A/N: Sorry it took a while. I was whisked out of town for the weekend.
Please keep reviewing! You make my day happier!
Chapter 2: Piece of Cake?
Olivia smiled as she approached the young woman behind the counter. "Hi, I'm here to pick up a cake. Order's under Stabler."
The woman nodded, and walked into the back room. While she waited, Olivia hummed and tapped her finger on the counter. Always the cop, she scoped out the store.
In the corner with the fresh-baked bread stood an elderly couple. The old man gave her a wink, then rolled his eyes and gestured to his wife, who was actively conversing with one of the shop attendants about the difference between their bread and hers. Olivia let out a small laugh as he moved his hand to indicate she talked too much.
Across the shop, a little girl strolled along with her mother, pointing in excitement at the cookie display. A grin crossed Liv's face as she watched the mother nod her head at her daughter's request. Olivia loved kids and wished she had some of her own. At present, though, her life didn't have room. She had recently promised herself, however, that she would work on getting that changed.
"Alright, here you go," the young woman said as she came out. She set the cake on the top of the counter. "That'll be twenty-one, fifty."
Olivia slid some cash out of her back pocket, and passed two bills across the counter to the cashier, whose name tag read Jill. Jill pushed a button on the register, and the cash drawer shot out. She placed the money inside and began pulling out the correct change.
The gunshot startled them both. Jill knocked loose coins all over the floor, and Olivia spun around to survey the situation
"EVERYBODY DOWN ON THE FLOOR!" A man's voice boomed. He was wearing a black ski mask, a dark jacket, and baggy jeans. The handgun in his left hand was pointed towards the ceiling. A paper bag was crumpled in his right.
Liv dropped to the ground, making sure she could still see everyone else. She let a tiny sigh of relief out when it became apparent the perpetrator had only fired a warning shot, and no one was injured. The old man had placed himself over his wife, and the young mother had done the same with her child. Olivia wasn't in view of the door, but she assumed Elliot must have heard the gunfire.
The man quickly stepped over her and jumped across the counter. Jill was cowering under the counter. Olivia could hear her praying.
"Shut up!" the man yelled, as he pointed the gun to her head. She followed his orders, as tears ran down her face. The already-open cash drawer made it easy for the criminal to empty the register into his paper bag.
Olivia quietly slipped her hand around her waist, slowly unlocking her gun from the holster. She hid it underneath herself and waited.
The robber hopped back over the counter, landing inches from her head. He began to run out the door again, and Olivia shot to her feet, bringing her gun up with her.
"FREEZE!" She shouted, aiming her gun at his head.
The man glanced back at her, and then out the door. Stabler held the same position outside.
"Drop the gun," Liv instructed. The robber did so. "Now, kick it to me. And then get on your knees, hands above your head."
As the gun bounced off her shoe, she holstered her gun. She stepped towards the man, bringing her handcuffs around to her front. She nodded to Elliot, who nodded back, and then she clicked shut the cuffs.
The occupants of the shop began to rise nervously. The older couple and the mother smiled graciously at Olivia. She smiled back.
Stabler still held his gun, trained on the suspect. Olivia felt it would be safe to step away from him for a moment. She stepped back to the counter and grabbed the cake. She grinned at Jill and handed her the bag. "Don't worry. Keep the change."
Olivia pivoted back to the would-be robber and pulled him up. As she did, she brought her eyes back to Elliot. And that's when she saw it.
A second gunman stood across the street and raised his firearm.
Olivia tried to scream out a warning, but it was too late. The gun spoke instead.