Lisa sucked in air, croaking hoarsely, and twisted her upper body to reach the girl’s other ankle with her free hand. Shock had abated and the little girl released piercing shrieks into the afternoon. The man jerked his head up, cussing and spitting. He wrapped an arm around the girl’s throat from behind.
Lisa and the man wrested her between each other as she flopped like a deep sea fish on a boat’s deck. By now, other adults had noticed the scuffle, approaching the open van door. At once the man saw a bystander thrust himself forward and grab Lisa’s waist, and then felt chiclet teeth sink into his bicep. It was time to make a decision. Another witness was already raising their phone to their face. He would cut losses, push the girl and her would-be rescuer out of the van, and then-
His harried thought was interrupted by CLIP-CHINK of a suppressed gunshot. The driver of the van had turned in his seat, pistol in hand. The bystander howled and released Lisa, clutching his shoulder. The man laughed in spittle and rolled over mightily, pulling the little girl and Lisa deeper into the van as it tore off down the sidewalk, speeding away from the school.
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Lisa sucked in air, croaking hoarsely, and twisted her upper body to reach the girl’s other ankle with her free hand. Shock had abated and the little girl released piercing shrieks into the afternoon. The man jerked his head up, cussing and spitting. He wrapped an arm around the girl’s throat from behind.
Lisa and the man wrested her between each other as she flopped like a deep sea fish on a boat’s deck. By now, other adults had noticed the scuffle, approaching the open van door. At once the man saw a bystander thrust himself forward and grab Lisa’s waist, and then felt chiclet teeth sink into his bicep. It was time to make a decision. Another witness was already raising their phone to their face. He would cut losses, push the girl and her would-be rescuer out of the van, and then-
His harried thought was interrupted by CLIP-CHINK of a suppressed gunshot. The driver of the van had turned in his seat, pistol in hand. The bystander howled and released Lisa, clutching his shoulder. The man laughed in spittle and rolled over mightily, pulling the little girl and Lisa deeper into the van as it tore off down the sidewalk, speeding away from the school.