Flash
by RoadrunnerGER
Same ole song: I don't own them!
A/N: Thanks for all the lovely reviews I've got so far. :) I love you all. Thanks to bammi1 and JO for their help. I'm sorry for the long wait and that the new chapter isn't that long, but better a short chapter than no chapter. Right? I hope that I'll get back into it now. We'll see. Enjoy.
Ch 11
"And I tell you once again that we must to get back in touch with the men!" Jaenicke said, feeling his patience being put to the test.
"What's the sense of talking?" Tippe barked. "They killed a hostage! They killed a cop! The time to talk is over! We should go in now as long as we still have a chance to get the other hostages out!"
"I think Jaenicke is right," Deakins threw in.
"Would you say the same if it wouldn't be for your detective?" Tippe challenged.
"Yes, I would," Deakins thundered. "I don't like your implication, Sergeant. We will find a way to get them all out unharmed."
"You'll get them out in several pieces," Tippe growled.
"Yeah, if we do it your way," Jaenicke huffed. At the same time he was angry at himself for losing his cool. If he did that on the phone it could be disastrous.
Tense silence fell.
"That's what I thought," Jaenicke said and turned to the phone. It rang four times.
"Red."
"Talk to me." Jaenicke held his breath.
"I will," Red told him. "In ten minutes."
"We will not come in if we can talk now," Jaenicke replied. "Is anyone injured?"
"You tricked us with the cameras," Red screamed into the phone. "You're lucky I don't drag one of the hostages to the door and throw her out with a bullet in her head! You'll get your answers… as long as you stay outside and call again in ten minutes."
"We're both on the phone now, so why don't we…"
"Ten. Minutes."
With that the line went dead.
"We've got to get in!" Tippe piped up. "Who knows what he can do in ten minutes? Heck, in one minute! They can all be dead in a minute!"
"They didn't shoot anyone yet," Jaenicke barked, then reigned himself in again. "We don't even know if he shot at Stabler! For all we know he could have shot the camera! We need to determine if all hostages are okay and get Red and his men to release more people."
"And while we wait here for ten minutes they kill the whole group and get away through… God knows what or where," Tippe growled.
"The whole building is under surveillance, "Deakins cut in now. "They can't get out unnoticed."
"I agree to something being up, though," Jaenicke said. "Red dictated the ten minutes to us to have time to get something done. We need to find out what that is."
"Good luck," Tippe growled. "No cameras, no mikes…"
"Trace phone calls… they can't use the phones in the bank without being tapped. We also monitor mobile connections."
"As I said… good luck."
xXx
"Okay, let's see which one's the one we need," Red cheered as he turned the bag over and scattered the mobile phones on the floor in front of Dustin Worthington who still was bound and gagged. "Hm, Dusty? Which one is yours?"
"Hm hmmm."
"What?"
"Hm hm hmmmm."
"I'm sorry, what did you say?" Red purred.
"Hm hm hmmmmmmmmm!"
"Oh, now I get what's wrong," Red cheered and reached for the tape over the boy's mouth, ripping it off.
"Ouch!" Worthington junior howled.
"Don't be such a sissy! C'mon! Which one is yours?"
Defiantly the boy stared up at Red who towered over him, standing akimbo.
"C'mon, we don't have all day! I'll count to three. If I don't have the phone by then…" he made a scissoring motion with his hand toward the boy's groin.
"The blue Blackberry," Dustin croaked.
Red let his gaze wander over the pile of phones, found it, and picked it up. "Code!"
Dustin pouted.
"The code!" Red pushed, kicking at the boy's legs.
"Two, two, eight, four."
"Thank you," Red sneered and put the tape back over the boy's mouth. Then he entered the code. Clicking through the menu he found the phone book and the number he was looking for and dialed.
An excited voice flooded out of the speaker, assuming to talk with Dustin.
"I'm sorry to have to disappoint you, Daddy," Red snickered. "No check, only cash, Daddy."
Red smirked devilishly when he listened to the answer.
"No! You're gonna listen! You'll get us cash, only cash. You'll do exactly as you're told and maybe, just maybe, I'll leave your brat alive."
xXx
Bobby Goren watched the scene with trepidation.
He took a deep breath and then another, trying to fight the pain. Due to the strained position he was forced in by his arms tied above his head his shoulders and back hurt. Now new pain added to his agony. After Red had left Elliot in his humiliating position with the pen holder on his butt he came over to Bobby and, without any warning, grabbed the little finger of his left hand. Bending it back with a swift motion he broke the bone.
Bobby could have screamed. He still did not know why he did not even groan and blamed it on the shock.
