Chapter 9

Adriana power-walked through the streets, forgetting once or twice which direction the bank was. The brisk February air chilled her cheeks and ears. It felt so strange, walking through these Gotham streets, and even stranger still, walking in silence. No thoughts or worries intruded her from anyone else. She had no thoughts but her own. She felt like screaming in joy at the top of her lungs, so fascinated with her new freedom that she nearly walked past the small branch bank.

She walked in and quickly filled out a deposit slip, realizing that she had forgotten her account number. She tried her best guess from memory and walked over to the teller who was looking bored with no clients.

"Hi, I want to make a deposit," Adriana asked, trying to put the check and deposit slip under the glass. It seemed like the glass had gotten thicker and the slot for the checks or slips had gotten even smaller than the last time she was here. The woman sighed still sounding bored but immediately perked up after looking at the check.

"I can't complete this here. Sign your name on the clipboard over there and take a seat, someone will see you shortly," the woman said nicely.

Adriana went over and put her name on the clipboard, not remembering today's date. She copied the date from the names above: February 14. Was it Valentine's Day?

"Mrs. Navarro?" a woman called Adriana's name before she could take a seat.

"Miss. That's me," Adriana walked over to the woman who led her back into her open office.

"What can I help you with today, Miss Navarro?" the woman asked her, flipping her silky dark hair over her shoulder. Adriana wondered how her own hair looked. She passed the woman the check and the deposit slip.

"You have to take this to the downtown branch," the woman passed the check back.

"Oh, then I have to go tomorrow. I don't drive," Adriana replied putting the check in her purse.

"Don, you still going to Central tonight?" the woman called over her shoulder to no one visible.

"Yea, heading out now," Don sounded tired. "Why?"

"She needs to deposit a check, over our branch's limit. He could take you if you want," the woman, who's name tag read 'Alba'.

"That would be great," Adriana replied, looking at the clock noticing it was 6:25.

"They'll take you," Alba assured her.

"Thank you so much!" Adriana said getting up to leave, feeling lucky.

The bank was closed when they arrived, but they were allowed in. They both had to be checked with a metal detector and searched before entering.

"Sheesh," Adriana sighed, as Don led her to the back offices.

"Yea, they've gotten really tight here," Don responded. "Hey Paul, gotta last minute costomer here for you." Don said as they walked into an office.

"Come on Don, I gotta wife to go home to," Paul joked and invited Adriana to sit.

"So do I," Don called "But I'm in no hurry. Gotta meet with Stanley tonight. Good night Paul and.."

"Adriana," she spoke, enjoying only hearing them speak.

"Good night to you too Adriana," Don said before turning to leave.

"Well, what brings you in tonight?" Paul asked, folding his hands.

"Deposit," Adriana said passing the check to him. She would be happy to get rid of the ragged slip of paper that had been passed around so much.

"Wow," Paul said, raising his eyebrows. "Wish I were you right now," he joked beginning to laugh.

He turned to his computer and began moving his mouse and typing. He stopped abruptly.

"Something wrong?", Adriana asked him.

"Yeah," he peered over her shoulder through his all glass windows into the main area of the bank. "Someone just hit one of the emergency alarms." His phone vibrated loudly in his pocket. "We're being robbed. Again." he sounded furious. Adriana turned to see various masked men making their way through the bank.

"Get down," Paul whispered to her, wishing Ron had closed the door when he left. Paul got down behind his desk. Adriana wanted to go over with him since she was right in front of the door. She slid down in front of her chair and felt Paul pulling on her arm to get her under the desk with him. He pulled her under almost effortlessly. They waited for what felt like hours, but probably were only a few seconds. They heard shuffling feet outside of the door and deep, rough voices.

"Safe's open?" one voice asked.

"Yeah, its done." another responded. A gunshot sounded causing Adriana to jump and gasp. Paul gripped her tight to him and placed a firm hand over her mouth. Someone was entering his office. They squeezed tighter together to hide completely under the desk. A man walked around it, and Paul worried if he would hear his pounding heartbeat. The man stood in front of Paul's chair and made sounds with the papers on his desk. He walked around to where Adriana had been sitting. Paul pulled them both away from his feet. Adriana decided to focus. She squeezed her eyes tight, which forced the tears that had been beginning to gather in them down onto Paul's hand which was still tight over her mouth. Money. That was on his mind. Check. He'd looked at her check. For the first time, Adriana wanted her curse back. She focused harder trying to block Paul's thoughts of panicked fear. Empty? He was wondering why the office was empty but the computer was on and a purse sat on one of the chairs. A $10 Million check was on the desk as well as a deposit slip. She focused so hard she thought she would black out. His intention to look under the desk was clear. When she opened her eyes, she could see a comical masked face looking under the desk at them.