Something rolled across the pavement down below. Mason wasn’t at a vantage point to be able to see it, but he heard it. He imagined it to be a grenade, but didn’t know where the girl would have gotten her hands on one of those. Homemade, probably. Something more crude than a grenade, but no less effective in causing a literal bang.
Voices carried up to him next. The girl and not one but two men. Not good odds for her if her little act didn’t convince them. His legs burned from where he crouched behind the parapet. His fingers twitched, wanting to reach for his rifle again. Patience. Mason rocked up onto his toes to peer down into the street. Saw the girl making it look like she was retreating. Both men towered over her, exchanging looks he couldn’t see but left no doubt in his mind what they were planning.
The smartest choice the girl could do was turn and run before it was too late.
Mason rested his hand on the rifle, not lifting it, but keeping it at the ready. Figures were lined at the downstairs windows, watching. He ducked down again and moved along the wall, putting himself in a different position in case someone had spotted him. It wouldn’t put them off their guard, but at least he wouldn’t be where they expected him to be.
He looked over the parapet just in time to see one of the men make a grab for the girl.