Chapter 2

Jack knew that the effected classroom was in the front on the second story. He looked around and saw the stairs leading to the second floor. He quickly mounted the steps and stopped on the next floor. Getting his bearings, he now slowly walked towards the front of the building, keeping close to the interior wall. He didn't know exactly what he was going to do – it was just important to get the girls out safely, especially Olivia. If he could pull off a rescue, Karen would likely reward him generously. As he approached the front hallway, he scrunched down. Now he could hear a man's voice yelling threats. It was coming from two doors away. Jack crawled over to it, then slowly stood and peeked through the window in the door. He immediately saw the evil man squatting at the front window with his back to the classroom door. He was armed with a handgun. Jack's eyes traveled around the room and he saw fifteen or so terrified adolescent girls and their teacher sitting hunched on the floor against the side wall. Jack squatted down again, took a deep breath trying to keep his thoughts on the glorious new wardrobe he would buy with the reward money, and slowly pushed against the door. On his hands and knees, he poked his head into the room and tried to get the teacher's attention. He didn't want to make a noise and alert the gunman. He raised a hand and waved it wildly. The teacher, Ms. Sherman, who was the closest to the door, saw the movement in the corner of her eye and turned her head towards it. She gave out a faint gasp when she saw Jack squatting in the doorway. He quickly put a finger to his lips to make the "don't talk" sign and signaled that the girls should move as quietly as possible towards the door. The teacher touched the shoulder of the girl next to her and explained the situation, pointing to Jack. The news quickly spread down the row of schoolgirls. Jack saw Olivia – she was the next to last one furthest from the door. She waved to him, but Jack desperately made a sign for her to do nothing to alert the whacko whose attention was still riveted at the police and anxious bystanders below. One by one, the girls started to crawl out the door. Ms. Sherman stayed near Jack to help them out. So as not to tip off the felon if he saw them coming out the front, she whispered to the girls to exit at the back entrance where a waiting officer would help them. At last all the girls were finally out and on their way to rescue except Olivia and the girl on her other side. The teacher whispered softly to Jack that the other girl, Sharon, was blind. Olivia was helping Sharon along when the blind girl's foot became caught in the leg of a desk chair. Everyone's heart froze as the chair scraped against the floor. Hearing the noise, the criminal instantly whirled around and saw his captives had all but departed. Jack made a grab for Sharon and Olivia and pushed them out the door. "Run!" Jack shouted. They hurried as fast as they could to the rear stairwell.

The gun-wielding thug instantly surmised that Jack was responsible for his departed hostages. In a rage and thinking Jack was a plain-clothes police officer, he snapped the gun up and fired.