Chapter 3
Hans' CB radio crackled to life. "We've got a fire alarm." Victoria assumed the man speaking was the one from the lobby – it would make sense with all the controls down there for him to know where the alarm originated from.
Hans immediately hit the button on his own radio. "Call 911, give them the name and the badge number on your uniform and cancel the alarm…then disable the system." Hans spoke calmly as if he wasn't perturbed at all that firemen were on their way.
He walked out of the room and down the hall, Victoria following. He paused a moment and Victoria followed his gaze to Tony who was leaning over a rail on the upper atrium balcony and looking down at the hostages.
"Eddie? On what floor did the alarm go off?"
"Thirty-two," came the short reply.
Hans clicked his radio off and motioned to Tony. "Go up to the thirty-second floor and kill whoever pulled that fire alarm."
Tony nodded without a word and trotted over to the service elevator. Hans turned around, running a hand over his smooth hair.
"You followed." It wasn't a question; however Victoria could tell he was surprised and had momentarily forgotten about her. She nodded her head.
"It's not like I had anywhere else to go." She pointed out.
Hans looked to his right, at the crowd of hostages'. She always could have run out there to hide but…he would have found her.
Hans looked to his left and saw a rather large and well-furnished office. The nameplate on the door read 'H. .' He opened the door and looked inside. This will do, he thought.
"Would you be so kind as to grab my coat?" He asked Victoria, gesturing towards the guard who held it.
She walked across the room without a word towards the man. What am I, his servant? Victoria asked herself. You'll be whatever the hell he wants if it gets you out alive.
"Hans wants his coat." She said, stopping right in front of the man.
The man took his eyes off the hostages for a moment to look her up and down; she bristled but didn't say anything. He was after all carrying a machine gun.
"Here." He handed the grey coat over and his face became stony once more.
Victoria took it and walked back to Holly's office. Whenever Holly sat behind the desk the room felt open and friendly; now with Hans sitting there it felt menacing and cold. When she walked in she felt like she had stepped into an electric field; she thought that reaching out a hand would run it through some invisible electric current and zap it off.
"Thank you." He draped his coat over the back of the office chair. "I think I like this office; very nice." He ran his fingers down the length of the desk.
"It belongs to my boss." Victoria asserted, still standing.
"It belonged to your boss; I'm sure it will be hers again once the evening is over and I get what I want. For now, it is my office." He stood up and walked around the desk to face her.
She had figured out where the electricity was coming from. As he approached she caught the scent of his aftershave: it smelled of wood and tobacco and…leather? It made her feel dizzy.
"Make no mistake Victoria, I am in charge here."
Hans let his hand hover over the small of his back and with his other he gestured to the couch.
"Would you like a seat?"
Victoria would have preferred to stand, to show him that she wasn't one to give in so easily but her feet were killing her and with the dance her stomach was doing, she wasn't sure if she could stay standing much longer. She let Hans guide her to the couch.
"There, isn't that better?" He smiled ruefully. "If you'll excuse me now, I have to give a short speech."
Hans walked towards the door but looked back; there was a large window facing the atrium from this office and he didn't want anyone to see what he was doing. He dropped all the blinds for the window before leaving the office; he kept the door open.
Victoria let out a shaky breath. It seemed that for whatever reason Hans wanted her to stay in this office; he wasn't addressing her like the rest of his captives, so what was she? Why wasn't she allowed out in the atrium with everybody else? And why hadn't Hans taken her with him?
She ran trembling hands through her wet hair; she felt like she was going to faint. She spread her legs and put her head in between, taking deep calming breaths. It seemed to be helping. When she felt like she could she sat back up. It wouldn't do to have someone walk in and see her losing her nerve. She had to play this cool; maybe she'd get an opportunity to help someone get away.
But she had had an opportunity – a chance to take out Hans himself, but she had sat there. Why? Because she found the man attractive – and that was the truth. She was physically attracted to the man; but that was all. And physical attraction she could easily ignore; she had done so many times at school.
So why did he seem different? Why did she feel a tremble in her spine every time he got close to her? Because he's an effing murderer! She shook her head. That's only part of it and you know it. She scolded herself. There was no way she was interested in this man in any way, shape, or form past the physical.
