A/N: I am sooo sorry it took so long to update. I know you've all been deprived of this story and I hope that all of you are still alive. If anyone you needs mouth-to-mouth, Ty has volunteered to help. Enjoy.
Chapter Eight
6 hours earlier— 11pm
"Drop the guns!" Hazel screamed to the rest of the gunmen as she held Flick with a knife to his throat. "I'm going to kill him! Drop the guns!"
Flick spoke up just then, sounding extremely calm for his predicament. "They don't care, Hazel. We're not all friends behind these masks. We're here to get what's in the vault."
"Shut up!" Hazel told him. "Shut up, and tell them to do what I say now."
"Kill me—" Flick began.
"Now!"
"Kill me and they lock you in and blow the lobby," Flick warned. "They've got the detonator. I'm the only one who can contact the buyer. There is no deal without me. So, there's no reason to get what's in the vault. They will use the explosion to cover their escape. So you see, you wouldn't just be killing me, you would be killing your fellow hostages and yourself. Drop the knife." Hazel looked around at her fellow hostages. "Go on. Drop the knife." Hazel started to loosen her grip on the knife and Flick grabbed it from her. "Drop that knife." He stood up, faced her and pointed the knife at her.
"What do I do with you now? Hmm?"
At that moment, Jen let out a groan of pain from where she sat, doubling over and gripping her stomach. Both Flick and Hazel looked over at her.
/
Jake finished tying the unconscious gunman's legs and stood up and started for the door. "We got to get out of here," he said.
"Wait a sec, Jake, it's not enough," Sam said leaning over the gunman to get his knife.
"Sam, come on," Jake replied, going over to her and pulling her up by the arm. They opened the door, and only made it to the doorway when they say another gunman and Matt turn the corner.
"Drop the weapons or he dies," The man said, pointing the gun at Matt, as Jake aimed his gun at him. Sam looked at Jake, wondering just far he was going to take this.
"Don't listen to him, Jake," Matt said as the gunman pulled him closer to them. "He's not going to do anything unless his boss tells him—"
"Shut up, Matt," Sam told him. "Shut up."
"Well, do you want him to die?" the man asked Jake, who still hadn't put the gun down.
"Jake," Sam whispered. Jake glanced at her real quick and then allowed the gunman to take the gun. Sam reluctantly tossed knife down.
"Up against the wall," the gunman ordered. "Up against the wall!"
The three of them obliged and Matt said, "We can take him, Jake, he's outnumbered."
"Be quiet," Jake told him.
The gunman kicked open the door of the room that Sam and Jake had attempted to escape from. While keeping his guns on them, he checked the room out to see the passed out gunman.
"Why didn't you— you could have saved yourself, Sam," Matt questioned Jake, when the gunman was out of earshot.
"I would never leave anybody behind," Jake simply answered.
"Quiet!" the gunman ordered coming back out to the hall. "Flick will decide what happens to all of you,"
/
"Ok, where are they now?" D.A. Saunders asked into the phone as he walked the length of a police car parked by the curb. "No, no, let them go in, all right? Just keep me posted." He hung up phone just as Commissioner Jones walked up to him.
"Mike, is there something going on the rest of the command should know about?" Ray asked him.
"We're in a crisis situation, Ray, or haven't you heard," Mike answered sarcastically.
"We're supposed to be coordinating actions," Ray explained. "You start putting procedures into effect without following the chain of command, someone's going to get killed."
"Hey, call it intuition, all right?" Mike began. "If there is some movement inside of that building, I want to make sure that there is a team in place to extract the hostages at a moment's notice." At that point, the mayor walked up to the two of them. "Mayor Andrews—"
"Why haven't you two gotten the hostages out?"
/
"You know what," Flick said as pulled Hazel over to where Jen sat. "I'm actually wondering if you're in pain, or if you're just playing me."
"I'm really cramping," Jen managed to get out.
"Well, you're certainly being dramatic about it," Flick commented.
"This is my first pregnancy," Jen breathed. "I don't want to lose this baby."
"Aww,"
"Can't you bring Matt back to examine her?" Lou asked him from her spot in front of the door. Flick turned to look at her. "Look, I can trade places with her, if that helps."
Flick started pushing Hazel to the edge of the lobby as he said, "I'm sure you all think it would be lovely if I let the sweet girl walk to freedom," He stopped and turned to face everybody. "But then who would take care of Soraya while Jennifer gave birth in the parking lot."
"It is too soon for this baby to be born," Jen whined.
