Hey guys! Sapphire here. So, I just wanted to let you know, this is a re-edited version of a story I wrote a while ago. That one had too many split ends and not enough storyline, so I deleted it. I apologize if you liked it, and if you did, just message me and I'll send you the original copy.
But this one, hopefully, will be better than the last one, and will include more of the Criminal Minds and NCIS characters where the last one was sorely lacking.
So, anyway! I don't own either Criminal Minds or NCIS, sadly. And enjoy the story!
ST
Kiley's POV:
I walked down the street with my head bent over my book. It was a copy of 'Twenty Thousand Leagues Under the Sea', I had read it a million times, but it was one of the books I remember my mother reading to me before my dad took me away from she and my brother, Spencer.
My name was Kiley Reid. I looked a lot like my older brother. I had soft, curly brown hair, big brown eyes, pale skin, and a lanky physique. My legs were long and so were my arms, and no matter how much I ate, I always looked like a scarecrow.
I was 16 years old and already graduating from college. The only reason that I hadn't done so before was because my dad refused to let me out of his sight. But, apparently, his opinion had changed. He had just kicked me out of the house, and he refused to go into full details as to why.
He had called my older brother, who had been fighting for custody of me for a long time, and told him that he could have me. I was fine with it.
I didn't really have much, and all that I did have was in a hotel until Spencer could get here.
I lived in D.C., Maryland. And I loved it here. I loved the cool air, the sights, the numerous bookstores, and the many coffee shops. If I was honest, I would be sad to leave it. But, I was happy to finally be able to see my brother more than once a year. And, I could get into a different college to finish up my majors, Forensic Science and Psychology. I had a few other PhD's too, like Criminology and Biochemistry, and a few minors in medical science. I loved learning, and I loved reading. I wanted to be like Spencer and be an FBI agent when I got older, but I also wanted to be a forensic scientist and an author. I suppose that I still had a few years to decide.
I walked into a coffee shop and put my book carefully into the brown messenger bag hanging at my side. I had a bit of money since I actually had a good paying job at a bookstore a few blocks away, thankfully, so I was able to buy what I wanted.
Like my clothes.
I wore ripped jeans, black converse, a blue shirt, various leather bracelets, a soft blue hoodie that was way too big for me, and a sapphire pendant that Spencer had sent me for my birthday.
I got in line behind an older guy with a sharp suit and slightly salt and pepper hair. The way his shoulders were poised, and the way he stood, I'd say he was a veteran. A 'no nonsense' kind of guy.
When he got to the front of the line, the lady at the counter just nodded and waved to one of the other employees, who immediately started getting his drink ready. So he was a regular. I just ducked into here because it had started to rain outside and I wanted coffee and something for breakfast.
I walked up to the counter as the man walked away to wait for his order and cleared my throat.
I smiled at the lady behind the counter, who returned it happily, and said, "Um, I'll have the double chocolate chip frappe please. And a chocolate muffin."
The girl nodded and rang it up. I paid her and waited at a table.
The man I had been behind was sitting a few tables from me, and he was looking out the window with disinterest. His eyes were icy blue, and extremely calculating.
He swiveled his head towards me as though he knew I was staring, but I didn't flinch under his unblinking gaze. I just lifted my chin slightly, refusing to back down. He probably had an alpha male personality.
After several tense seconds of keeping his cool gaze, the lady at the counter called out to him, holding his coffee. And mine was soon after.
We both stood and walked to the counter. I got there first and picked up my order with a smile, then began to walk out. But as I was walking out, my footsteps faltered. There was a man in line, and he was setting off all sorts of alarms in my head.
He was smiling at everyone in a 'too cheerful' attitude, and his hand kept ghosting to his hip. I narrowed my eyes and saw a lump protruding from his jacket. From the shape and size, I'd guess it was a 9mm glock handgun.
I know that you are entitled to bear arms, but in a coffee shop?
He didn't look like a detective, and he didn't have a badge on him. I thought the whole thing with a firearm is you have to have your badge on with it, or neither at all.
I didn't have time to rule it out, because as soon as he saw me staring, his smile faded and his hand went to the glock.
He yanked it out and pointed it straight at me, then shouted, "Alright everyone! Listen up!" As people looked at him, there were a few screams as they saw the gun, but he just kept talking.
"This is how it's going to go. You're going to give me all your cash, and any other valuable trinkets, and I'm not going to shoot all of you. Starting with you." He flicked the barrel at me.
My heart was pounding out of my chest, but I knew I had to do something. There were so many people in this café with me, so many of us, and just one of him. I had to do something. Everyone else wouldn't, couldn't, do anything, I was close enough. I could. And if I didn't, someone might get hurt.
So, before I could change my mind, I dropped my order, swung my messenger bag up to protect my torso, and charged at him.
