The mugger twisted, trying to shake Lucky off. That was all the opening Joshua needed. He ran forward, snatched the knife by the handle, and swung hard with the back of it. The handle struck the mugger’s temple with a sickening thud. The man staggered.
“Call the cops!” Joshua shouted over his shoulder. But the woman already was, voice shaking into her phone. “Yes, I’m at Doyle and Ninth—a man tried to rob me—someone helped me—he had a dog—please send someone fast.” Her fingers trembled, but her voice was clear.