Though she had to admit she enjoyed the way he seemed to be intelligent. He could talk about Alexander the Great, he loved building models, and he was smart enough to get thirteen terrorists, he included, into a building to steal $640 million dollars. This wasn't some plan he had come up with yesterday; no, this was something he had thought about for a long time.
Not to mention that now that she had smelled him, that attractive manly cologne, she wanted to get close enough to do so again. She wanted to feel the heat of his body…his hot soft hand on her thigh as it…oh no! No way was she going there.
Victoria sighed and rubbed her temples. Now was not the time to be thinking about her attraction to the man who was holding her hostage. God, what was that called…Stockholm syndrome? No way was she delving into that part of her psyche. Victoria took off her heels and started to rub her sore feet through her stockings.
Outside the office she could hear the quiet murmur of Hans' voice. She rose unsteadily from the couch and approached the office door to hear what he was saying.
"I wanted this to be professional, efficient, adult, co-operative." He paused to take a bite of fruit. "Not a lot to ask." He chewed thoughtfully. "Alas your Mr. Takagi did not see it that way so he won't be joining us for the rest of – his – life." The disjointed and easy manner with which he spoke of Takagi's murder unsettled Victoria. It was almost like he was making a joke out of it.
Hans paused as his words sank in, as his hostages finally understood. "We can go any way you want. You can walk out of here…or be carried out." He paused to take another bite of food. Victoria felt her stomach drop; he was speaking so calmly about all of this; how could he?
"But have no illusions – we are in charge. So decide now, each of you; and please remember that we have left nothing to chance." Victoria felt like she was going to be sick.
She grabbed the potted fern next to her and moved the leaves out of her way as she began to dry-heave. There was nothing in her stomach to come up and the motions of being sick made her break out in a sweat.
She let go of the plant and fell to the floor, holding her head in her hands. She faintly heard an elevator ding as she began to sob. There was no way she could deal with this – she was angry at the men holding them hostage, and angry at herself. Angry that she found this, in some small part of herself, to be a thrill; angry that she could still find Hans sexy and gorgeous after what he had just said.
Someone – a woman – out in the atrium screamed. Victoria sniffled and wiped her eyes before glancing up. She pried the blinds apart with her fingers and saw commotion outside. She finished wiping her eyes before standing and leaving the office. She heard men talking over by the service elevator.
"Yes we do…we have to tell Karl his brother is dead. Tell him to come down." Hans' gentle voice guided her to the elevator. One of the men pulled out his CB radio and began talking on it.
Victoria walked tremulously towards them as Hans directed his attention to the other man with him.
"Franco, you and Fritz take the body upstairs and out of sight. I don't want the hostages to think too much."
The two men – Franco and Fritz – lifted the body out of the elevator, but not before she could see what was written on his sweatshirt.
'Now I have a machine gun. HO-HO-HO.'
Victoria repressed a shudder. Hans turned around and saw her standing there.
"You have a knack for not doing what you are told." He said coldly.
"I heard the screams."
"And went to investigate…yes, well."
Hans gestured back to the office. She walked back across the floor and caught a few of her co-workers looking at her. No doubt they were wondering exactly what was going on; she was wondering that herself. She had no idea why she was being kept away from the others.
Hans stepped into the office a moment later carrying a small plate of food and a glass of water. He closed the door with his foot and carried the food over to her.
"Here; you must be hungry."
"Thank you." Victoria hesitantly picked up a grape. She wasn't sure if she could eat anything, with the state her stomach was in.
She had just bit into it when the office door opened, a raging Karl in the doorway. Hans stayed by her as Karl picked up a lamp and threw it at the wall. He grabbed a filing cabinet by the edge and flung it over; turning he punched a hole in the wall near the door.
She watched the man destroying the office with a strange sense of normalcy. So these men could feel…here was one of them feeling rage over his brother's murder. Karl flipped over her smaller desk, everything on top tumbling to the floor.
Finally Hans deemed it was time to stop him. He hurried over to the man and put restraining hands on Karl's shoulders, pulling him over to the atrium window and slamming him against it.
"I want blood!" Karl yelled.
"And you'll have it but let Heinrich plant the detonators and Theo prepare the vault. After we call the police they'll waste hours trying to negotiate and then you can tear the building apart looking for this man but until then we do not alter the plan."
