.
The van pulled up along the side street behind the bank. Main Street was still blocked off to facilitate the wine festival, which was now in full swing. The group cautiously moved under the cover of shadow to take up an observation position across the street from the bank. Jamieson was organizing his medical supplies from the first aid kit in the van. Kowalski was listening to Jamie's instructions on how to play a paramedic, while he packed his own bag full of supplies. Patterson and Riley were busy constructing the portable stretcher, and Nelson was preparing to make the phone call to the bank robbers.
Chip's cell was answered on the third ring by Pete. "Well, looks like you're gonna swoop in and save the day for these fine people. You got my money old man?"
"Yes I have the money you requested. I want to speck to Commander Crane and make sure the other hostages are well. Then we can work out how to make the exchange."
"Kay, but no tricks." There was some static and muffled voice and then Lee's voice came on the line.
"Admiral?"
"Yes it's me Lee. Are you alright? How is Chip doing?" Hearing Lee's voice brought a small amount of relief to the Admiral. He was glad that at least one of his boys was able to bring this nightmare to a close and save Morton, as well as the other hostages.
"I'm fine Admiral, but Chip has gone into shock; if he doesn't receive medical help very soon, I don't think he's going to pull through."
"Listen to me carefully Lee. Can the bank robber hear what you are saying? Just answer yes or no."
"Yes."
"Can he hear everything I say?"
"No."
"Good. Lee we're going to get you out of there. I have Jamie here as well as some of the crew. How many are there?"
"You can tell the Doc that Chip is entering stage four."
"There are four gunmen?"
"Yes. I'm glad you brought Jamie, and not that young doctor who only has the smallest amount of supplies with him."
Nelson pondered over what the Captain was trying to communicate to him. God he could use a cigarette right about now. "Smallest amount of supplies", and "Young doctor". Hmmm...
"They have small arms?" The Admiral asked uncertainly.
"Yes Sir."
"Is it a group of kids holding up the bank?"
"Yes Sir. We'll try to hold on a little longer." There were more muffled sounds, and then Pete came back on the line.
"That's enough; you've heard they're still alive. Now let's get to the part where I git my money!"
The lead gunmen's patience was running out. The solution to all their problems was almost in their grasp. All they had to do was get this old goat to hand over the money and they could be on their way.
"You come to the door with the money, and the medics. No weapons or tricks. We'll let you in and you can help your friend, while we walk out the door with the money. This can be real easy. You try and fuck with me, and your medics are gonna have a lot more blood to clean up!"
"Alright, we'll be right there."
Nelson hung up the phone and turned to his waiting men. Sharkey had made his way over to the group with the lockbox from the van.
"The Captain has informed me that there are four people holding up the bank. He seems to think they are just a bunch of kids with a few small arms. They agreed to let us in to the bank where they will take the money and leave."
"What about the fact that we don't have the money they're expecting?" Riley asked.
"I'm hoping that if they are indeed only a bunch of kids, they will be inexperienced enough to not look too closely at the bags. If they ask to see it, I'll unzip the top and they can look at the money we placed on top of each stack. But if they can't hold it, they won't know that it's fake papers underneath the top bills." explained the Admiral.
"Do you really think they're just going to let us leave?" questioned Kowalski.
"No I don't think it's going to be that simple. Kowalski, I want you to hide one of the weapons from the lockbox in your bag of medical supplies. Patterson, I want you to take Jamie's bag and hide a weapon in there. You're going to play the doctor for us. Will, I want you to wait out here until we have the situation under control. Riley, I want you to keep an eye out behind the bank; when we make our move, you come in the back door and chief, you come in the front door-"
"What if they ask to see the money up close?" Jamieson interrupted.
"If that happens, I'll just have to stall until we're ready. Now I know it's not the greatest plan, but right now it's all we have, and those people inside are counting on us." The Admiral finished.
Everyone was preparing to head out, when the doctor pulled Nelson aside.
"How's my patient doing Harry?"
"Lee indicated that your services are going to be greatly needed Will." Nelson quickly turned his attention back to concealing his weapon, but the worry etched into his face was not lost on Jamieson, who nodded slightly and prepared himself for what might be waiting for him inside the bank.
All eyes turned to Chip's ringing cell phone that had been placed on the counter. Lee felt a flicker of hope rise inside of him. Nelson would soon be rescuing them, and Chip would be receiving some much needed medical care, and everyone except the robbers could go back to their lives.
Pete stomped towards the phone and swiped it off of the counter. He answered it on the third ring.
"Well, looks like you're gonna swoop in and save the day for these fine people. You got my money old man?"
"Yes, I have the money you requested. I want to speck to Commander Crane and make sure the other hostages are well. Then we can work out how to make the exchange."
"Kay, but no tricks." Pete covered the receiver and moved over to where Lee and Chip were. He glanced down at Crane and handed him the phone as he said, "Your boss wants to talk to you. I'll be standing right here listening to you, so don't git any funny ideas."
Lee took the phone out of Pete's hands and turned his head slightly to try and minimize what Pete would hear of his conversation. "Admiral?"
"Yes Lee, are you alright? How is Chip doing?" The Admiral's usual booming voice was very reserved.
"I'm fine Admiral. Chip has gone into shock; if he doesn't receive medical help very soon I don't think he's going to pull through."
"Listen to me carefully Lee. Can the bank robber hear what you are saying? Just answer yes or no."
"Yes."
"Can he hear everything I say?"
"No."
Pete may have had the foresight to stick close to Lee to listen for any clues to the situation in the bank, but he apparently didn't have the attention span to keep up with the conversation. Crane followed Pete's eyes as they darted around the room, showing interest in almost everything, except trying to hear what the Admiral's part of the conversation was.
"Good. Lee we're going to get you out of there. I have Jamie here as well as some of the crew. How many are there?"
The skipper quickly wracked his brain for some seemingly relevant conversational topic to deliver his covert message. "You can tell the Doc that Chip is entering stage four."
"There are four gunmen?"
"Yes. I'm glad you brought Jamie and not that young doctor who only has the smallest amount of supplies with him."
"They have small arms?"
"Yes Sir."
"Is it a group of kids holding up the bank?"
"Yes Sir. We'll try to hold on a little longer." Pete decided he had had enough of being hospitable and snatched the phone away from the hostage.
"That's enough; you've heard they're still alive. Now let's get to the part where I git my money!"
The lead gunmen's patience was running out. The solution to all their problems was almost in their grasp. All they had to do was get this old goat to hand over the money and they could be on their way.
"You come to the door with the money and the medics. No weapons or tricks. We let you in and you can help your friend, while we walk out the door with the money. This can be real easy. You try and fuck with me, and your medic are gonna have a lot more blood to clean up!"
"Alright, we'll be right there."
Pete threw the phone back on the counter and smiled in triumph. He moved to the center of the room where Keith and the girl were waiting. "Looks like this will all be over in a couple of minutes."
Jake nodded from his position at the door and turned back to the window watching for the Admiral and the medics to approach the building. Keith moved back over to the second group of hostages that were fidgeting in relief that their current nightmare was drawing to a close. The female gunmen leaned close to Pete and whispered in his ear.
"Are we really just gonna let them go? They walk in here and we walk out?"
Pete's hushed voice replied,
"No. When we have the money, we wait until they go to check on their friend and then we take them out. Then we walk outta here and get to the car."
The pair smiled at each other and moved back to their original positions as they anxiously waited for the bloodbath that was going to make them rich.
.