***Willow Pond***
Jennifer is sitting at home in the den, having a cocktail. She is impatiently waiting for her husband to come home. He called earlier and said he had a surprise for her, but wouldn't tell her what it was.
She loved surprises and always had, and couldn't wait to find out what it was.
Jonathan got home shortly before 6. He had a huge box with him, that was all wrapped.
"Ok, darling. Here is your surprise".
He leaned down and kissed her.
He made himself a cocktail while she started to open the box.
She unwrapped it, and then stood on the couch to look down inside it, because it was about the size of a refrigerator. What was inside was another box. So, she enlisted the help of Jonathan's pocket knife, and slit the box down the side. She got the carboard off, and started unwrapping the next box. This one was not as tall as she was.
"Darling, pay attention to the wrapping paper".
Max picked up some of the first paper, and cut out a piece, and put it on the coffee table. She handed him the second piece, and he did the same. The third box, 4th box, and 5th box were all about the same size. After the 5th box, all the boxes could be held in her lap.
"Darling, how long did this take you?"
"A lot of planning on my part, but Kelly wrapped it all up and put it together for you".
"Give her a raise".
She was on the 7th box now, and they were starting to feel lighter.
Finally, after 9 boxes, she was on the last one. She opened it, and found a travel brochure for a hotel chain.
"Darling, what is this?"
"Well, remember at the dinner party a few weeks ago when I bid on that trip for you?"
"Yes".
"Well, remember how you asked me to go on the trip and you said you wanted it to be just us, no distractions?"
"Yes".
"Well, it turns out that this hotel chain is for sale. And I think I want to buy it. However, I want to really see it before I do. So, I figured since we already have a vacation package, we can just fly down to Petit St. Vincent, and stay a week and see how well they treat me and you, and we can see what the hotel is like from a customer's perspective. And then, when I offer to buy it, I will know if they are snowing me or not".
"So when are we going?"
"How does Midnight sound?"
She squealed, and jumped up and kissed him. She ran upstairs to start packing.
He came up and joined her.
They were packed in no time, it seemed like, and they had a late dinner after they were finished.
Max had made them homemade lasagna, and a salad.
"Max, are you going to be ok here for the week by yourself with just Freeway?"
"Oh sure, we will have a ball".
"Thanks for holding down the fort for us, Max".
"Sure thing, Mrs. H."
Jennifer did the dishes, and then went to change clothes. She decided to wear some yoga pants and a tank top on the flight. She could sleep in that if she wanted to, and it would be comfortable for the long flight.
Max drove them to the airport, and dropped them off.
They boarded the plane and got comfy.
As soon as the pilot turned off the seatbelt sign, they went upstairs and got in bed.
Jonathan wrapped his arms around her and pulled her close.
"Happy vacation to us, darling".
He leaned down and kissed her.
***A week later***
Jonathan and Jennifer were back from their vacation. They had enjoyed 5 days of sun, cocktails, laying in the hammock, and walking on the beach. Their cottage was out over the water, and didn't have a television, and only had a house phone. They had also enjoyed a spa day together.
The resort had been nice, but in the end, Jonathan decided not to purchase it.
"Max, we are home".
Max and Freeway came out to the foyer. Freeway was so excited to see them.
"Hey Mr. and Mrs. H. How was your trip?"
"Wonderful! So nice and relaxing".
"Thanks for holding down the fort here, Max".
"Freeway and I really missed you guys".
Jonathan took their bags upstairs. Jennifer sat on the couch and cuddled with Freeway.
Max had made them dinner and told them it would be ready in a few minutes.
After a nice dinner out on the patio, Jonathan and Jennifer went upstairs. A storm rolled in, just as they were getting into bed.
Jonathan wrapped his arms around her and they fell asleep.
***The next morning***
They had slept late, and Max had brought them breakfast in bed.
"Darling, are you going to the office today?"
"Yes, I have a very important deal I am closing later today".
"Oh? Anything interesting?"
"Oh, I am sure you will be totally interested in it. I will tell you all about it when the time is right".
He kissed her a few times.
"What are you doing today?"
"I am starting a new article, and I am supposed to have a conference call about a new position, later. Not sure what it's about, but I guess I will find out".
"How about tonight, you and I have dinner at La Scala?"
"Perfect, darling".
He got up and showered and left for the office.
She ran on the treadmill for 5 miles, and then showered and dressed.
She was working on her article when Jonathan called her.
"Darling, can you go to the bank before they close today? I transferred a large sum of money to our personal account, and they are saying that we both need to sign the papers for it. And we also need to put those stock certificates that I left on the piano in the safety deposit box".
"Sure, darling. I can go right now".
"Have Max drive you, just in case. When you get there, Paul Watkins will personally take care of you. Thanks for doing this, darling. I love you".
"I love you too".
She got up and went and found Max.
