WITHDRAWAL SYMPTOMS.
"I just need to see the bank manager and sign a couple of papers then we can get back home and, well we can pursue those leads we got the other night." Bruce informed Dick as he slammed the door of the car shut. "Hopefully it won't take too long."
"Ok, I'm looking forward to getting out again. It seems like an age since you last let me." Dick said, trying to sound as if he wasn't complaining.
"I know, I know, I agree I've kept you caged up recently, but it's been for your own good. What with school and everything else I felt it was overstretching you." Bruce conceded.
Dick threw him a withering look, which Bruce ignored, smiling to himself as he strode away towards the bank, Dick following in his wake.
Brue strode purposely on attracting admiring glances from passers by, Dick still not used to the attention kept his head down as he followed, catching up with Bruce as they climbed the steps to the imposing edifice which was Gotham's largest bank.
"I reckon you get as much attention as Bruce as you do as Batman." Dick pointed out softly. "How do you handle it?"
"I would have thought you where used to it being the star turn in the circus." Bruce chuckled.
"Well no 'cos this is different from when I was in the circus. It's constant now." Dick told him as the concierge opened the huge doors to let them in, saluting as he did so.
"I suppose it can be tiresome at times, but you learn to ignore it and smile at those you have to deal with."
The bank was fairly busy, people queuing at the teller's booths and others milling about. Naturally several eyes swivelled in their direction and elbows nudged, as Bruce and Dick made their way over to a short queue at a reception desk. Anonymity was definitely not something to be enjoyed.
As they stood in the queue a small balding man bustled over.
"Mr Wayne, if you would like to come this way." He said loudly holding an arm out indicating. "There's no need for you to wait." He announced emphasising the 'you'.
Dick noticed that Bruce had coloured slightly. Although he was used to the privileged treatment there were still times when he was embarrassed by it.
The man led them across to a small cubicle and indicated that they should sit, apologising that they would have to wait a couple of moments for someone to deal with them.
"Not a problem." Bruce muttered as he sat and the man hurried away.
"Wealth may have its privileges but I don't really enjoy queue jumping." Bruce grumbled.
"Well at least we'll get out of here quicker." Dick grinned.
"I suppose you have a point there." Bruce agreed.
"I'm sorry to keep you waiting Mr Wayne." Announced a rather tall stick thin, well spoken, impeccably dressed, grey haired man. "I have the documents here for you signature." He said as he slid in behind the desk, placing a slim folder in front of him, placing a fountain pen beside it.
Bruce slid his hand into his inside breast pocket and pointedly withdrew his own pen.
"I prefer to use my own." He stated as he opened the file.
The man pulled the pen back towards him; Dick noticed, with some amusement, a flicker of annoyance flit across his face.
"I've marked the places you need to sign."
"I just need to read it first, thank you."
"No problem, Mr Wayne, but I am sure you will find everything in order."
Bruce glanced up giving the man a withering look, as he fished a pair of spectacles from the other inside pocket.
Dick looked a little surprised, then realised it was all part of the 'disguise', as Bruce certainly did not need glasses.
Bruce deliberately took his time adjusting his glasses on his nose and positioning the papers for his signature.
His pen had barely touched the paper when a cacophony of sound erupted in the main body of the bank behind them.
"What!" Dick popped his head around the cubicle wall. Bruce put his hand on his arm to restrain him.
The cacophony turned to screams of alarm and fright as a gun shot rang out.
"Ok, quiet everybody and no one will get hurt! Just do as we say! Everyone hit the floor." someone shouted, as a loud thud and the sound of automatic locks echoed around the bank as the security shutters came down.
"Who did that? That was very stupid." The voice came again. "Don't move! Anyone!"
The banker began to rise from his seat, but Bruce waved a hand at him indicating he should remain where he was, he then held a finger to his lips.
From the other side of the screen came the frantic, but hushed voices of several men. It seemed that they had not been prepared for this eventuality.
"I said stay down!" The voice ordered again. Then another gun shot echoed followed by a sharp cry of pain and screams.
"See what happens when you don't do as I say. The next person who tries anything will be responsible for his death."
Bruce eyed the door behind the bank official and nodded first to Dick then the door. He mimed to the banker asking if the door was unlocked. The man nodded vigorously. Dick nodded and slithered to the floor, crawling under the desk to the door. He reached up tentatively and pulled on the handle opening the door slowly, just enough for him to crawl through. As the door closed behind him a furious buzzing alarm sounded.
Alerted, a masked armed man rounded the screen and barked at Bruce and the banker to join the other group of customers and bank staff.
"Come on, move it, let's have you with the others!" he barked waving his gun at Bruce and the banker. "Hands on your heads and no sudden moves."
Bruce and the baker stood slowly raising their hands to their heads and shuffled out from behind the screen.
Bruce surveyed the scene. A group of terrified customers and bank staff lay prone in one corner of the bank. Bruce estimated there were about fifteen not including himself and the banker. As he and the banker where pushed roughly to join the others he counted at least six masked men carrying a variety of arms, in the centre of the room several large black holdalls.
He was pushed hard and his knees buckled. He sank to the ground, the banker beside him.
"Ok, listen carefully, if you all do as I say then no one else will get hurt. I don't want any heroics; you saw what happens when someone tried it." The man addressing them appeared to be the leader of the gang. He was tall and obviously well built, not fat but muscle. A fact the tight fitting black roll neck sweater and tight black jeans betrayed. He wore a black ski mask, as did all the others. "All we want is to collect what we came for and get out of here. Now then who's in charge here?"
The prone group shuffled nervously.
"I haven't all day, who's in charge? Come on stand up!"
"I am." A man Bruce recognised as the deputy manager lifted his head. One of the masked men strode over and yanked him to his feet.
"Bring him here." The leader ordered.
The deputy manager was visibly petrified. His face was slick with sweat and the he was trembling noticeably.
"I need access to the vault, the safe deposit vault as well. Now someone has made it difficult for us by activating the alarm. "I need you to open the vaults."
"I,I,I,I,I, cant. Its on a timer, once the mechanism is activated it takes at least an, an, an hour before it can b,b,be reset." The poor man stuttered.
"It's not the answer I want to hear. I know that there are codes that can override it immediately. Now you can either co-operate or we can get the information by other means." The leader placed a hand none too gently on the deputies shoulder. "Seeing as we appear to be locked in here and I see the law has arrived to join the party." He nodded towards the front doors. "It's no skin off my nose either way. We have plenty of time. It would be easier if you just told me though, don't you think?"
The poor man whimpered as one of the others dragged a chair across and he was pushed down onto it. The 'boss' yanked the man's tie from around his neck and tossed it back to the other thug who dragged the deputies arms around the back of the chair and secured his wrists with the tie. Then unbuckling the man's belt he proceeded to secure his ankles.
"I'll give you a while to think about what you need to do. Ok let's get this mess sorted out."
"Boss there's a room back here, we could put all the hostages in there that way we can contain them better. There's only one door and no windows."
"Ok get everyone up and lined up."
Once everyone was on their feet, one of the thugs positioned himself at the door. The others were covering with their weapons.
"As you go in leave your bags on the floor where you are, and empty out your pockets." The 'boss' ordered.
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