"And if he alters it?" Karl asked, breathing heavily and sweating.
Hans stared at him, not answering. Karl didn't need one; he knew what his boss would allow him to do. Hans backed up and adjusted his suit. Victoria was glad to see him unharmed; though she was sure Karl wouldn't have hurt him she hadn't been sure. Seeing Hans unscathed, she leaned back into the couch, more relaxed. Why the hell do you care if he's alright or not? She had no answer.
"If he alters the plan," Hans said after a moment, "you know what you're allowed to do."
"But I'm not allowed to search for him." Karl spit.
"NO." Hans stated firmly, turning to face the man.
There was a crackle from the CB radio on Hans' desk. Victoria looked at it, unsure of who would be trying to communicate now. Hans and Karl also seemed confused by the device activating.
"Mayday, mayday! Anyone copy, channel nine. Terrorists have seized the Nakatomi building and are holding at least thirty people hostage; I repeat -"
Victoria stared at the CB radio; it was an American voice. And from the malicious, hungry smile on Karl's face, not one of their men.
"—unknown number of terrorists, six or more, armed with automatic weapons at Nakatomi Plaza, Century City. Somebody answer me, Goddamnit."
Hans looked thoughtfully at the radio. "What's the best place to transmit?" He looked over at Karl, and now Fritz and Franco who had joined him. "The roof, go, go!" Hans ushered them out of his office and they went, eagerly.
Hans kept the radio on his desk, listening to the man speaking to a woman who was not buying what he was selling. He smiled and brought the radio with him to the couch.
"Eat, please; you look very pale."
Victoria popped another grape in her mouth; she wandered how he could be so calm about someone who was so clearly messing up their plans.
"And drink some water." He urged her.
She sighed but with a shaky hand grabbed the glass. It felt good against her parched throat. She drank deeply and finished off the glass in a matter of seconds.
"Feeling a bit better now are we?" He asked, smiling.
"Yes, thank you." She said loud enough for him to hear. "Vodka would make me feel better." She finished quietly.
Victoria grabbed another grape before moving her hands down to her sore feet. Her shoes were on the ground under the table.
"The heels I assume?" Hans asked, watching her.
"Yeah; they're hell to wear."
She grimaced as she worked her fingers over the heel of her foot.
"Allow me, please." Hans leaned towards her.
"It's okay." She wasn't sure how she felt about him touching her with her mixed feelings.
But he didn't listen; he grabbed her legs and swung them up into his lap. She had to adjust herself quickly on the couch to avoid falling off. She sat with her back against the arm of the sofa, watching him.
That electric feeling was back in the air and she wondered if he could feel it too, or if she was just crazy. His fingers ran gently over her feet, applying pressure where needed. She had to admit that it felt wonderful. She had to physically stop herself from moaning in pleasure; it was one damn good foot rub. And the man giving it wasn't hard on the eyes either. She mentally berated herself again. Get a grip girl! It's just a foot-rub! Yeah…a foot-rub from a sexy German man.
"Victoria…I don't want you to be afraid of me." He stared down at his task, intent. "I understand if you are, but I don't wish you to be."
Victoria said nothing so Hans continued.
"I also don't want to have to treat you as a hostage but I will if I have to." He dug his thumb into her heel.
"If I'm not a hostage then what am I?" Victoria asked taking a bite of the tart on her plate; her heart had started drumming again; what the hell was this man doing to her? More than college boys could…
Hans looked up at her for the first time since beginning to massage her feet. He shrugged and continued his ministrations.
"Fine, report me! Hey come down here and fucking arrest me. Send the police, NOW!"
The CB radio crackled with the mystery man's words. They could hear shots ring out over the radio and he didn't say anything more.
Hans glanced at the radio indifferently.
"Explain something to me." For some reason Victoria's confidence was bolstered. Maybe it was seeing this man doing something normal, even kind and gentle. "You've been mean and nice to me tonight. What's the meaning of it, running hot-and-cold?"
"My apologies. I didn't realize that it bothered you so much." He smiled at her.
"Well no one really likes being man-handled." She pointed out, taking a bite of cheese; she resisted the urge to run her foot up and down the man's leg. That could only lead to bad things. Or fun things…
Hans frowned. "Again, I apologize. I won't…force you somewhere again. You may follow on your own; and you will follow." He looked at her, serious.