He pulled the Bentley around, because he had to take it in to get an oil change.
"Mrs. H., I will drop you off at the bank, and then take the Bentley for the oil change, and then come back and get you".
"Perfect".
***People's bank of Los Angeles***
Max dropped Jennifer off, and headed down the street to the mechanics.
Jennifer asked to speak to their banker, Paul. He had always helped them in the past, and he and Jonathan were great friends. They had been at the orphanage together in San Francisco.
Jennifer sat down at his desk, and signed the papers. They opened the safe deposit box and she put the stock certificates in there also.
She had gathered her things and got in line with the teller, to deposit some checks into her savings. Just as she got up to the teller, she heard a click. She turned to see what was going on, and saw 2 men with ski masks.
"Nobody move, this is a robbery".
The robbers moved everyone to the couches. He had one teller give him all of the money from the drawers, and then take him into the vault.
They came out of the vault with several duffle bags and then came over to where the others were sitting.
Jennifer was comforting a young lady who was sitting next to her.
She had been observing the robbers, and figured out the taller guy was in charge.
He came over to where they were sitting, and knelt down. He opened up his backpack, and took out some rope and zip ties.
"Now, we are all going to become best friends".
He instructed the other guy to tie them up, and make them stand together in a circle.
One by one, they had their hands zip tied behind their backs, and then they were tied to the person next to them.
The last person in the circle was Paul, the banker. They tied the manager up, and then Jennifer watched in horror as Paul stepped back, and pulled out his own gun and took out his keys.
"I am going to load up the bags, and then we should be good to go".
Just then, they heard a siren.
The guy who was in charge looked at Paul.
"I thought you disconnected the alarms?"
"I did".
The manager of the bank spoke up then.
"There are silent alarms that are activated when you remove money from the vault in large quantities".
"So, what are we going to do now?"
"We will need something as leverage".
Paul looked straight at Jennifer.
"I think we have the perfect leverage item".
He came around and untied her from the two people on either side of her and helped her up.
Paul looked at the other two robbers.
"This is perfect. Her husband is loaded and will be just the person to finance our little getaway".
Jennifer was terrified.
They took her over to the window, and peered through the blinds.
"Cops are everywhere, man. They are setting up".
"It's ok. We are going to call her husband, and let him know we have his wife. If he wants her back, he will cooperate".
They looked up the number for Hart Industries, and called it. Paul helped Jennifer to the phone and had her sit next to it.
"Jonathan Hart, please". They put the phone on speakerphone.
"I'm sorry, he's in a meeting and asked to not be disturbed".
"This is an emergency".
"I'm sorry, sir, I am only permitted to take messages".
They hung up.
Paul looked at Jennifer.
"Does he have a private line?"
"Yes"
"Ok, I am going to free your hands, and then zip-tie them in front of you. Any tricks and you will regret it, do you understand?"
She nodded.
"What do you want me to say to him?"
"Tell him to come here, that you need him to come here right away".
She nodded.
After they freed her hands and tied them in front of her, she maneuvered the phone so that she could dial the number.
He answered right away.
"Hi darling."
Jennifer was the only one who called him on this number.
"Darling, can you come to the bank? Right away?"
"Sure, are you alright?"
"I'm alright. I just need to see you, is all."
"Is there a problem with the paperwork?"
"No, that's all fine. It's just me. I am in the bank and I just don't think I will make it without seeing you right now, here next to me".
Jonathan and Jennifer had a secret code for when they were in trouble. If they couldn't tell the other person, they always worked it into the conversation. The secret code was milkshake.
"Darling, on your way, do you think you could stop and pick up a milkshake? I have this terrible craving".
Jonathan knew she was in trouble then.
"I am on my way, I love you, and I will see you soon".
"I love you too, darling. Don't forget about the milkshake".
They hung up, and took Jennifer back to the couch. The robbers ushered the others into one of the offices.
"What are our demands from him going to be?"
"Well, we are going to make him pay us for her, and he has to help us get out of town. I am thinking he can book us a private flight, and we can be in a nice little country without extradition laws in just a matter of hours".
"Good thinking".
The phone started ringing, and one of the robbers answered the phone and put it on speaker.
"This is the police. We are all outside. Let's figure out a way to end this peacefully".
"We don't want to talk to you. There is only one person we are willing to talk to".
"Who is that?"
"Jonathan Hart".
***Jonathan's limo***
Jonathan was driving like crazy to get to the bank. He parked as close as he could, and got out.
Lt. Grey was standing near the front barricade.
"They've got Jennifer. They had her call me".
"That makes sense. They just told us that you are the only one they will talk to".
Jonathan grabbed the bull horn and started shouting.
"This is Jonathan Hart. I am about to call the bank. Please answer".
He grabbed the phone and dialed the number.
One of the robbers answered.
"Hello Mr. Hart. Just the person we need to talk to".
