A brand new story in Heather Graham’s Krewe of Hunters series is out this week, and I have a little sneak peek for you.
Excerpt
Angela heard the tapping sound that seemed to be coming from the front of the bank.
But it wasn’t like someone knocking on a door.
It sounded like drapery moving in the wind, or as if something caught on a cord had slipped or fallen and was just lightly tapping against a desk or a floor or something.
She kept at her task, sorting cash as she had been directed, taking the piles that Billy approved of and setting them in one of the cases.
Kenneth had been keeping a close eye on her.
And his gun was still aimed her way.
Almost as if daring her, Billy had set his weapon down, but he’d done it near the door.
Near Kenneth.
Naturally, both Billy and Kenneth heard the sound. Billy paused and stared at Kenneth with a frown.
“What is that?”
Kenneth shook his head. “Probably nothing.”
“And we’re certain no one has tried to get in yet?” Billy asked him.
“Hey, we’re not the only eyes on the place,” Kenneth said. “No one is trying to get in. A few people have come by, but walked away when they saw the sign. They’ll find another branch.”
“But we need to hurry. We need to get out—”
“Fill the cases. Remember, no new currency, no easily traced serial numbers, and no big bills,” Kenneth snapped.
“Move faster!” Billy yelled at Angela.
“I’m trying,” she assured him.
The tapping noise had stopped. Then, it started up again.
“What in the hell is that?” Billy demanded.
“Nothing, just a dangling cord or some shit,” Kenneth snapped back at him. “Get your gun. Watch her. I’ll check it out.”
Billy did as he’d been ordered. He picked up his weapon and aimed it at Angela.
Kenneth left them, walking the hall and pausing by the vault with the boxes to make sure everything was secure before moving toward the offices at the front of the bank.
They saw him step into a room.
“Billy,” Angela said quietly, “you know this bank—or your friend Kenneth does. There’s one door in front and one in back. And if anyone touches either of them, an alarm goes off. Thank God no one has tried anything. You two can get your money and get out—”
“With you. You do realize that, right?” Billy asked her.
“If I’m a human shield, then so be it,” she said.
“You’re awfully accepting. But you know, this is a bank, not a home. People value money way more than they do human life. If the cops come after us, it won’t be me who shoots you. It will likely be a cop.”
“I’m going on faith, Billy. I’m going to believe that we’ll leave here and drive away. And when we’re far enough away—”
“We’ll let you go? Is that what you’re thinking?” he asked her.
“Why wouldn’t you?” Angela asked him.
“Oh, come on. You can’t be that naïve. You can tell the cops what we look like—you can even tell them who I am.”
She might have pointed out that everyone in the bank could probably do that, but there was no sense in putting the other hostages in any worse danger than they were already in.
“I won’t tell.”
“Don’t you watch TV? Everyone says that—in every crime show known to man. And they never mean a word of it.”
“Okay.” She put the money she’d been gathering back on the table.
“What are you doing? Hurry it up!”
“Why? If you’re going to kill me anyway, why should I help you?”
He frowned for a minute and waved the gun at her. “Hope,” he snapped, then shook his head, his voice a bit broken when he added, “hope. Don’t you think I hoped that someone would come and save my parents until the very last minute? I mean, that’s only human, right? You hope something will happen, and that maybe, just maybe, you’ll be saved.”
She stared at him, trying to keep him distracted.
She knew something now that he didn’t.
She had help. Jackson knew exactly what was going on. She knew her husband and partner. He’d realize they’d be risking the lives of everyone in the place if they burst in with guns blazing.
He was planning something.
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Krewe of Hunters - Recommended Reading Order
(standalone stories with interconnected characters)
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