"So I'm not allowed out there?" Victoria jerked her head in the direction of the atrium.
"No; you will stay near me. I'm afraid my men are jumpy and you are safer here then you are out there. Besides, you know too much about us."
Victoria nodded her head; it made sense to her at least; if she were a thief it probably would have made more sense. She sighed, taking another bite of food. Her stomach finally felt settled and if she was being honest the foot rub felt fantastic. It was putting her in a euphoric mood; his fingers felt good as they worked their way up to lightly touch her ankles, leaving trails of hot fire where he touched her. God. How a man could have such soft fingers she would never understand.
Hans picked up his radio. "Karl? Franco? Did you catch him?"
The radio crackled with Franco's reply. "No but he's in the elevator shaft."
Hans smiled. "Perfect. The elevators are locked off. He can't escape. Just shut him in and come back down." He held the radio, staring at it, as if willing it to reply immediately.
"Hans he killed my brother." Karl's voice came over the radio.
Hans gritted his teeth before speaking; Victoria could tell he was holding back his rage. "Karl the police are probably on their way already. Karl. I can stall them but not if they hear gunshots. If you lock him in he'll be neutralized – now…Karl? Karl!"
Hans slammed his radio down on the table. Clearly Karl had turned his radio off so Hans couldn't tell him what to do.
"Fool; this revenge ploy will mess everything up."
Absentmindedly he began rubbing Victoria's feet again. She left him alone for the few minutes it took for him to calm down; she didn't want to enrage him further. He calmed himself down and spoke first.
"Tell me Victoria…how old are you?" He had been intensely curious about her age because she looked so young.
"Nineteen."
Victoria saw Hans' eyes widen in surprise. His gaze slowly raked up her body. "So young?" He asked, swallowing the lump in his throat.
"How old are you?" She asked, a brow raised.
He licked his lips before replying. "Forty-one."
She took her feet from his lap. "No way."
Instead of recoiling as he had expected, she scooted to right next to him on the sofa.
"There's no way." She repeated softly.
She reached out and grabbed his face in her hands; she moved his head so it was facing her. Those intelligent brown eyes that seemed so clear; had they seen that much life? She tentatively touched his skin. He closed his eyes and let out a breath. Victoria's hand cupped his face while her other trailed up to trace his cheekbone. There's no way he's forty-one. Both hands found their way to his soft brown hair; she ran her fingers through it, enjoying the sensation.
At the closeness to him her stomach was flipping; she should feel like retching but she didn't…there were butterflies in her stomach; she was so nervous. Almost like a high-school crush. God I must be insane. Victoria's fingers trailed their way back down his face and rested on either side, cradling it. His lips looked so soft and pink…and she could smell the cologne again, that powerful and attractive scent; it was intoxicating.
Having her so near him was wonderful. As soon as her fingers had touched him he had felt like a bon-fire. They were delightfully soft; he wanted to take her fingers and kiss them, one-by-one. He wanted to grab a fistful of her hair and taste her neck…oh so many things he wanted to do.
He opened his eyes and saw her staring; her beautiful bedroom eyes that were a startling color blue: one appeared lighter than the other…her right eye was the light color of the ocean he had crossed to get here. Her right eye appeared darker, like an electrical storm with flashes of white lightning cutting through the blue sky.
His gaze moved down her narrow nose to her full pink lips. The pink lips that were parted just slightly as her fingers roamed his features; the hands that were running themselves through his hair, driving him crazy. He closed his eyes again; he couldn't take it much longer, what she was doing to him.
Hans CB radio crackled.
"Police."
Hans grabbed his radio and, standing from the couch, walked over to the window that had the view to the outside parking lot. He could see the police cruiser parked outside. He cleared his throat.
"Eddie?" He clicked the button allowing him to speak.
Eddie's reply came quickly. "I had a feeling you'd be calling."
"Let him in." Hans' calm voice comforted Victoria. It also sounded a bit…husky?
She understood now that he was the kind of man who could keep his cool in a situation like this. She admired it…oh god what the hell? She shook her head, trying to shake these thoughts. But she couldn't. How could she? He was physically attractive and was more kind to her than mean…and he had apologized to her. She knew she absolutely shouldn't be thinking this way but…she was attracted to him.
