Chapter 3

"I want some of those benches placed in front of the doors. If anyone tries to escape we'll find out how good my aim is." Josam pulled another weapon from inside his coat only this time it was a sawed off shotgun. Quickly three men got up off the floor and pushed the nearest bench in front of the double doors. They were the push-in type and the more weight that was placed in front of them the better.

"Stack them and use this chain to lash the doors together." Josam tossed a chain that was inside the podium base that he'd placed there the day before. He kept a watchful eye on both the doors and the mayor. One wrong move and someone would be finding themselves in big trouble.

"All right now get everyone seated in these first row benches." He ordered. Quickly the three men rounded up the remaining room inhabitants including the Mayor and the Councilmembers. They were all sitting in front of the villain scared out of their minds. Josam quickly took stock of who was in the room. There were seven civilians and four political prisoners. Of the bunch, three were women, leaving the remaining eight people men. All of them looked too scared to try to take him on which only fuelled his arrogance.

"Now we just sit back and wait." Josam smirked. Looks of confusion spread among them but no one said anything.

Outside, security had already called the police who were trying to get a hold of Stephanie. Sportacus was nowhere to be seen and it wasn't good. Little did they know that the above average hero was watching everything from the safety of his perch in a tree near the council room windows. They were up too high for anyone to get up and cover them but it seemed the villain had other plans.

BLAM! BLAM! BLAM! All three windows had the glass blown out of them and bullets went zipping by the above average hero narrowly missing him. No reflections could be looked at now and anyone sticking their head near those windows could very likely get their head blown off. The position in the tree was no longer useful and he quickly climbed down the arbor and headed inside to meet the police when they got there.

Meanwhile, Chief Dooright arrived at the Mayor's house to find Stephanie waiting outside for him.

"What happened?" She asked as she climbed into his police cruiser.

"Someone has taken your Uncle and ten other hostages inside the council room." The Chief explained.

"How did this happen?" The pink haired girl was starting to get upset.

"There are no metal detectors inside Town Hall. You should know that better than anyone. The security guards don't even have guns. We've never had any problems with people bringing in weapons." He told her as they raced toward the scene.

"Where is Sportacus?" Stephanie wanted to know.

"We can't find him." Dooright said as his radio crackled to life.

"Attention all personnel, Sportacus is on the scene. I repeat; Sportacus is on the scene. No demands have been made from the kidnapper. That is all."

"At least we know where Sportacus is." The Chief smiled slightly as he wheeled the cruiser into a space in front of Town Hall.

"Chief! Come quick!" An officer shouted. Stephanie recognized him as Officer O'Keefe and she hoped that he'd had a chance to speak to her blue hero.

"What is it O'Keefe?" Dooright asked.

"The kidnapper made only one demand and…" the officer didn't get to finish as shots rang out inside the council room.

"What did he want?!" Dooright demanded.

"He wanted Sportacus and Stephanie inside there within the next five minutes or he's going to start killing hostages." O'Keefe told him.

"If he hasn't killed one already." Dooright shook his head as Sportacus rushed up to greet them.

To Be Continued…


Starting the New Year off with a bang.... LOL