"Nothing's going on," Samantha said. Another scream echoed through the house, this one belonging to the little boy. Sweat began to form along Samantha's forehead and a nervous flutter unsettled her stomach.
The old lady tried to worm her way past Samantha, who fought to shut the door. "I don't know what you children are up to in here, but I aim to find out. I will not have a group of hoodlums operating in my neighborhood. You let me in this instant, young lady or I'll tell Sheriff McCovey."
Samantha relented, opening the door enough for the old lady to slip through. "Young lady, are you hurt? Mr. Pryde? Can you-" The old lady didn't finish her sentence. Samantha whacked her upside the head with the handle of an umbrella. The old lady toppled to the floor, where she lay unmoving.
Samantha stood frozen over the old lady's fallen body. Oh God, let her be alive, Samantha thought. She could justify the robbery and even tying up the children, but she couldn't find an excuse for killing an old woman.
"Sam, what's going on down here?" Joseph called from the stairs. By the time he reached the bottom, Samantha had dissolved into a sobbing heap. He took her into his arms, stroking her hair and saying reassuring things that had no effect on her as she looked at the dead old lady.
"She threatened to call the police," Samantha said. "I didn't want to hit her, but she wouldn't go away."
"Don't worry, everything will be fine." Joseph leaned over the old lady's body to feel for a pulse. "She's still alive."
Samantha wiped at her eyes and nose, trying to collect herself. She couldn't help thinking of what she'd almost done; if she'd hit the old lady a little harder-
"Joseph, let's get out of here. We can find another bank to rob somewhere else. One that's bigger and has more money."
He took her by the shoulders and looked into her eyes. "Sam, there's nothing to worry about. The old coot will be fine. We'll put her upstairs with the others."
"What about the kids? I heard them-"
"They're fine. They're asleep now," he said.
"Joe, please, I don't want to be here anymore. Let's go."
"Baby, I told you, there's nothing to worry about. You trust me, don't you?" She nodded. "Good. I'll take Mrs. Schulman upstairs and tuck her in. Are you going to be all right by yourself for a few minutes?" She nodded again. "That's my girl. Wait right here."
Joseph disappeared with the old lady in his arms, leaving Samantha alone. After a moment she stumbled out the front door and collapsed onto the porch swing to bury her face in her hands. This kept getting worse and worse. It had all started out as a beautiful dream, but now it seemed more like a nightmare from which she couldn't wake up.