Caught in the Middle
A UC: Undercover story
By Deana Lisi
Disclaimer: I do not own Frank Donovan, *sigh* or any other UC characters, but the original characters are mine.
A HUGE thank you to my friend Karri, who supplied me with the character's last names and the story's title, (I had a hard time thinking one up, lol) and for some great ideas when I got writers block! You rule!
Frank Donovan sighed. He hated long lines at the bank, and today's was even longer then usual.
He took out his cell phone, and dialed.
"Tony's Pizza," he heard. "Home to any topping your little heart desires."
Frank smiled, despite himself. Cody came up with a new line every day.
"Cody, it's Frank. I'm at the bank, the line is a mile long."
Cody nodded, as he played with one of the HQ computers. " 'kay, boss. No prob."
"I'll be there soon," Frank told him, and hung up. As he put the phone away, he saw that the line hadn't advanced at all. He crossed his arms, with another sigh.
********************
"What was that all about?"
Cody looked up as Alex walked over. "It was Frank, he's stuck in line at the bank."
"Oh." Alex peeked at the computer screen, and made a face. "Solitaire? You have the best computer in the world, and you play Solitaire?"
Cody shrugged.
Monica and Jake came in then, at the same time. Monica had a huge smile on her face, and Jake was laughing at something she must've said.
"What's up guys?" Cody asked.
"I had a wonderful date last night," Monica said, dreamily.
"No way!"
Alex punched Cody in the arm. "That's great! Is he cute?" she asked.
Monica smiled. "Oh, yes."
Alex smiled back.
"Where's Frank?" Jake asked, noting his absence.
"Stuck in line at the bank," said Cody. "He said he'll be here soon." He paused. "Aww, crap!"
"What's the matter?" Monica asked.
"I have no more good cards."
Monica walked closer and saw the game on the screen. "You can't beat solitaire?!"
"Not this one! And you can? The one that I just told you has no good cards left?"
"Move over," Monica said, pushing Cody's chair out of the way, ignoring Cody's look of shock at how far he flew.
Alex and Jake smiled, finding it amusing.
As he scooted his chair back over, Cody watched in disbelief as Monica not only found the next necessary card, but then proceeded to finish the game for him.
********************
Frank couldn't believe how slow the line was going. Having nothing to do but look around, he unconsciously started studying people. The bank line went around a corner and in front of him, so he was able to see the customer's profiles. That guy likes to rip people off, he thought, noting the seedy expression the man wore. He looked at the next one. That guy's a mechanic, he thought, and not a very good one. Don't bring any cars to him. The next one was a woman. Married, he thought. He couldn't take credit for that one, as her wedding ring was obvious. With kids, he noticed, seeing the Pokemon character hanging from her keychain. One by one he figured out the character of each person, except for the man in front of him, for he naturally couldn't see his face. Monica would be proud, he thought. Suddenly he saw that the man in front of him was next, and then it would be his turn. Finally! he thought. As he started to take his wallet out of his pocket, a voice suddenly resonated through the bank.
"THIS IS A HOLDUP! EVERYONE ON THE FLOOR!"
Frank had his gun out before anyone even had a chance to move. "Federal Agent!" he yelled, pointing it at the man.
Suddenly he was pushed from behind, and lost his grip on the gun. Someone grabbed him and spun him around before he had a chance to regain his balance, and he tried to punch the man, but only managed a glancing blow. Unfortunately, his opponent had a better weapon then mere fists.
Frank gasped as an intense, razor-sharp pain sliced into the left side of his midsection.
The man stood there, grinning—the very man who'd been in front of Frank in line—as he held the hilt of the knife. He laughed and savagely twisted it, then yanked it out.
Frank cried out in pain, and fell to the floor, dimly hearing the screams of terror from the bank's employees and customers.
The man started laughing louder, and held the knife in the air, blood all over his hand and dripping onto the floor.
"Everyone on the ground now!" he yelled.
The people all but threw themselves down, in panic.
The man started walking to his partner, stepping over the gasping Frank, who was curled on his side clutching his stomach; a pool of blood quickly forming beneath him.
The partner stared at his friend, in shock, as he picked up Frank's gun. "Artie, you—you stabbed him…"
Artie didn't answer, tucking the gun into his waistband as he went over to the bank doors, and locked them. He turned around, smiling at the havoc he'd already wreaked.
His partner just stared at him, looking as terrified as the hostages.
"What are you looking at, Jay?" The apparent madman said. "Put all the people over there in the corner."
"Wha—what about the other guy?" Jay asked.
"I'll deal with him."
Jay didn't like the sound of that. "Artie! Don't do anything st-stupid! We don't wanna be cop killers!"
Artie walked over to Frank, noting with pleasure that the man was already pale. He knelt next to him, and pushed him onto his back.
Frank gasped, groaning in pain at the unexpected movement.
"Federal Agent, huh?" Artie sneered. "Where's your badge?" He stuck his hand in Frank's jacket, and found it. Opening it, his face registered astonishment. "Frank Donovan?"
Jay's heart started beating faster at the tone in Artie's voice. He's gonna kill the guy, he's gonna kill him…
"Frank Donovan?!" Artie repeated. Without warning, he suddenly punched Frank in the face. Then he smiled, and stood.
"We have Frank Donovan!" he yelled to Jay.
We? he thought. I never wanted to hurt anyone! He's gone insane! "Who's that?" he asked, his voice shaking.
"Frank Donovan," Artie said again, as if Jay hadn't heard him say his name three times already. "This is the man that put away Tommy!"
Jay frowned. "He did?"
"Yeah." Artie stood again. "We can use this!"
Jay was almost afraid to ask, "How?"
"He's gonna be our bargaining tool!"