Chapter Seven:
"Orphan Stance"
After Matt explained to Demetre what he knew and what she had seen during the takeover of Wammy House by armed assailants, he then explained the situation involving Sammy Baxter, the child who the leader was demanding a random for.
"They want money for Sammy," Matt said. "His parents are filthy rich and are large contributors to Wammy House and other orphanages in the United Kingdom. His father is also on the Board of Directors. Sammy comes here to play with us and even goes to school here. Wammy House is place for gift children with high IQ's. Sammy's pretty smart in own rite. And he's great to have around when we have a soccer tournament."
Demetre nodded. "So, these gunmen are holding the kids at Wammy House as collateral along with Sammy Baxter to get a large ransom. Why aren't the police involved?"
"They we're told to stay away or kids would start dying, that's why you don't see any police presence," Matt said. "Or, that's what I overheard, anyway. And there was something else involved, but I couldn't quite be sure on that part. It must have been very important, too. At times, it almost seemed like the leader of these gunmen was talking to himself."
"That's why it's so quiet," Geist said. Only Demetre could hear him. "I looked inside the office while I was scouting around earlier. The leader of the gunmen has a mask on, the Main Facilitator and the kid, Sammy, are inside, too, but Demetre, there's something you really need to know!"
Demetre noticed how Geist emphasize the words 'you really need to know'.
"What do we do, Demetre?" Matt said, interrupting Demetre's thoughts.
Matt reached into the back of it pants and handed Demetre his phone back. Demetre holstered his other gun so he could have both hands free. He needed to think or his next move. He didn't want to go in there guns blazing or risk accidentally shooting Sammy or the Facilitator. He had an idea. The gunmen not knowing he was here gave him an advantage.
"We have free the others first," Demetre said. "The Facilitator of the orphanage and—"
"Roger," Matt said.
"Roger," Demetre repeated, "and Sammy are safe for the moment. The leader won't harm them if he wants his money. The kids and the other facilitators of the orphanage are our top priority right now. I noticed that these men are armed with military-grade weaponry."
"Yeah, cool stuff!"
Matt named off some of the names of the rifles they were using, quite familiar with them. Demetre gave him a curious look.
"I play a lot of RPG games and I've seen those weapons in action, I know what they can do," he said.
"Fair enough," Demetre said. For a moment, he thought Matt was one of those young gun enthusiasts who would eventually end up turning to crime. He didn't want that. "We need to take out the other gunmen, free the children, and then focus on the leader, in that order. The leader's reinforcements will be exhausted and he will be at a big disadvantage."
"Just like an RPG game," Matt said, a little too excitedly. "Take out the soldiers and then you fight the big boss."
"Something like that," Demetre replied.
Demetre stealthily put a hand behind his back and made some signals knowing that Geist would see them. They had designed them when they needed the element of surprise to get close to Zurn Wellington during one mission last month.
Geist chuckled. "Gotcha, Demmy," he said. "I'll take out the pair of gunmen while you concentrate on the lone gunman in the classroom. And don't worry, I won't kill them. I'll just make them see the error of their ways, perhaps spook them a little with my interpretation of a little scene from the movie A Christmas Carol that you like so much."
Demetre smiled inwardly. And if he had to pick one, he would say that Geist was the ghost of Christmas Future, because he came from a futuristic timeline to change the past, exactly what the spirits did in the Christmas Carol to change Ebenezer Scrooge's miser ways.
"What can I do, Demetre? Sorry, Demmy," Matt said. "I can be useful to you. Give me one of your Beretta's. You've got two. Why are carrying anyway? Are you some sort of secret agent or something? If that's true, that's cool!"
He wasn't a secret agent, but he kind of felt like one when he went on missions against the LOD. "I use them for protection. To be honest, I've got involved with some bad people. But I'm not a bad person. And no, I won't give you one of my guns. You're not even old enough to shave."
Matt pouted. "Someday I'll have a pair of my own, I fancy car, and girls galore!"
"Kids are growing up faster these days," Geist said.
"Life isn't a game, Matt. But I admire your goals. Maybe you can help me out."