There was no sense in lying to herself. Now lying to him was a completely different story. He never had to know; if she could control it. He wasn't like high school or college boys. With them hiding her attraction had been easy because they had been simple. Hans was different; he was a complicated creature.
Hans watched from the window as the officer walked into the building.
"Do you really feel the need to watch from the window?" Victoria asked, her own voice slightly deeper.
Hans smiled. "Miss me already?" He asked. He stayed where he was however. He mentally scolded himself for his flirting with the young woman; she was a girl, a child. Another part of his mind said he would continue, only if she made the first move. After all, what had she been doing on the sofa?
Victoria patted the seat next to her. She at least wanted someone to talk to if she was going to be stuck here and he was the only available conversational companion.
Hans smiled and sat down, still holding the radio. He crossed his legs and waited.
"Tell me about yourself." She leaned back against the couch, waiting.
"You're going to try and get me to talk about myself?" He was surprised; he had expected her to talk about their heist.
He thought a moment; what could he tell her?
"I am from West Germany." He answered truthfully. "I have an older brother whom I do not get along with."
"A brother? What's his name?" This piqued her interest; she hadn't expected to get such a straight-forward, or honest, answer.
"Peter. Peter Simon."
Hans shouldn't have been telling her this and she shouldn't have been asking so innocently. He wanted to tell her, wanted her to know. And she wanted to talk to him like they were old friends. She should want to run away screaming but she found herself scooting closer to him on the couch, so their legs were touching.
"Now tell me something about you." He encouraged her.
She sat a moment, thinking. What would he want to know?
"Well my middle name is Ann…I don't have any siblings. I go to school at the University of California and I'm studying business." She divulged the information as she thought of it.
"Victoria Ann Harwood." Hans tasted the name again. He shouldn't like her name, shouldn't like her. He placed a careful hand on her black-skirt covered knee.
"My parents actually got me my intern position here; I needed a part-time job while I was at school and they know one of the higher-ups." Victoria shrugged her shoulders.
Inside her blood was boiling; they were sitting so close, and his hand was on her knee. Just a few more inches…get a grip Victoria! Please act like an adult! But how could she? Age-difference be damned this man was gorgeous.
"They must be lovely people, your parents." He brought her back from her thoughts, back into the conversation.
"They are; they're very kind and sweet. They've been together for twenty-five years."
Hans was about to reply when the sound of gun fire cut in.
"What the-?" He stood up from the couch and walked over to the window.
The police car was backing up and his men were firing at it. So police action would be taken earlier than they had thought. It would not be a problem. He could hear the sound of approaching sirens.
Karl, Fritz and Franco burst into the office just as Hans sat down at his desk. He again appeared unconcerned and he avoided Victoria's gaze.
"Calm down!" He slashed a hand across the air, warning them to stay quiet. He got on his radio. "Silence, everyone, until I tell you to speak. Keep working."
Hans leaned back in his chair.
"Will all of you relax? This is a matter of inconvenient timing. Police action was inevitable…" he cocked his head and drummed his fingers on his desk, completely unconcerned. "And as it happens necessary; so let them fumble about outside and stay calm." Hans smiled as he looked out the window; turning back, he gave each of his men a meaningful glance. "This is simply the beginning." He was relaxed and calm, as always.
Victoria let her muscles relax as well; if he wasn't worried, she wouldn't be worried. When did I become so concerned about Hans? When did I start…start wanting him to get away? She shrugged to herself. Probably the minute you started wanting him. Oh just shut up! She yelled at herself.
The CB radio crackled again; the men looked down at it surprised. Hans picked it up and spoke angrily into it.
"I told all of you I want radio silence until further –" He was cut off by a voice on the other end.
"Gee I'm very sorry Hans, I didn't get that message. Maybe you shoulda put it on the bulletin board."
Victoria stood up from the couch; this was a new voice.
"Anyway, since I waxed Tony and Marco and their friend here I thought you and Franco and Karl might be a little lonely. So I wanted to give you a call."
Victoria walked closer to the desk. Had this mystery man really killed three of Hans' men? From the look on his face Hans didn't believe it, but his men were certainly looking worried. She should've been glad that a man was running around, working to protect the hostages. She should've been pleased that someone was working to rescue them.