"Then I suggest you calm down, think happy thoughts, and mediate on your naval," Flick said. "Because if you continue this way, you and your baby will die tonight, ok? Good. Thank you." He was about to leave with Hazel when Matt, Jake, and Sam, followed by a gunman walked into the lobby.
"These two knocked out Four and were trying to escape," he explained to his boss.
"Oh, that's disappointing," Flick replied. "Matt, you need to stay close to Jennifer. A baby is thinking of making a very early appearance. Go." Matt instantly became concerned, put his doctor face on and hurried over to Jen.
This time, Flick spoke to Hazel. "And you and I need to have some alone time, darling. Come on," With that, he pulled Hazel out of the lobby.
/
"Why aren't you negotiating?" Mayor Andrews questioned the two. "We should have a constant line of communication open to the lobby."
"We've tried that, ok?" Mike answered, his frustration showing through. "The ringleader just jerks us around. I don't want to play into his hands. I think if we just give him a little bit more time, then he'll have the incentive to negotiate with us."
"You don't have the expertise to deal with these people," Mayor Andrews stated.
"Well, thanks for your vote of confidence, mayor," Mike said sarcastically. "But get out of my way so I can do my job." He started to push past the mayor, but he put out his hand to stop him.
"And you are making me look ridicules," Mayor Andrews replied.
"You don't need me for that," Mike snapped.
"If these people haven't started negotiating in one hour, we're sending in the tactical teams to extract the hostages by force," Mayor Andrews said and walked off.
/
"What?" Three asked from his spot on the floor opposite his hostage, Kelly. The briefcase sat in the middle of the floor, that light still flashing.
"Nothing," Kelly answered, then shrugged. "Pizza."
"What about it?" Three asked.
"Well," Kelly started, standing up. "There's this one place– Girado's– they have this pizza called the roman orgy." She crossed her arms and began to pace. "Oh, it's fully loaded. Thin crust. I can't stop thinking about it. Wouldn't that taste great right now?" She stopped and leaned against the wall, opposite him. "Wouldn't it be great to have something – I don't know – normal? As opposed to me sitting with a guy in a ski mask and a blinking briefcase."
"If it's normal we're going for, put me down for a Philly cheese steak," Three said.
"Gross," Kelly commented.
"Gross?" Three asked.
"Yeah, gross," Kelly elaborated. "All that soggy bread and fake cheese."
"No, no, not the kind you get at a food court in a mall," Three told her. "I mean the authentic Philly cheese steak from Philly. You know, where the meat is grilled and the cheese is fresh. Now, that's a little piece of heaven."
"Okay, I'm convinced," Kelly said. "But you have to tell me exactly which stand in Philly has the best cheese steaks."
At that point, something in Three's tone changed. "I've got a better idea," he replied. "Shut up and mind your own business."
/
Darrell moved through the back hallways of the hotel, slowly and quietly, his gun drawn. He was prepared in case someone saw him, but really hoped they wouldn't, because he didn't really have a solid plan. He stopped at a corner, thinking.
He then, looked up at the ceiling. If he could crawl through the air ducts above the lobby, he would be able to see what was happening in there. And then, he would be better equipped with a plan. He nodded to himself, liking the plan. Darrell picked up his gun stance again, and started back down the hall.
/
"Hello," Flick said as he and Hazel walked into the room where, Ty, Amy, and Scott were. "Oh, not dead yet? The little lady and I need some privacy. Go away. Take Scott with you."
"He shouldn't be moved," Ty told him, from his place behind the couch.
"Oh, of course, he should," Flick contradicted. "The exercise will do him good. Go."
Ty moved to the front of couch as Amy stood up and Scott sat up. Together, they helped Scott to his feet, who wobbled unsteadily at first. With their arms around Scott, all three of them made their way to the door and passed Flick and Hazel. "I hope you like surprises," Flick told them. When they were in the hall, Flick spoke to Two.
"Oh, check on Four in the other office before you drag the trauma team back to the lobby. Go," Flick instructed. When the door was closed, Flick pushed Hazel farther into the room. "And you – you've been nothing but trouble since you reached for the silent alarm." Hazel turned to face him. "Come to think of it, I don't know why I didn't kill you then? Oh, yes. Yes, I remember now." He pulled out his gun and ran it along her cheekbones. "It was out of respect for your decorative qualities. You're not much to talk to, but you're quite — quite stimulating to look at." Flick put his gun back in its holder and unzipped her coveralls, pulled them off her shoulders and unbuttoned the top of her blouse.
