Thanks to blueyedauthor and you cant rush science for the reviews. Hope everyone likes this chapter. It's going to propel Kane into a new part of her life and force her to deal with major issues. Thanks.

The next morning the siblings got up and went about making breakfast and dressing for the day. Both Dylan and Caleb took the day off just like Kane. The plan was to spend the day together. The first stop of the day was a surprise to Carly. Kane and her brothers decided to take her to the toy store. But, the siblings had no idea that they were going to leave the store with more than stuffed animals and action figures. More was going to happen to them that day than any of them expected.

Unbeknownst to Kane or the others, they had been followed from their house to the store by a large black van. Kane was so busy entertaining Carly in the back seat that she didn't notice. And why would she. The day was meant to be a nice normal family outing, but that wasn't going to happen.

"Hey there's something over here I'm going to check out." Caleb said winking to Dylan and Kane once they were in the store. He was going to pick up a new bike for Carly while they kept her busy. As Kane, Dylan, and Carly headed to look at stuffed animals Kane looked about the store. It was a mid size toy store with about twenty customers and a few employees. Everything was quiet until ten men in all black burst through the door. Two men fired shots into the ceiling while the others locked the doors and began rounding up all the people.

The sounds of the gunfire made them drop to the ground. But then the cop instincts kicked in. Kane looked around and saw a store room door. She quietly pushed Dylan and Carly inside. Two employees stood scared. They heard the shots but had no idea what to do.

Barely above a whisper Kane spoke to them. "My name is Detective Kandice Axel. This is important, is there a place for you all to hide?"

A young boy, barely seventeen was the first to come out of the trance. "The mannequin closet upstairs."

"Show me." The employees led the way with Dylan carrying a terrified Carly following. Kane pulled out the gun she kept around her ankle and took up the rear. So many images were running through her mind. What the hell was she going to do?

The store room was quiet, aside from the light background music playing. The absence of noise scared Kane. It meant they had to be extremely quiet so as not to give away their hiding place. Kane stayed alert as she pulled out her cell phone but found she had no service.

"Damn it." She cursed as the group came to a door in the back of the room. Dylan looked worried. "No service." She answered. After Kane checked inside the room, she looked at her siblings and the people in her care.

"Okay everyone listen to me. I want you all to get inside and lock the door then barricade it with whatever you can. If you have a cell call the cops if you can. Don't open the door for anyone else." The two employees went inside and got out their phones but Dylan was hesitant.

"Kandice, Caleb's out there. I'm coming with you."

"No Dylan. I have to do this but you need to stay here and watch Carly. I'll get Caleb. You have to just stay put." Dylan nodded.

"Kane no go." Carly grabbed her sister's sleeve.

"Carly I have to." Kane took the tiny girl in her arms and held her tight. "I'm an officer and I can stop these bad men. But I need you to stay here and be a big girl for Dylan. He's scared so I need you to be brave and protect him. Can you do that for me?"

"Yes." she sniffled then wiped her nose on her sleeve.

Kane kissed Carly on the cheek then handed her to Dylan. She hugged him then turned to the employees again. "Hey you. What's your name?" She said to the other worker.

"Mark Whelman."

"Alright. Mark is there a phone anywhere in the store room?"

"By the door. I'm trying to get service here but so far nothing."

"Keep on trying. I'm going to do what I can to end this safely. Thank you for your help." Kane took one last look at her family then closed the door. She waited until she heard it locked then stuff being moved behind it before she headed back down stairs.

The adrenaline started to kick in. the detective inside her began to piece together what was going on. She had only got a glimpse but there were at least six men. All armed. The customers did not seem to be their priority. Other than rounding them up she could hear nothing more. Once Kane was down the stairs, she made a quick but thorough scan of the room, then crept to the door. It had a small glass window in the center that she might be able to peer out of. With her gun armed and ready, Kane built up the courage to look before using the phone.

Several men walked around the building. There was no way to see all of them but Kane had clear view up to the registers. Six men were at the front along with the hostages. The strange part being that they were not clearing out the registers. Kane ducked down and made her way to the phone. If they weren't here to rob the place then what did these guys want? As Kane reached for the phone, it hit her.

In the past two days Kane helped piss off some very well connected criminals. Organized criminals that probably wanted their cohorts set free.

"Shit."

The word was barely out of her mouth when she heard footsteps right outside the door. Kane hid behind some boxes of big wheel trucks as one man came to inspect the store room.

He looked around missing Kane by inches. The man had his gun ready so Kane had to be cautious and precise. As soon as he was far enough past her, she grabbed a rather heavy box of wooden blocks and knocked the man upside his head. He fell to the ground unconscious. Never in a million years did Kane think she would be knocking out perps with toys. She felt like she was in a messed up version of Die Hard or Home Alone.

After using a jump rope to tie his hands and a piece of cloth to gag him, she took his gun and prepared to get to the phone. Kane was running out of time. Now that she had taken out one, more would soon follow. Her hand was on the phone when a red light blinked to signify someone was about to use the intercom. Kane held her breath not knowing what was about to come. It took all she had to put the phone back down and go back to look out the window.

The armed men were obviously upset. They waved their guns and occasionally they shouted. Finally, the leader or who Kane assumed leader, settled down then grabbed the phone again. A moment later, his voice was over the loud speaker.

"Detective Axel, I know you can hear this. Now I was hoping to have more time to get some things done but since the cops are here I have no time or patience." As Kane listened, she snuck out of the store room and made her way to the back of the building. If she had to show herself, she wasn't giving the others away. "So if you cooperate this will go over a hell of a lot easier. If not, I have someone here who might convince you." There was some rustling noise.

"Kandice don't do it." Caleb.

"Shut him up." The leader said taking over the phone. There was no shots which Kane took as a good sign. "Now Axel come on out or your baby brother here will pay the price."

Kane took a second to put her gun in its ankle holster. She hid the other on a shelf. Then she stood up and walked towards the registers. Three men saw her. All guns pointed on her. Kane held up her hands and walked forward.