"How – how does he know so much about -"
Hans cut Franco off with another wave of his hand.
"This is very kind of you. I assume you are our mysterious party crasher. You are most troublesome for a security guard?" Hans guessed.
"BZZZ! Sorry, Hans, wrong guess. Would you like to go for Double Jeopardy where the scores can really change?"
Hans looked affronted; whoever this man was Victoria could tell that Hans did not like him. She moved to stand behind his chair; she reached out a careful hand and placed it on his shoulder. It felt right to her. She closed her eyes. She had only been in this man's presence for a few hours but…this felt right, being here. At least in this situation.
And she assumed that he needed a comforting gesture; the tension in his shoulders told her that he was angry, even if his calm tone didn't betray anything. Besides, if they had met on the street or in a coffee shop, she absolutely would've let him take her out. Why should she treat this any differently? Maybe because you're an effing hostage for people who are using you as leverage to steal?
So much for not letting him know about her attraction. But she felt dangerous. She felt brave. Yes, he had killed Takagi but he had also been gentle with her. He had apologized for his actions against her and said they wouldn't happen again. It was crazy she knew but she made her decision; she would get to know Hans Gruber. Her heart leaped in her chest; apparently it thought she was doing the right thing.
"Who are you then?" He asked into the radio. His other hand came up to cover Victoria's hand on his shoulder.
"Just the fly in the ointment Hans. The monkey in the wrench. The pain in the ass -" the voice on the radio fell silent.
Hans took the opportunity to speak to his men.
"Check on all the others…don't use the radios. See if he's lying about Marco and find out if anyone else is missing."
Karl nodded his head and left the office. Franco and Fritz followed after a moment. Hans squeezed Victoria's hand before removing his. He was surprised by her sudden behavior but by no means was he opposed to it. In fact he quite liked her forward conduct. He wondered what was spurring her on and how long it would last.
"Mr. Mystery Guest. Are you still there?" He spoke into the radio.
Victoria wasn't excited by the idea of someone running all over the building with a gun. What if he succeeded and hurt Hans? She stayed behind his desk, watching him carefully. The office door was closed and none of her co-workers could see her. She had finally admitted to herself that she was attracted to him, no matter their wide age-difference and the fact that he maybe was just a tad mad. Victoria couldn't deny she was attracted to the idea of him and his intelligence. Not to mention the idea of what he could to do her if they had the time.
She was starting to learn more about him piece-by-piece…and she had made the decision to try and get to know him better and to make the best of this strange situation. She wasn't saying she'd be able to learn a lot about him in their short time span, but she wanted to learn as much of this man's history as possible.
"Yeah I'm still here…unless you want to open the front door?"
"I'm afraid not. But you have me at a loss – you know my name, but who are you?" He looked behind him to see Victoria still standing there. He smiled before continuing in a scornful tone.
"Just another American who saw too many movies as a child? Another orphan of a bankrupt culture who thinks he's John Wayne…Rambo…Marshall Dillion."
"I was always kinda partial to Roy Rogers actually. I really liked those sequined shirts."
"Do you really think you have a chance against us Mr. Cowboy?" Hans spoke into the radio harshly.
There was a short pause before the man on the other end replied.
"Yippee-ki-yay mother-fucker." The radio clicked off.
Hans sat back in his chair. This man could be a problem. They hadn't counted on someone running around the building trying to muck up their plans. But no matter; his men were the best he could bring along. The best, and this mystery cowboy had claimed to kill three of them. Hans stood up from the desk chair.
"Are you worried?" Victoria asked quietly. She could sense something was wrong with him.
"No; he is of no concern." Hans crossed his arms.
Karl rushed into the office, Franco and Fritz following.
"He wasn't lying about Marco: he's down on the street. And the other man was Heinrich." He paused and Victoria saw Hans' alarmed expression. "And his bag is missing."
Victoria looked at Hans. What was so important about a missing bag?
"But, he had the… detonators."
Hans reached back and picked up his CB radio. "Theo. Theo!"
"Yo." The man on the other line replied.
"We may have some problems. How is your schedule?"
"Three down, four to go –"
"Then don't waste time talking to me."
Hans put his radio on the desk and rubbed his brow. Suddenly the radio came to life again, a new voice on the line.