His left hand hurt so much by now that he could hardly feel it anymore. The handcuff did its share, restricting blood circulation.
What is Newcombe up to? Bobby wondered. He has no reason to be so cruel and brutal. He's only doing it for the fun he gets out of it, especially with Elliot.
His gaze drifted to his colleague.
Elliot still lay on his stomach, his wrists handcuffed behind his back, motionless. A simple twitch of a muscle could cause the pen holder on his butt cheek to fall and Bobby did not doubt that the clatter of the pens might push one of the men over the edge, making him shoot randomly.
It must be hell for you, Bobby thought. Please hold out Elliot. I want to have the chance to invite you to a drink or two in return for helping Alex.
Inwardly he chuckled bitterly.
You saved our children! I can never repay you for that.
When Red shot at the camera Bobby had thought that was it, honestly believing that Elliot was dead. He could not find words for the relief that flooded him when he saw him move, heard him breathe, and realized that he was still alive. Bobby did not know why Red did not kill Elliot but he was infinitely grateful.
His insides constricted with sympathetic pain when Red taunted Elliot and planted the mug on his butt. It was so degrading and could turn out to be deadly in case it would drop.
It still was there and did not even tremble.
Brave man, Bobby thought. Please hold out. Our colleagues will get us out. They have to! God, I hope we get out soon, all of us, hostages and hostage takers.
His finger throbbed terribly.
Was that part of your revenge, Travis Newcombe? Bobby wondered. What else do you have in store for me?
Now Red picked up the boy's phone.
Bobby tried to listen in to the call he made. Worthington senior. That could only mean that the man wanted to extort ransom.
It was as obvious to the Major Case detective as the nose on his face. He could not understand how much Red demanded, the details of the transfer, or if he even mentioned those details already.
How does he plan to get to the money? We're stuck here in the bank. I don't think that the police will allow anyone to bring the ransom in. At least not without a hostage or two in exchange.
His gaze wandered over the group of people huddled together on the floor. Most of them looked rather tired by now. The stress and constant fear took their toll. Given that Bobby was surprised that no one got hysterical so far. The only one who broke rank was Worthington junior and he paid for his insolence.
Even though he reacted brutally he still avoided killing, Bobby thought. It's a miracle. I would've expected him to just shoot and think later. That he's not prepared to take a life is nothing short of amazing. Though I'm certain that he will kill if he is provoked. If the cops don't agree with his demands he'll send them a dead hostage. I'm sure about that.
Over his musings he did not notice that Red was approaching him again, so he was surprised when a hand closed around his own, squeezing.
"Arghhhh!" he groaned.
"Oh, a sound," Red teased. "I already thought you were insensible, but you obviously feel pain."
Yes, I do. Bobby bit the inside of his cheek to keep himself from groaning again. Once more Red squeezed and he sucked in a sharp breath, fighting not to scream.
"Oh, c'mon, Bobby! Don't pretend not to be in pain. No one believes it anyway! So you can save your false bravery for when you go to see your dentist. Well, that is if you ever get to see a dentist again."
Why? Because you're going to kill me?
"C'mon, Bobby. You don't have anything to say?"
Well, yes, he had, but would Red tolerate it? There was only one way to find out, and Bobby decided to take the risk.
"Is that really necessary?" he asked, nodding at Elliot in his predicament.
Red turned his head to look at the prone detective.
"No," he said. "But where would be the fun without it?"
"He helped you."
"Yes, he did. So?"
xXx
Maureen Stabler watched her mother and Olivia from the distance. She held the baby in her arms, her little brother. Okay, he was her half-brother to be exact, but that made no difference for her. Actually she liked Olivia a lot. Maureen hated that her parents got divorced, but when her father found someone new she was glad that it was Olivia rather than someone else, least of all a young blonde with no brains as the cliché suggested.
She wondered what they were talking about but hesitated to go to them. Here, so far behind the police cordon, she felt safe. It was better to stay here, especially with EJ.
When her mother looked up and into her direction she waved at her to catch her attention and got it. She saw the women exchange a few words, then both got up and while Kathy went to her daughter Olivia returned to the mobile command centre.
"What did she say?" Maureen demanded to know as soon as her mother was within earshot.
"That they don't know anything," Kathy admitted. There was no reason to withhold the truth from Maureen. As her eldest she could handle it. She was not so sure about Kathleen, though.
"Anything new about dad?"
"No."
"Someone shot, right?"
"Yes, but they don't know what happened."
"How can they not know?" Maureen prodded. Even though she did not know the details she still knew that the police had means to survey the villains. There had to be CCTV in the bank for example.
