Read Option to Kill (Nathan McBride 3) for Free Online Page A

few times but knew there was an exit out to an elevated walkway on the east side of the building. They’d head that way.
    At the landing of the second-floor escalator, he spotted what he needed. “Lauren, see that mannequin up ahead on the right? I want you to pretend to look at the dress it’s wearing, but look for the security guard we just saw. If you see him, form a fist with your right hand for a second.”
    She approached the mannequin, circled it, and touched the material. Her right hand formed a fist, then released.
    Nathan kept his back to the escalator and whispered, “What’s he doing?”
    “He’s talking on a radio.”
    His SIG. The guard must’ve seen the handgun’s outline when Nathan knelt in front of Lauren. How could he have been so careless and sloppy? Every security guard in the mall was probably converging toward Nordstrom. He knew guards weren’t allowed to take direct action against an armed assailant, but they could definitely call for reinforcements in the form of San Diego’s finest.
    How long did they have? Two or three minutes? They could run for it and take their chances, but sprinting through a crowded mall with a security guard pursuing them wouldn’t work. An idea formed — the guard’s handcuffs. If he could remove the flow of information, the rest of the mall’s security guards would be blind.
    He kept his voice low. “Lauren, we’re going to run toward the exit. Stay close.”
    “I’m scared.”
    “Ready?”
     

Chapter 6
    It all boiled down to timing. Nathan needed to execute a series of precise moves if his plan was going to work. He couldn’t do anything about all the customers present, but he figured their desire to remain uninvolved would render them inert.
    Nathan and Lauren made an all-out sprint toward the east exit.
    “Stop! You’re under arrest!”
    Nathan pretended to lose his footing. He sprawled out on the ground and acted like he’d twisted an ankle.
    “Stay on the ground! Keep your hands away from your body!”
    “Don’t shoot!” Nathan knew the guard didn’t have a gun, but he needed to make his act believable. He assumed a facedown, spread-eagle position on the floor.
    Lauren stopped running and turned around. With the guard still behind him, he gave her a wink. Her expression changed, but he wasn’t sure if she’d play along. She might bolt for the exit without him.
    The guard ran forward and repeated his command to stay on the ground. Nathan turned his head and watched the guard remove the handcuffs. Perfect. In a quick move, he swept his foot and brought the security guard down. An elbow to the guard’s jaw ended the struggle. Nathan hoped he hadn’t broken anything, but he’d clocked the guy pretty hard. Within seconds, he had the guard’s wrists secured around the chrome support of a clothing rack. He grabbed the guard’s radio and tossed it aside.
    Everyone in the immediate area looked startled and frightened. A heavyset man with lousy tattoos looked to be a potential threat, and Nathan decided to keep an eye on him.
    He grabbed Lauren’s hand and ran toward the exit, inwardly cursing at all the cameras that had just recorded his assault on the guard. How long before his and Lauren’s faces were plastered on every television in the city?
    Tattoo Man also moved toward the same exit, paralleling their pace. Just what Nathan needed, a frigging hero. He didn’t want one surveillance source replaced with a new one. He’d have to deal with this. When the guy closed to within ten feet, Nathan pulled his SIG and pointed it at the man’s chest.
    The man raised his inked-up arms. “Hey, man, I don’t want no trouble.”
    “Then get on the ground.”
    “Okay, take it easy.”
    “Please do it now.”
    The big man grunted as he dropped to his knees and flopped onto his belly.
    Without looking back, Nathan tucked his SIG back into his pocket and did his best to cover it with his shirt. Outside the store, he had several options. Going left