He wanted Matt to feel useful. He also needed to keep an eye on him, so he didn't just rush in and do something stupid and get himself hurt in trying to be a hero. Demetre reached for his belt and took out round cylinder container with a pin. "Do you know what this is?"
Matt shook his head. "It's a flash bomb and anyone caught in it is subjected to its concussion blast. You yank the pin out and then throw it in the vicinity of your desired target. Within five-seconds it goes off temporary disorienting a person. I'll give this to use to hold."
"Cool!" Matt took it in both hands as if it was a gentle piece of pottery. "I just yank out the pin and toss it at the bad guys?"
Demetre nodded. "Correct, and only at the gunmen, and not when there are any other kids present, and but only as a last resort. You can be my wingman, but stay back and let me handle things."
He had no intention of getting Matt in the thick of things, but he wanted to make the kid feel like he was helping. In truth, if it wasn't for Matt's ingenuity and hacking skills and sending the emoji through the phone, Demetre would not know anything about what was happening here.
Matt nodded and smiled like an overjoyed son wanting to make his father proud.
Both parties departed culminated with their missions.
Geist vanished through a near-by wall as Demetre and Matt headed to the classroom with the lone gunman.
Demetre unholstered his left Beretta as they travelled and kept a watchful eye for any surprises. If someone popped up on them, he could at least defend themselves and deliver a wound.
Luckily, they got to their destination without resistance.
He peaked through the door view window and saw there were approximately twenty kids inside with one teacher, all sitting on the floor. The lone masked gunman was standing with his back up against the blackboard. Amongst the kids, he observed Mello, the blonde haired boy who was at the funeral a few hours before. Near was not in this group.
Demetre got down on one knee and placed his gun down on the floor, then he reached into a pouch on his belt and took out a set of tools to work on the outer lock. The plan was to pick the lock and then corner the gunman, leaving him time to react. An element of surprise would be achieved.
"What else do you have in your arsenal?" Matt wondered. "Will a rabbit pop out of one of those belt pouches?"
Suddenly, they both heard Mello shout. They both peaked through the view window. "I can't take this anymore! What the hell do you want, asshole? You're keeping us here and not telling us anything!" Mello said to the gunman.
The gunman reacted and positioned his rifle in a threatening manner at Mello. "Sit down, kid," the gunman told him. "Or, I'll shoot you. Consider it 'Quiet Time' for you kids. Just sit down and shut up and eventually all of this will be over. When the police finally do come, we'll be long gone. However, if things go bad, then more blood will be spilled. Do you want to join your dead teacher?"
"Mello is a real hothead," Matt said quietly. "He needs to watch that temper, or one day it may get him killed."
Damn it! They plan to sacrifice some of the children to get away, Demetre thought. To hell with that and not on my watch!
Demetre got to his feet and pushed Matt aside. Picking the lock would take too much time and he needed to get in their now!
He gave his lock-pick to Matt and unholstered his other gun. His new plan was to kick the door in and seize control of the room and force the gunman to see the folly of his ways if he tried to resist.
He knew how to fire a gun. He hunted wild game with the Yagami's when they had their annual sabbatical and always got the prize. Soichiro Yagami even admitted from past experience that he was an excellent shot when they spoke in the elevator in the Kira Task Force headquarters building just before he shot and killed Zurn's assassin hired to kill Light.
"Okay Matt, stay back! Time to get serious!"
But before he could even start, he heard Mello shout again. "I'm going to kick your ass! Holding a bunch of kids hostage is just cowardly!"
"Mello, no!" shouted the teacher.
Shots were heard.
Demetre didn't hesitate and kicked the door in with us single slam of a heel. The door slammed open, breaking the housing. He pointed his guns at the gunman, who was now surprisingly sprawled unconscious on the floor.
Mello was standing over him, holding his right fist and rubbing it. Is face cringed with pain. Had he just punched the gunman out? Where had the shots come from? The rifle lay on the floor near the man's limp form.
Demetre looked at everyone in the room, no one had been shot. Then he saw holes in the ceiling. He theorized Mello struck him and the recoil caused the gun to turn upward, the gunman's fingers being on the trigger, the reaction involuntary.
"Mello, you clocked him out cold?" Matt voiced shocked, but excited, bursting in behind Demetre. "Way to go, you rock!"
To be continued...