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

into the parking garage was out, as that would take them in the wrong direction. An escalator leading down to the first level was directly ahead. So was the entrance to Neiman Marcus, but they couldn’t enter the retailer or go down the escalator without being seen by people inside Nordstrom — including Tattoo Man. Nathan made the decision to stay on the second level and head south along the stores lining the open-air walkway.
    “We’re going to hurry but not run.”
    Nathan spotted the new threat immediately. At the far end of the walkway, another security guard crested the mall’s central escalator and began sprinting toward them. It was a woman.
    “Follow my lead.” He crouched down at a store window and covered the outline of his SIG with his right hand. He lowered his voice to a whisper. “Ignore her, Lauren. We’re just window shopping.”
    There was no mistaking the hard-soled footfalls as the female guard approached. Nathan used the glass to study the shoppers behind him. In the reflection, he saw people on both sides of the elevated walkways freeze and watch the guard race toward Nordstrom. Time seemed to slow as the guard passed directly behind them. Nathan straightened up and watched with the rest of the people until the guard disappeared into Nordstrom. Tattoo Man would tell the newly arriving guard what had happened. He estimated they had less than half a minute to clear the area, unless the new guard took a few seconds to check on her downed comrade. Even that wouldn’t give them much added time.
    “Let’s go.”
    Nathan and Lauren hurried along the walkway toward the central escalator. Along the way, Nathan overheard people talking about what they’d just seen. At every opportunity, he used the glass facades to check for the female guard’s reappearance. So far, so good.
    They hadn’t walked more than halfway to the central escalator when a high-pitched voice echoed down the gauntlet of retail shops.
    “Everyone freeze. Nobody moves!”
    Nathan looked back toward Nordstrom and saw Tattoo Man standing next to the female guard. He stepped away from the glass, made eye contact with Lauren, and nodded toward the right. His message was clear: we’re leaving in that direction. He looked over his shoulder and saw Tattoo Man point at them. Nathan couldn’t hear what was said, but the guard immediately focused on them.
    “You two! Don’t move. You’re both under arrest.”
     

Chapter 7
    They sprinted toward the central escalator.
    “Stop! You’re under arrest!”
    Lauren couldn’t run as fast as he could, so they’d never lose the second guard, even with all the people present. He formulated another plan.
    At the top of the escalator, he said, “Stay behind me.”
    He bounded down the steps, pushing past a father holding his son’s hand. He heard Lauren’s footfalls as she followed. At the bottom, he made a U-turn to the right. Staying out of sight from above, he hugged the support wall and listened for the female guard’s arrival.
    When she stomped down the escalator, Nathan advanced to the landing and caught her by surprise. He could almost read the guard’s thoughts, her expression registering shock at seeing a six foot five, 240-pound man with menacing scars appear out of nowhere. Within seconds, Nathan had her facedown on the concrete with her hands pinned behind her back.
    He started another mental stopwatch, this one for sixty seconds. The guard tried to roll free, so Nathan forced the woman’s arms up, straining her shoulders.
    “Stop resisting. I’m not dangerous, and I’m not going to hurt anyone.”
    “You’re in a world of trouble, buddy.”
    “Tell me about it. I’m going to cuff you. Please don’t resist, or I’ll use stronger force. I have no desire to tear your rotator cuffs. Order everyone to back away and not interfere.”
    “What?”
    Nathan forced the guard’s hands up a little and received a grunt of pain.
    “Okay!” The guard raised her voice.