie should do the honors,” she said, holding them out. “Seeing as he likes to use them and all.”
Sheila snorted, fully aware of the joke.
“By the way, Robbie,” Lily asked. “What happened to your shirt?”
He looked down at his bare chest. God, he’d forgotten about that. He jerked his head toward the beach. “I secured it in Scotty’s mouth so he couldn’t alert his accomplices.”
“Nice work, Lieutenant.” Lily headed toward the back door. “Who wants to join me in arresting Scotty Flanagan? I’ll let you guys take care of these two.”
Robbie saw the question in her eyes. “I do.” Then he went to cuff Janice and Bill.
He and Lily let themselves out as Sheila began reading Janice and her accomplice their rights. Lily brushed her body against him playfully, exhaling a long breath. “Well, after this unexpected dry run, arresting Kellys’ guys tomorrow should be a piece of cake.”
Spurting out a laugh, he sighted Scotty rolling like a human-sized worm across the beach, the hope of escape still in his heart apparently. “God, I hope so.”
