His vision returned in time to see Montez limp around the corner toward the police cruiser.

He took off in pursuit.

Montez stopped fifteen feet from the SDPD officer and dropped to the ground. He watched Montez bring his knees up to his chest and force his bound hands over the top of his legs. With his hands free in front, Montez stood up and yanked the gag out of his mouth.

“Officer. Help me. Please, help me!”

The officer’s response was immediate. He pulled his sidearm and yelled, “Get on the ground now! Both of you. On the ground. Now!” He looked at Nathan and yelled, “Put the gun down, now!”

Nathan bent down and placed Harv’s Sig on the concrete. He didn’t want to be shot and didn’t want the officer’s attention focused solely on himself.

Montez closed the distance, continuing his phony tirade.

The officer looked at Montez and continued his verbal command to get on the ground, but Montez—less than three yards away—took a final step and leaped forward, driving both of them into the fender of the cruiser.

Nathan picked up the Sig and watched the situation go from urgent to critical. Twenty-five yards distant, the unarmed security guard ran forward, yelling, “Don’t move! Don’t move!”

Montez used his momentum to drive the officer’s head onto the hood of the cruiser, the impact produced a loud bang. Even with bound wrists, Montez managed to yank the officer’s sidearm free. He pistol-whipped the dazed cop and turned toward the security guard.

The guard continued running. Either he didn’t see that Montez had grabbed the officer’s weapon, or he was trying to be a hero. Either way, it sealed his fate.

Montez brought the gun up and fired twice, the reports thunderous.

Nathan squinted as two impacts appeared on the security guard’s chest.

With an expression of disbelief, the guard dropped to his knees and looked at the spreading bloodstains on his uniform.

Nathan ducked behind a white column of the entry facade a split second before Montez fired. The bullet ricocheted off the painted concrete and whistled away.

He peered around the edge of the column. Montez had his bound wrists up at his mouth, untying the knot.

The officer had recovered enough to make a grab for his weapon.

Montez reacted fast. He thrust a knee up and caught the officer squarely in the chest.

Remarkably, the officer kept his feet and made a second attempt for his sidearm. Within seconds, they were locked in a macabre embrace. Dazed and weakened from two head blows, the SDPD officer was losing the struggle.

In five seconds it would be over. Montez would kill the officer and use his cruiser to escape.

Tapping into pure rage, Nathan ignored his wrecked feet and charged.