May 2019

Saturday 19th

The front door opened and shut with force and Harm and Mac shared looks as they heard running upstairs. Seconds later the same hurried steps went down the stairs. Mac stood and headed for the hallway.

"I just forgot my bag," Kelly opened the front door. "Don't worry, I can do this."

"I can bring Sophia and go with you," Mac suggested once more.

"No, I'm picking up Ellis and Audrey," Kelly looked impatiently at her mother. "I've got this."

Mac let out a sigh. "Okay. Text me after your competition."

"Of course," Kelly smiled."I'll see you later. Don't worry. I'm a good driver, remember?"

"I do remember that," Mac smiled. "Be back no later than 1500. It's the last fitting before the wedding."

"Yes, ma'am," Kelly headed out the door and Mac turned back to the kitchen.

"What did she forget?" Harm wondered.

"Her bag," Mac sat down again. "It'll be okay. She's a good driver. You said so yourself. She's a big girl. Responsible."

Harm was amused. "Who are you trying to convince here, Mac?"

"Me," she offered a sweet smile. "How are you doing over there Sophia?"

"I'm almost done," the five-year-old sipped her milk.

"Good," Mac stood. "We should get going."

Sophia got off her chair. "I'm ready."

"Run upstairs and see if Rose is ready to go," Mac suggested.

"Okay," the girl hurried out of the kitchen.

They were looking after Sophia for the weekend so that Nathan and Eve could have one day to themselves before Nathan's graduation week and their wedding in a week.

"Do you need me for anything?" Harm wondered as he started clearing the table.

"You can go golfing," she was amused.

"I don't have to if you need me to do something. Our son is getting married in a week…" he hesitated. "You're a little stressed."

"Well, our boy is graduating and getting married, so I guess I am a little stressed," she admitted. "But you can go golfing. It's just the last fitting and everything should be ready for the big day."

"If you're sure…" he leaned in and kissed her softly.

"I am," she smiled reassuringly.

"And Mac, Kelly is a good driver. I'm the one who taught her, remember?" he flashed her a big smile.

"Okay," she smiled softly. "Have fun."

"I will," he hesitated and studied her. "Baby, what's really got you worried?"

"Nothing," she nervously brushed invisible crumbs from the counter to the sink. "I can't shake this feeling that something bad is about to happen."

"Premonitions?" he leaned on the counter.

"No, I don't have premonitions, I just got this feeling…" she shrugged. "Never mind."

"Mac," he grabbed her arm before she could brush past him. "Nothing bad will happen."

"Okay," she smiled weakly.

"Everything will go as planned." He studied her face. "But you don't believe me."

"I'm sure you're right," she smiled and let out a sigh. "Go golfing. We're going to the stable."

He kissed her again. "You're about to see your son get married. Then it's Mattie's wedding later this summer. You're probably just feeling overwhelmed."

"Probably," she agreed.

He smiled. "I'll see you later."

She relaxed and kissed him softly. "I love you."

"I love you too." He let her go. "Be careful."

"You too," she brushed past him.

Later

Mac checked herself in the mirror once more and had to agree with the woman who had fitted the dress that it looked amazing on her. Mac stepped out of the fitting room and looked around. No Sophia anywhere.

"Mom, you look amazing!" Kelly had lifted her head from the screen of her phone for the first time since she got out of her fitted dress.

"Thanks," Mac looked around nervously. "Where's…"

"Rose got her," Kelly pointed towards a sitting group further away. "The shop lady had found them crayons and paper."

"Great, just let me get out of the dress and we'll pay and get going," Mac headed into the fitting room again.

Five minutes later she walked out with the dress hanging over her arm.

"We're ready to go," Rose said. She had put the crayons back in the box and put it on the counter for the shop lady to have them back.

"Thank you for watching her," Mac smiled.

"No problem," Rose took Sophia's hand.

Mac paid for the dresses and they turned to leave. The door to the store opened and a man hauling on another man came through it. One man hit the floor as the door closed again. The other younger man standing pointed a gun around him as he took in his surroundings.

"Kids get behind the counter," Mac whispered quietly.

"Mom?" Rose's eyes met Mac's, then she dragged Sophia with her behind the counter.

"Sorry ladies," the man pointed the gun to Mac. "Can you check out my brother? He's been shot."

