Chapter 2: Pick a Number

Governor's Office

Stephanie, Dimitri, and Erik Maximoff stared at the big screen television on the office wall. Almost every channel was covering the robbery that began ten minutes prior; and while all the channels had his or her take on the robbery, there was one piece of information that was constantly repeated.

"They're asking for me," Stephanie said ominously.

"They're insane," Dimitri assured. "Whether or not they're actually DLA, they're not bulletproof. FBI will take them down just like any other bank robbers."

"I can't take that risk," Stephanie replied. "I can't let anyone die because I was cooped up in my office the whole time. That's something Henry Gibson would have done."

Erik agreed with his son. "Gibson may have been a despicable liar, but he was an excellent governor. I say we take a page from his book, just this one time at least."

Stephanie was clearly no longer listening to the advice of her chief of staff as she was already taking her coat off of the coat rack. Erik and Dimitri followed her down into the parking lot pleading for her to stay at the governor's mansion. Still, Stephanie stood her ground. "I need one of you to stay back and try to contact Benji."

"I'll stay," Erik volunteered. "But you're going to have to promise me that you'll come back in one piece. Okay?" Stephanie smiled and nodded. Erik smiled back and gave his wife a kiss before retuning to the building.

Stephanie and Dimitri entered the limo. "1st National Bank of Maryland," Stephanie ordered. "Immediately."

Sutter House

Darren Sutter, a 42-year-old computer technician, sat in the living room watching the newscast of the ongoing standoff at the bank in Annapolis. Darren lived in Bethesda, Maryland, only about half an hour out of the capital with his wife, Marilyn.

Marilyn joined her husband in the living room. "Do we have to watch this?" she asked. "It's really depressing. The only thing that's going to happen is that they're going to execute hostages, and I would rather not have that on my mind all day."

Darren ignored his wife. "Darren?"

"We have three televisions in the house, Marilyn," Darren reminded his wife. "If you find this so appalling, then you are free to watch one of the many other televisions in the house." Marilyn smiled before walking upstairs.

Darren continued to watch the robbery in action. The reporter came back on. "If you're just joining us, we are currently in the middle of a standoff between the FBI and two bank robbers claiming to be members of the mysterious organization known as the Dinosaur Liberation Association. The robbers have made no attempt at disguising their identities and have made sure that everyone knew who they were: Dalton Furrelle and Lance Savarin."

Darren stood up and walked towards the window. He was getting bored hearing the same thing over and over again. Dalton and Lance were skillfully evading every trap the FBI put up. The reporter stopped talking.

Darren walked back to the couch. The reporter was listening to his earpiece. Finally, the reporter turned back top the camera. "I've just gotten word that Governor Stephanie Maximoff is on her way to the bank right now. FBI agents have advised her not to come, saying that it gives the robbers a sense of triumph, but Governor Maximoff has ignored all requests."

Darren was now putting all of his attention on the television. "Maximoff," he whispered to himself. "Now it's getting interesting."

Café

Benji Madison took another sip from his cup of coffee as the man in a suit sitting across from him glanced at his watch impatiently. The man across the table from Benji was Special Agent Eddie Harold.

Along with Erik, Stephanie, Linda Krueger, and a handful of other FBI agents, Eddie was one of the only people with the knowledge of Henry Gibson's survival. Eddie always had a sense of adventure and was initially disappointed to learn that he was put on babysitting duty for the former governor.

That's when Benji Madison came into the picture. When he explained everything about "Piper," Eddie was ecstatic to get out of the basement, but after almost a year, they hadn't found anything of importance.

In addition, Benji had been shirking his responsibilities as the lieutenant governor and only by the repetitive pleas of Erik Maximoff was Benji still able to hold the position, especially seeing how he spent most of his time out of state.

"Can we go now?" Eddie asked. "I have Max Gibson on hold. He says that Erik needs you back in Maryland right now."

"Why should I listen to the kid again?"