"You're a pig," Hazel told him.
Flick laughed, "Look at you," He grabbed her by her shoulders. "You think I'm going to rape you? You expect it, don't you?" Flick let her go and pulled her coveralls back up. "Sorry. That's not how I operate, darling. But you didn't know that when we came into the room, did you? You didn't protest. You didn't try to run away. You figured, why not? Whatever it takes to stay alive. You'd do anything to survive, don't you? No matter who gets left behind."
/
"Okay, just keep breathing," Matt told Jen, where he sat beside her, rubbing her back, soothingly.
"It's ok," Jen assured him. "They're easy enough."
Matt turned to look at Sam. "Sam, is Soraya breathing?"
Sam glanced at Soraya, lying so still on the couch, she stood beside. "Yes," she confirmed.
"Is it strong? Is it regular?" Matt pressed for more information.
"I don't know," Sam answered. She started to move to check, when a gun was pressed to her back. Sam turned and gave the man an annoyed glare. "I can't tell,"
Matt was about to say something, when Jen let out another groan. He looked back at her.
"Okay, Jen, you may need water. You could be dehydrated," Sam said. Turning, saying "Let me get you some—" But the same man, pressed the gun to her again. Sam sent him another glare, wanting nothing more than to grab the gun and throw it across the room.
Jake turned to face the two. "It's not complicated. We need some water."
"We already tried that," the man informed them. "It didn't work."
Everybody turned when they heard more people coming back into the lobby. It was Two, leading Amy and Ty, supporting Scott. Shock turned to fear on everybody's faces. Slowly, Amy and Ty let Scott ly on the floor where he felt more comfortable. When she made sure he was, Amy looked up at Sam.
"How's Soraya?" she asked.
"She's either passed out or asleep," Sam answered.
/
"Mayor," Mike began walking up to Mayor Andrews. "I don't care how bad the press is, I'm not risking the hostages."
"Then why have the SWAT team here ready to storm the building?" Mayor Andrews questioned. "And what makes you think this is a robbery gone wrong?"
"They have made no demands, all right?" Mike defended his actions. "If they were here for the money, they would have negotiated for the hostages long ago. What do you want me to do with the SWAT team? You want me to send them home? We have to be ready for whenever the opportunity presents itself."
"You're in over your head, Saunders," Mayor Andrews told him. "Just for the record, if this goes badly, I'm not the only one who's going to get skewered. You can kiss your career goodbye."
"Well, right now, I'm worried about the hostages, mayor," Mike said. "My career can wait."
/
"You're not like any of the other women, are you?" Flick was saying from his place right behind Hazel. "They may be terrified, but there's a nobility about them. They worry about others more than they worry about themselves. Poor girl's got a bullet wound. That one's ailing husband. Even Sweet Sam. She gets nasty and shows her teeth, but even that's to keep her boyfriend alive. So, who do you care about, Hazel, other than yourself?"
"You're the exception, and you know it. You'll do anything to save your own skin. I can certainly empathize with that. I am always my own priority. So, what do you think of your life's worth, Hazel?"
"You go to hell," Hazel hissed.
"The lady -- and I use the term loosely -- doth protest too much." Flick replied. "You see, you live in a one-person world, unlike young Jennifer over there. She doesn't care how frightened she is. Her focus is to stay safe so that the baby she's carrying will survive. That selflessness -- that -- that nurturing maternal instinct is wholly absent from you. And you know what? I admire that. Self-preservation is the most basic and entertaining of instincts."
/
Darrell stealthy walked down the hall and stopped at the door. He was pretty sure, this was the room that led the air duct system. Gun poised, Darrell opened the door. Luckily, the room was empty. He walked over to the far wall, looking at the air duct. This was it.
Suddenly, something on the floor caught his eye. He knelt down by it and saw that it was droplets of blood. That means the gunmen had been in the room and that also meant that they could come back at any time.
/
"Ok, maybe some more water will help," Matt told Jen and started to get up. He didn't get that far when Flick and Hazel came back into the lobby.
"Let me get this clear," Flick began, clearly starting to get agitated. "I get to decide who lives or dies. You people are getting way to comfortable. It's time to change partners." He pointed to Hazel. "Hazel, you get to sit in angel corner for awhile. Maybe your life will flash in front of your eyes and you'll reconsider you wicked ways." Hazel made her way over to Matt. Flick pointed to Sam and Jake. "You two can provide brain patient with aid and comfort. Dr. Amy and her hot-headed boyfriend can have a little pleasure time in the corner over there. Go!"
