Ian couldn't even blink. He just stared at Peter, less and less aware of the situation and surroundings as the seconds passed. Slowly, ever so slowly, his arm started to lower to the side.

Murphy let his hands drop as he came up alongside the cashier. He settled his fingers on the shoulders of the kid and quietly urged him to step back so he could get through. By the time the gun had been set on the counter and Ian's hands were being pulled away for it, Murphy had gotten into the perfect position to jump him.

And jump him, he did. He hauled back and punched him in the side of the head, sending the kid sprawling. He twisted around, grabbed the gun and had it aimed for Ian in the split seconds that followed so when Ian came to his senses and started to scramble to his feet, he was at the other end of it.

"I think that's far enough," Murphy said, breathing a little heavily.