"He's Stephanie's personal assistant." Eddie reminded. Max went into therapy after he learned of his sister's death, but his therapist reported only a week later that "Max is surprisingly in good health, both mentally and physically." Max spent most of his time at Stephanie's office, and Erik said that if he wanted to stay, he would have to work. Eventually, Stephanie hired Max as her assistant, provided he registered Republican.

"Give me the phone," Benji ordered. Eddie handed him the phone. "Max," Benji began. "What's so important that you have to interrupt me again? I'm in New York. It'll take me at least an hour to get back so this better be important."

"Trust me," Max replied. "This is important. Erik's calling me in an hour early to help as well. Some lunatics are robbing the bank and are asking for Stephanie, and what's worse is that she's actually complying. Erik hopes that if we can get you in office it'll calm the people down. Hell, I'll settle for in the state."

"Stephanie's a big girl," Benji said. "She can take care of herself. Call Erik back and tell him that I sympathize, but no dice. I have a genocidal maniac to catch." Benji hung up before Max could respond."

Eddie gave Benji a look. "What?" Benji asked unknowingly.

"What do you mean what?" Eddie asked in reply. "In our year of investigation, we have found nothing, and I don't mean that figuratively. I seriously mean that it's as if our Piper doesn't exist. You really need to get back to Maryland."

Benji seemed torn in his decision. "Tell you what," Eddie replied. "If it makes you feel any better, I'll continue the search here in the Big Apple, but you need to get back to Maryland now." Benji sighed, knowing that Eddie was right.

"Fine," he said. "But I'm taking the Volvo."

Bank

Dalton watched as Lance checked the last of the security guards forbidden weapons. Lance pushed him into a corner with the other guards. "Now?" Lance asked. Dalton nodded. "All right," Lance ordered to the other captives. "I'm going to need all of you to separate into three groups: security guards on the left wall, employees along the north wall, and customers on the left wall."

The captives did as they were told. "Good," Dalton began. "Now I think it's time for a little game. Lance, I'm going to assign each section a number between one and ten, one of them will kill have of that group and the other will release half of them."

The phone on the counter began to ring. "What do you know," Dalton said. "Our first contestant is on the phone right now."

Dalton knew it was the same FBI negotiator who had been calling him for the last half an hour. "Emily, right?" Dalton asked. "I have some good news for you. I have a little game for you. Pick a number between one and ten. I know you know the rules. I know the bank's wired."

"No," Emily replied. "I refuse to be a part of your sick game, Dalton. Stephanie Maximoff is one her way here. I may be able to get her to talk to you if you release some hostages."

"You know the rules," Dalton repeated. "Pick a number between one and ten an perhaps you'll get your wish." There was a pause from the other end.

Emily finally came back on. "If I guess a number, do you promise to keep your number policy and release hostages if I guess correctly?"

"Promise," Dalton said. "And to quench your fears, I've written down the number system piece of paper which I will give to a hostage as soon as they exit. Good?"

Emily once again paused before responding. "Fine. Five."

Dalton relayed the answer to Lance, who smiled. "Five was it?" Dalton began to point to all three of the groups, prolonging their freight. "Five," he repeated. Dalton checked the list. "Five corresponds to the employees. No let me just double check to make sure what I'm going to do to half of them."

"Well," Dalton said. "It would appear that half of the employees won't be seeing any of their families for a while." The hostages gasped in horror. "Because," Dalton continued, "The other half will be leaving now." The employees sighed in relief.

"Women and children only," Dalton ordered Lance. Lance obeyed and released half of the employees that fit Dalton's description. The other hostages sighed in utter disappointment. They knew that their chances of leaving alive had just decreased dramatically.

Dalton returned to his conversation with Emily. "Congratulations for completing the first round of my game without any casualties." Dalton mocked. "I hope you call back soon to play round two." Dalton hung up the phone before Emily could respond.

"Is the good governor coming," Lance asked.

"She will," Dalton assured his associate. "If I know Governor Maximoff, she won't let people of Maryland suffer on her account. She'll be here."