"First things first, do you have my wife in there?"
"Yes, we do".
"Is she alright?"
"For now".
"If you hurt one hair on her head…"
"Now, Mr. Hart, you aren't really in a place to make threats against us."
"It wasn't a threat. It was a promise".
"If you want to see her alive again, then you will need to meet our demands".
"And they are?"
"We want 6 million dollars in cash. And we want you to figure out how to get us on a plane that will take us out of the country".
"I can arrange for both of those things, but I have some conditions. First, I want you to release the other hostages. If it's Jennifer you want, then there's no sense in holding the others. And second, I will arrange for my plane to take you wherever you want, provided you let me see Jennifer".
"Ok, but you only get 10 seconds. Out front, and make the cops back up".
"You got it".
They hung up.
Lt. Grey called the cops back.
"No shooting unless I say so".
The robbers opened the door and outstepped Jennifer.
She locked eyes with Jonathan.
"I'm alright. I love you".
"I love you too". He reached forward and their hands almost touched.
"That's enough, back inside".
"I will have the money for you in an hour".
"Call us back when you do. One hour".
Jonathan ran over to the phone, and called the house. No answer.
He turned to Lt. Grey.
"I have the cash at the house in our vault. I will need some officers to go with me to retrieve it".
"We have dummy money that we can give them. That might work".
He nodded.
The police took him around the corner from the bank, and started getting the dummy money ready.
After about 40 minutes, the longest 40 minutes of Jonathan's life, they went back to the barricade with several briefcases and called the bank.
Jennifer was sitting on the couch. She was terrified but so far, they hadn't hurt her or anyone else.
She knew Jonathan would come through, he always does. More than anything, she just wanted this to be over with.
She heard the phone ring, and knew it was Jonathan calling back.
"I have the money. Now, I want you to release the other hostages".
"We are going to look through the window, and you can show us the money. Then we will release the others".
Jonathan held up the briefcases and opened them to reveal the money.
They started cutting the hostages loose and releasing them one by one.
As soon as the manager had been freed, he ran straight to the police.
"Paul Watkins is one of them".
It was like a punch in the gut to Jonathan. He couldn't believe it. Paul was the one who had told him that Jennifer needed to come sign the paperwork as well.
He had been set up and he didn't like it.
He called the bank again, and the robber answered.
"Ok, so you can have my plane, but I need to see Jennifer, and she doesn't go with you."
"How are we going to get there?"
"Well, I have a car here, you can take it to the airport, and I will call and tell them to let you board".
Max drove up then in the Bentley.
"That's not going to work, Mr. Hart."
"Ok fine. I can have my chauffeur drive you to the airport and I will go along so that I can personally tell my pilot to allow you to board, how is that?"
"Better. You gotta get the cops to back away. I don't want any tricks as we go to the car".
"Deal. But only if I can see my wife".
"You will see her as she gets into the car. You and Paul are going to ride in one car, and your chauffeur and Jennifer and the other robbers are going in the other. No exceptions".
"Ok. Both cars are ready whenever you are".
He filled Max in on what was happening.
"Don't worry, Mr. H. I will take care of her".
"Thanks Max".
Jennifer came out first, with the robbers on either side of her. She looked at Jonathan and nodded, to indicate she was ok. She blew him a kiss, and they led her to the car with Max.
Paul came out next, and went to Jonathan.
"No tricks, just drive me to the airport"
He nodded.
***LAX***
Max had introduced himself to everyone in the car and asked them where they were headed.
"We are going to LAX, to Mr. Hart's private plane".
Jennifer was in the backseat, next to one of the robbers.
Max drove them to the tarmac.
Jonathan and Paul had a quiet ride behind them. He didn't have anything to say to someone who had betrayed him so deeply. He was ashamed to say he ever knew him at all.
They parked on the tarmac and got out.
The police had followed in unmarked cars.
Jonathan opened the door to the plane, and lowered the steps.
"Go ahead, check it out".
They grabbed Jennifer out of the car and insisted that she go on the plane first, so that they couldn't trick them.
She climbed up the steps and the robbers followed, and Jonathan went last.
"All the comforts of home. You tell my pilot where you want to go, and he will take you. Now, give me Jennifer, and I will tell him to start the plane".
"Not just yet. We can't just flee the country and leave behind witnesses, can we?"
Paul pulled a gun out of his waistband and pointed it at Jonathan. The other robbers pointed their guns at Jennifer.
"You know what they say, the couples who love each other, die together".
Jennifer saw an opportunity, and took it. She elbowed one guy in the stomach, and knocked the gun out of the other guys hand. They started scuffling and she managed to kick them away and get down the steps.
Jonathan and Paul were struggling over his gun. Jennifer was down on the tarmac, looking at the steps, waiting for Jonathan to come out.
Max ran to her and put his arm around her.
Just then, they heard a gunshot.