Mac moved in front of Kelly who hadn't moved at all. "Get behind the counter Kelly."

Kelly hesitated than did as she was told.

"Should I call an ambulance?" Mac suggested calmly.

"Are you kidding me, lady?" The man was angry now. "I'm not going to jail just because of that store manager calling the cops on us. Just make sure that my brother isn't dead. I need to get him out of here." He pointed his gun at the shop lady. "You, get over here. Do you have a first aid kit?"

"I.. no.. I…" the shop lady stammered. "Just please go away."

"The damn street is filled with cops so that's not really an option lady," the man pointed his gun to Mac. "So, is he okay?"

Mac saw three separate wounds to the man's torso and leg. "I'm not a doctor, but I'm pretty sure he needs one." She bent down to check for a pulse. "He has a pulse, but it's weak." She stood.

"Damn it," the man turned to look out the window. "Damn cops. Is there a back door to this place?" he asked.

Mac noticed the shop lady shaking her head.

"That's a shame," the man said as the shop door opened once again. He grabbed Mac and held her in front of him just as two cops walked into the store. They went for their guns when they saw what was in front of them.

"It's them," one of them yelled. "Put your hands up!"

"Get the hell out of here and get me a damn car," the man yelled. "I'm not going away again. I'll shoot them all before you get me."

"Please, sir, just put the gun down," the other cop yelled.

"I think you both need to back out of here," Mac said calmly. She noticed how nervous the two young cops were. They probably hadn't expected to walk into this situation. "This is not the way to deal with this situation. Please, just leave."

"Ma'am, we can't do that," one of the cops said.

"I think you can," Mac continued. "You don't want to escalate the situation."

"I think the lady is right. I will shoot them all," the young man promised.

The cops shared looks then started to back out of the store.

The man relaxed once the door closed and he let go of Mac. "Lock the door."

Mac nodded and did as she was told. "Can I suggest that you let the rest of them go?"

"You can suggest it, but then I wouldn't hold the power, right?" The man ran a hand through his hair. "Who are you anyway?"

"I'm Sarah Rabb. I'm an attorney," Mac said calmly.

"You're a damn lawyer?" the man hesitated. "So if I get out of this alive will you take my case?" he chuckled.

"Sure, why not," Mac tried a careful smile. "You haven't killed anyone, right? So I could get you out… What did you do anyway? Rob a store?"

"Yeah, Sarah, I tried to rob a damn store," he rubbed his head nervously. "Money has been tight lately. I couldn't get a job. You know how it is when you're a juvenile. Not many jobs for us. My brother figured a small robbery would put food on the table until one of us could get a job. Is he still alive?" The phone started ringing by the register.

Mac crouched down and felt a steady pulse. "Yeah, he's alive. A cop did this?" She figured none of the bullets had hit any major arteries since there wasn't much bleeding.

"No, the damn guy behind the register," the man walked back and forth. "I need to get him to a hospital. Can I demand that they get him to a hospital?" he questioned. The phone kept ringing.

"You do hold all the power," Mac pointed out.

"I do, don't I?" the man pointed to the phone beside the register. "Get me an ambulance, Sarah."

Mac stood and headed for the register. "Hello?"

"Ma'am, this is Detective Olson. Who are you?"

"Sarah Rabb."

"Hi, Sarah. Is everyone okay there?" the detective wondered.

"We need an ambulance for the man who was shot during the robbery," Mac said.

"We can make that happen. Is the man with the gun… What's his name?"

"They'd like to know your name, sir," Mac said.

"They can call me Ray," the man with the gun said.

"Ray," Mac repeated into the phone.

"Is Ray okay with letting us take his friend…"

"His brother," Mac clarified. "And yes, Ray would like you to take his brother to a hospital."

"Good. What about the hostages? Is he willing to surrender?" the detective asked.

"Ray, would you like to surrender?" Mac questioned.

"I'd like a damn car and a way out of here!" Ray yelled.

"Negative on that last request," Mac said into the phone.

"I'll let the kids go," Ray suddenly said. "I'll let them go. I won't hurt kids."

"Ray wants to let the kids go," Mac said with relief.

"Good. This is what we do. Send the kids out. I'll send in paramedics and we'll get his brother out. After that, we'll see what we can do about a way out of there. Can you keep him calm, Sarah?" the detective asked.

"Yes," Mac said, convinced that she could.