Chapter 8
A while after Chioke being released and back into the loving arms of his legal guardian Tony, a text message was sent to Petty Officer Wade Benson. They're waiting for a response from him. The bank owner/manager, Stephen Wells, a little person, finally arrives at the scene and is being escorted to the mobile command center. A possible plan of infiltration is being discussed as Tony is taking care of Chioke in the back of the mobile command center and as they're waiting for the bank owner/manager.
"I have Tactical placed at either side of the bank. They're less then 7 seconds away from the front door and ready to go." Fornell stated. "A sniper will neutralize Shawn. Wade will neutralize Silencer, who we now know as being Jose Sanchez from what their driver told us. As soon as the shot is fire, Tactical will rush in and make sure Jose is taken down."
"Once the shot is fire, it'll take Tactical 15 seconds to get fully inside. If Wade is unable to neutralize Jose, then he'll have 15 seconds to execute hostages." Ziva said.
"I know. But at this moment, it may be our only option." Fornell said. "Gibbs…" He tries to get his attention. "Ask Wade if he thinks he can keep Jose neutralized for at least 15 seconds. If he doesn't think he can do it, then we scratch the plan."
"If Wade can do it… The only problem with this plan is; how to lure Shawn to come to the front door." Gibbs said.
Agent Malone steps into the mobile command center with the bank owner/manager, a little person named Stephen Wells.
"I hope there's a good reason you brought me down here." Stephen stated.
Everybody is shocked at his uncaring attitude.
"You do realize there are bank robbers holding hostages inside of your bank, don't you?" Ziva said.
"Yeah…" Stephen acknowledged the situation. "So? What's your point?" He asked. "While they're still inside of my bank, they better be working cuz they're still on my time."
"And what if you were inside of the bank right now? Do you think they'd let you work?!" Ziva exclaimed.
"If I was still inside of the bank, they'd never find me." Stephen stated.
"What do you mean they'd never find you?" Fornell asked.
"There's another way into the bank." Gibbs said as he reads Stephen's body language.
"It's not really a way to get into the bank. It's just a hiding spot, only accessible from my office. I'm the only one who knows of it." Stephen stated. "There's a table in my office that I push to the side, lift the rug, then a floorboard and crawl inside. The tunnel leads to a small space. It has a tiny vent that goes up to the bank so I can hear when the coast is clear. Then I would come out."
"You little coward!" Ziva exclaimed. Stephen gives her a dirty look.
"She didn't mean that the way it sounded." Gibbs said.
"I'm sure she did." Stephen said.
"Could that small space be accessible from the sewer system?" Fornell asked.
Stephen Wells doesn't answer. He looks away. Gibbs reads his body language once again.
"It can be." Gibbs said. "We need the sewer plans for the area."
"You don't have anybody who can fit thru the small space." Stephen stated.
"I can." Ziva said.
"Good luck lady. It'll be a tight fit even for you."
"What would really be a tight fit is, me sticking my arm down your throat to rip your heart out."
There's a moment of silence.
"You're not seriously considering ruining a part of my bank, are you? Cuz if you are, then I'll sue." Stephen said. "That space is private property."
"Private property that I'm sure the building department would love to know about cuz I'm guessing you paid-off a private contractor to make for you, without having the necessary permits." Gibbs stated. "So when we destroy your cowardly hiding space to get inside of your bank, we'll smile all the way to the courtroom cuz your threat to sue us, means nothing."
Stephen Wells now remains silent as Fornell gives the motion for Agent Malone to escort him out of the mobile command center and off the premises.
"New plan…" Fornell begins to say. "We get Ziva on the inside thru the small space. Once she's in position, we lure Shawn to the front door, even it's by having extra food cuz he said the hostages don't eat. A sniper neutralizes Shawn. Ziva neutralizes Jose. Tactical moves in and secures the building." He said. "We use Wade as a back-up, in the case Ziva is unable to get in."
Fornell picks up the phone in order to make a call to get the schematics for the sewer system. With the combination of the schematics for the bank and the sewer system, they'll be able to determine where in the sewer they should begin to dig a hole in order to have access to the small space. After a minute, Fornell hangs up the phone.
"Since we know there's a small vent connecting the bank to the small space, we'll have to dig the hole in the old fashioned way. No use of power tools." Fornell stated. "It kinda reminds me of you building your boat, Gibbs."
Fornell turns to get back on the phone. Gibbs looks to Ziva.
"With how small that space probably is, you're not gonna be able to bring anything except for a gun." Gibbs said. "Jamie is in there. You do whatever you have to do to keep her safe."
As Gibbs and Ziva keep talking, Fornell remains on the phone making calls and Tony is still in the back taking care of Chioke. Chioke looks on the table at his broken stuffed animal. He has a sad facial expression as he just looks downward.
"I'll buy you a new Curious George stuffed animal." Tony stated. "If you don't want a new one, we'll get this one fixed. I promise."
Chioke finally looks up at Tony. Chioke begins making hand movements.
'Am I not smart?' Chioke signed.
"I don't know the last word you signed." Tony said. He turns his head. "Gibbs…" He tries to get his attention. "What word is he signing?"
Chioke signs the last word for Gibbs.
"He signed the word; smart." Gibbs said.
Tony and Chioke look back to each other. Chioke sighs as he continues having a sad facial expression.
"What makes you think you're not smart?" Tony asked.
'Man…' Chioke points in the direction the bank is in because he doesn't yet know how to sign the words to connect what he's trying to communicate. '…Say I not smart.'
"The man in the bank…" Tony begins to say as he made the connection as to what Chioke is trying to communicate. "…Is a jerk who hates everybody." He places his hand on Chioke's chin and gently pushes his head upward in order to look him in the eyes. "You're the smartest little boy I ever knew." Tony smiles as he wipes a single tear away from Chioke's eye. "You know how I know you're very smart."
'How?' Chioke signed.
"That's how." Tony said. "When I first met you, you didn't know how to speak with your hands. But since then, you've been learning how." He added. "And I'm so proud of you for learning." Tony said as Chioke finally smiles. "Cuz of you, I'm also learning to speak with my hands. I may not be as advanced as you are…"
'You a Probie.'
"Yes…" Tony laughed. "I'm the Sign Language Probie."
Chioke leans forward and wraps his arms around Tony. He then climbs into Tony's lap. Tony holds Chioke in his arms and gently rocks him back and forth. With Chioke in the comfort of Tony's arms, his eyes begin to close as the whole ordeal inside of the bank was quite tiring.
Meanwhile, somewhere outside in the crowd behind the police barricade, an Arabian man has been watching the scene the entire time. He finally turns away and takes out his cell-phone. He walks away from the scene in order to go to his van. Once inside of the van, he hits the steering wheel. He opens the cell-phone and makes a call. A person on the other line, a member of his sleeper cell, picks up.
"We may have a complication." The Arabian man stated in his native language. "They already have one in custody. It's only a matter of time before the remaining three are also in custody. We can't risk these gang members being able to establish a link to us." He continued. "Until we know our mission, we're just supposed to collect funding for it." He added. "Gather everything, torch the place and relocate."
The Arabian man closes his cell-phone, turns the key to start the van and finally drives away.