"I don't know, Maureen," Kathy said, taking EJ from her.
"But what about dad?"
"Olivia just went to see the captain. She'll let us know as soon as she hears anything new."
Maureen took a deep breath and sighed. It was not the first time that they waited for her father to come home. There had been nights of insecurity when they did not know where he was and they went to hospital because he got injured on the job.
This was nothing like that.
This was a hostage taking.
This was a madman with a gun and accomplices who threatened her father's life.
This was a trial unlike any other before.
This forced Maureen to remember her Catholic upbringing. Finding a relatively calm spot she turned her thoughts inwards and prayed for her father's safe return as well as for the lives off all the other hostages.
xXx
The stress of being held hostage as well as giving birth had made Alex tired. When she woke up she felt disoriented and she had difficulty keeping her eyes open. She still felt rather groggy.
"Hello, Alex?"
A female voice. Alex blinked and moaned when she turned her head.
"Mom."
"Oh, Alex! I'm so glad that you're awake!" her mother said gently. "We feared the worst."
"You did?" Alex was confused. Her memory needed a moment to catch up. "Where's Dad?"
"He went to get a coffee."
"Oh, coffee would be wonderful," Alex sighed.
"No, no, Alex. No coffee for you. Not yet."
"Mom!" she protested.
"No, Alex," her mother said. "You better rest. You'll need your energy for your babies."
Babies!
With a start Alex remembered and not only did she recall the three children she gave birth to but also the tense situation in the bank.
"Bobby!" she called out. "Where's Bobby? How is he? Could they get him out?"
Mrs. Eames looked shocked. Reaching out for her daughter's shoulders she tried to gently push her back down as Alex struggled to get out of the bed.
"Alex! Lie back down! Please."
"But, Mom. Bobby needs my help."
"Your colleagues are taking care of everything. You need to take care of yourself, and of your babies."
"My babies," Alex said tonelessly and sank back down in the pillow. "Where are they?"
"They are in the nursery," Mrs. Eames told her, smiling lovingly. "All three are very much all right. I'm so grateful to the man who got you out."
"Elliot," Alex recalled. "He's still in there, with Bobby." Searchingly she looked around. "Mom, can you switch on the TV?"
"Alex, no," Mrs. Eames pleaded. "Don't stress yourself like that. Please rest. Captain Deakins has our cell phone number. He'll let us know as soon as he has something to tell us."
Alex was not really reassured, but she felt the tiredness creep up inside of her again. She wanted to argue, wanted to tell her mother that she needed to help Bobby, but it was senseless. Fatigue overcame her and she drifted off to a restless sleep.
xXx
"So you should give him a break," Bobby said.
"Should I?" Crossing his arms over his chest Red peered at Bobby. "Maybe I could." He looked over to Elliot. "But no, it's so much more fun as it is."
Bobby did not like the answer, but he did not dare to push the matter. Instead he said, "You'll have to tell Douglas Jaenicke the truth about Elliot."
"Oh, really?" Red said with mock incredulity. "Why should I?"
"You can use it to get your requests granted. Prove that you didn't kill for the kill's sake. You'll get more respect by…"
The detective's words caught in his throat as once again Red squeezed his wrist. Bobby tried not to breathe, tried to hold in the pain as Red slowly and maliciously broke yet another of his fingers.
"Wanna try for another?" Red grinned.
"Fuck you!" Bobby snarled, and Red's grin broadened even more.
"I think I could arrange for a fucking, Bobby, only it will be me fucking you..." Red suggested maliciously, as he and his cohorts all laughed. A few women gasped.
Bobby tried with everything he had to get at Red.
"I think he wants you, Red, " Green laughed.
"I think so, too," Red agreed. Red went behind Bobby as far as the stairs allowed, and putting his hands on Bobby's butt, ground into him. "Yeah, Bobby, soon as I get us out of here, me and you are gonna have a go at this," he whispered into Bobby's ear.
Bobby momentarily shut his eyes, trying to blot that thought out as he tried to move himself from Red's grasp, but Red only held on tighter.
"You and me have a history, Boy, and you got a lot of making up to do... this could be a small start."
Around Bobby, grinding even more against him, Red glanced at his watch.
"Too bad, it's time to make that call," he snarled. Sensing the tension in the detective he leered, "You got more to say, Bobby?"
Rot in hell, Bobby thought and bit his tongue so as to not make a snide remark.
"Didn't think so," Red taunted and went over to the counter to pick up the phone. "Let's see if your negotiator plays by the rules."
With that he lifted the receiver, a mad grin on his face and an evil twinkle in his eyes.
tbc…