"This is Sergeant Al Powell of the Los Angeles Police Department. If the person who radioed for help on this channel can hear me, acknowledge this transmission. I say again…"
Victoria watched Hans' face for any change. He just looked down at the radio, appearing slightly annoyed.
"If the person who radioed for help on this channel can hear me, acknowledge this transmission." The officer repeated.
"I read you Powell. You the guy in the car?" The cowboy answered.
"What's left of him. Can you identify yourself?"
Victoria saw Hans and Karl listening intently to the radio.
"Not now, maybe later. Listen fast because this is a party line and the neighbors got itchy trigger fingers. Alright here's the deal: You got thirty or so hostages on the 30th floor; the leader here is named Hans."
"We have to find him and shut him up. He's telling them everything!"
Hans cut Franco off with a glare.
"Let him; I'm waiting for the FBI to arrive; until then he can waste as much time as he likes, but we must find the bag. Fritz go help Uli. We must have the detonators."
"They've got a friggen' arsenal. They got missiles, automatic weapons, and enough plastic explosives to orbit Arnold Schwarzenegger."
Hans smiled.
"They're down to nine now counting the skydiver you met. These guys are mostly European judging by their clothing labels and…cigarettes. They're well financed and very slick."
Hans frowned; this man had been able to deduce too much…how did he know so much about them. Victoria stood on his left and sat on the edge of the desk, staring at the radio.
"Well now how do you know that?"
"I've seen enough phony ID's in my time to recognize that the one's they've got must have cost a fortune. Add all that up and I don't know what it means but you've got some bad ass perpetrators and they're here to stay."
"I hear you…partner. And LA's finest are on it so light 'em if you got 'em."
"I'm ahead of you…partner."
"So uh, what do I call you?" He asked the man on the radio.
"'Call me…Roy.'"
"Well listen up Roy, if you think of anything else you think we need to know, don't be shy okay? In the meantime I want you to find a safe place and hole-up and let us do our job. Understand?"
"They're all yours Al. Good luck."
Hans looked scornfully down at the radio.
"We must find those detonators." He said sternly.
He ordered his men out of the office. For now the cowboy was being silent and that suited him just fine. Hans stood and closed the office door and checked that the blinds were closed. His men were keeping an eye on the hostages' just fine. Hans turned around to face Victoria, who had walked around to the front of his desk and was leaning it.
"You've been acting very strangely." He accused, approaching her.
"I've decided something." She whispered.
He stopped so he was right in front of her. He put an arm on either side of her, trapping her there.
"Decided on what?" He asked, whispering in her ear.
He felt her shiver under him; he smiled in pleasure and pulled his head back to gaze at her head on.
"I've decided to make the most of my time here to…to get to know you." She finished awkwardly, looking at the wall, a blush touching her cheeks.
Hans was surprised. She had come to the decision to get to know him? The only thing he had been thinking of was how far he could make that blush spread…but if she was trying to form a lasting connection, did that mean she wanted to leave with him as well? He would allow it, if she wanted to.
"But I am a monster; I killed Takagi. And I am robbing your offices."
"Yes you are; all of those things are true. But you're also intelligent, and you know what you want. Not to mention those brown eyes." Her cheeks turned bright pink.
"My eyes?" He pulled back further to see her better.
"Let's just not talk about it." She said, trying to pull away.
"Alright."
He pulled back and let her walk back over to the couch. She was going to get to know him. Not necessarily what he would have asked for under the certain circumstances but they could start. Because Hans liked her. She was gorgeous, and brave. Making the decision to stay by him and not beg to be put with the other hostages? She had mettle. He knew she was also smart; she was going to a great American college and studying business. And he liked his women smart.
He looked down at her long legs, crossed under that tight black skirt. Even the blood covering her white blouse made his temperature rise. Hans walked behind the desk and discreetly adjusted his trousers before sitting down. From the smile he saw on her face, maybe he hadn't been discreet enough.
"Hans, what are the detonators for?" She asked.
"Can I trust you with this piece of information?" He put his elbows on the desk and leaned forward.
Victoria thought about it. Whatever this was, she was in it for the long haul.
"Yes." She nodded her head to prove her point.
"Once we've gotten what we want, we're going to lead the hostages to the roof…and blow it."
