Noah froze, his boot heels skidding on the wet stone, his mind completely reeling. “Axel! Out! AXEL, RECALL!” The dog completely ignored his handler, leaning his entire eighty-pound body into the man’s legs.
“What the hell did you do to my dog?” Noah yelled, his gun wobbling in his grip. “Step away from him! Get on the ground!” Before the man could move, footsteps pounded across the brick. Two backup officers arrived, dragging a thrashing, handcuffed man in a torn hoodie—Suspect One.
“We got the main guy!” one officer shouted, pinning Suspect One against a light post. Suspect One looked over at the broad-shouldered man standing by the fountain, caught Noah’s hesitation, and suddenly yelled out in desperation, “Grab the bag and run! Don't let them take it!”