CHAPTER EIGHTEEN – A FAMILY TRAGEDY

"Please," her father, Malcolm, was saying, his voice trembling. "Take what you want, just don't hurt anyone." "Shut up!" the robber by the register snarled. "Where's the safe? I know you've got one!" Rebecca's mother, Catherine, was holding a sobbing Nancy close to her chest. "We don't have a safe," she said, her voice barely above a whisper. "The register is all we have." The second robber grabbed a handful of Nancy's hair, yanking her head back. "Maybe this'll loosen your tongues. Where's the safe?" "Stop it!" Rebecca shouted, stepping into view. "Leave her alone!" All eyes turned to her. The robber holding Nancy shoved her away, training his gun on Rebecca instead. "Well, well," he sneered. "Looks like we missed one. Get over here with the others, sweetheart." Rebecca moved slowly, her hands raised. As she passed the counter, she noticed a large mixing bowl filled with cake batter. In a split-second decision, she grabbed it and flung its contents at the robber. The man curse