Even Randi had to smile at that, remembering all too well.

"I never did tell you, but Ray's 'secret blend' was nothing more than Folgers and Swiss Miss hot chocolate powder mix combined." Shannon grinned up at Randi. "Funny, huh?"

"Shannon," Randi said softly, moving around until she was sitting across from him. "Why are you doing all this? I'm not worth this." She eyed the gun then her gaze moved up to his troubled eyes. "Let it go. Letmego before you ruin your life."

Shannon studied her for a moment before his face distorted into rage as she shoved his chair back hard enough to knock it over. He grabbed Randi by the hair, forcing her head back. "Donotpresume to tell me what to do," he growled, the barrel of the gun resting under her chin.

***

Canton's eyes were glued to the news broadcast of the hostage situation on local news. Blake sat next to her, Kerry on the other side of him, both trying to give him support, even as Canton's heart was screaming for her to do something. A helicopter perspective was played across the television coverage, showing the small army of police and fire vehicles that littered the parking lot of the coffee shop and surroundings streets. The people at those vehicles looked like ants on the ground.

Quot;It's going to be okay," Kerry murmured, her hand buried in Blake's hair. Canton's own hand was placed protectively on his back, but her heart was in her throat, tears threatening to fall.

Suddenly a reporter was on the screen, an earpiece pressed to her ear. "We have more information regarding the hostage situation at the Wayne's Coffee World coffee shop today," the young reporter explained, looking down at notes she held in her hand. "The man has been identified as thirty-eight year old Shannon Garland Lehey, who has been holding his wife, Randi Lynn Lehey hostage at her place of work for the past two and a half hours. Authorities have tried to use negation tactics, but Lehey has yet to acknowledge them."

***

"You are a stupid woman," Shannon growled, holding Randi against him, the gun now pointing at her temple. "Call him."

Date: 2015-02-28; view: 570