/
"The ringleader is prepared to release a pregnant hostage," D.A. Saunders informed the mayor and commissioner, after hanging up the phone.
"What about the gunshot victim?" Commissioner Jones asked.
"I'm sorry, Ray, I had to take what I could get," Mike explained.
"Now, you're pandering to a felon," Mayor Andrews commented. "What did you have to promise him?"
"He's prepared to make a list of demands," Mike answered.
"And we're supposed to comply?" Mayor Andrews inquired.
"With all do respect," Ray stepped in. "They release a hostage now, it will be something of a miracle. As police commissioner, I think we should let it play out."
Mike nodded in agreement, "Yes,"
"Here's a better idea," Mayor Andrews interjected. "When they send out the hostage, you send in the SWAT team." He walked off after that and Mike and Ray looked at each other.
/
"Well, things are getting very interesting," Flick commented. "I have an offer from Mr. Saunders. He thinks I should release young Jennifer here," He gestured to where Jen sat on the floor near Scott. "Simply because she's in labor. But wouldn't you know it, I forgot to tell him that Dr. Scott here is suffering from a concussion." He sighed. "Our medical staff is dropping like flies."
Flick pointed to where Amy and Ty stood, his gun pointed to Amy. "And that's what makes you even more valuable, darling,"
"If anybody should be released, it's Soraya," Amy told him. "Her pulse is weak. She's unconscious. She's still critical."
"Soraya's not an option," Flick stated, pulling back his gun. "She's provided us with hours of entertainment. And –you know– to simply send her away would just be rude. Besides, she's had a moment in the sun, surgery by proxy, come on, let's give somebody else a turn, ok?"
Flick grinned that devilish grin of his. "Jennifer or Scott. The vet student or the vet...Oh, but, wait, wait, before we do anything." He walked forward a few steps. "There's something...I've been meaning to do. Something I've been to busy to take care of. What was it again? Oh, yes," He laughed and then lowered his gun toward somebody's head. "Kill Jacob Ely."
/
Darrell crawled through the air duct, starting to regret his decision. Deciding to crawl through these tight quarters seemed easier when he was down below, but now. He shook his head, he had to rescue Jen and all the other hostages in the lobby. He came to a turn off and debated whether or not to take it. In the end, he turned onto it.
Darrell crawled only a few feet, when he came upon an air vent. He looked down into it and he almost gasped out aloud. His pulse started to quicken.
"The lobby,"
/
Mike marched up to Mayor Andrews, saying, "We can't send a pregnant woman into the middle of a gun battle." Ray walked up behind him as he continued. "There's no way you are storming that hotel."
"You'll be catching them off guard!" Mayor Andrews snapped. He turned to the captain. "Brief the SWAT team. Hey, get a clear shot when that door opens to let the hostage out, you tell them to take it." He turned back to Mike and Ray. "When these people start dying, they're going to realize that no amount of cash and jewels is worth their lives."
"This isn't about cash and jewels!" Mike argued. "This guy has an agenda, and I have a very strong feeling we're going to find out what that is once the vault is opened! Right now, the hostages are relatively safe, but they're not going to be unless you do something stupid to get them killed!"
/
"Face the wall," a gunman said, once he led Jake into a room and the door was closed. "Put your hands up."
"Even in third-world countries, you get a cigarette and a meeting with a priest before they execute you," Jake replied, turning around, hands up.
"You've had all night to say your prayers," the gunman told him, his gun drawn.
"So, what are you going to do?" Jake questioned. "Blindfold me, shoot me back. You going to turn around and look at you before you kill me?"
"You choice," the gunman said.
/
"I'm in the horns of a dilemma," Flick said, as he spoke, Darrell watched and listened from above. "A young, virtuous, attractive mother-to-be with her whole life in front of her or a young, handsome man with a bad headache. Who goes free?" He pointed the gun at Amy. "You decide,"
Ty stepped in front of her. "You can't ask her to do that,"
"Now, you don't want me to shoot Amy just as she's about to have some real fun," Flick replied. This he directed to Amy. "Make a decision. Who leaves our little family?"
Amy walked in front of Ty, her eyes watering with tears. "He's my brother-in-law," she told him.
"I know," Flick said.
"She could lose her baby," Amy replied.
"Isn't it perfect?" Flick asked. "That's why you get to decide— because you understand the gravity of the situation. However, I should warn you that the window of opportunity is rapidly, rapidly closing. Think fast, Amy. Who will you save?"
