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Negotiations
7:45 p.m.
Inside the Chase Manhattan Bank
Cathy Deakins' heart leapt when she heard the gunman yell Goren's name. She felt almost a sense of relief, knowing that the capable Bobby Goren was just outside but, at the same time, now worried for his safety. She knew all too well of his antics and unorthodox style – he had been the topic of conversation at the Deakins' dinner table many a time; not to mention the cause of most of her husband's sleepless nights. She knew she couldn't let her facial expression give away any hint that she knew Bobby – it could be more dangerous for both of them.
7:45 p.m.
Inside the MCU
Bobby strode over to Marino and took the phone. "Aww, I'm really touched, Benny – you want to talk to me, after all," he mockingly said. He sat in the chair that Marino had vacated and grabbed a pen.
Vasquez: "You filthy pig! You think I'd ever forget what you did to me – and to my family?"
Bobby leaned back in the chair, "C'mon Benny, I was just doin' my job. When did you get outta' the joint, anyway? They let you out early for good behavior?" he chuckled. "Oh, you don't feel like answering that –well, okay, maybe you wanna' tell me how you plan on getting outta' the bank?"
Vasquez: "I don't hav'ta answer nothin' for you!"
Alex, along with Schultz and his team, stood inside the MCU, eyes fixed on Bobby and the monitors. Vasquez was pacing –as far as the telephone cord would allow – and intermittently would appear and disappear from the camera's view.
"Well, can ya' tell me, Benny, how ya' hooked up with Mikey Fagen? I mean, why'd ya' choose him to be your accomplice on this job?" Bobby rubbed a hand through his hair. "Oh well, I guess that's another question you don't wanna' answer, huh Benny? I don't blame ya'...I guess you've had bad luck when it comes to choosin' the right partner...like, Mikey...or, or like 12 years ago," Bobby said, emphasizing his sarcasm.
Vasquez: "Shut up!
"Okay, okay...but, I'm just tryin' to help ya' figure out what you're gonna' do. I mean, there's been a lot goin' on today – a lot on your mind...I'm tryin' to help ya' keep the facts straight – so ya' have a clear picture – know what your options are."
There was no reply from Vasquez. He was listening.
"Look," Bobby continued, eyeing Schultz, his pen ready to write, "Can ya' help us get some things straight? Why do ya' need six hostages? It's only more work for you, having to keep an eye on 'em."
Vasquez: "I don't have no six hostages! I got four!"
Sanchez and Schultz looked at each other. The bank had provided them with the names of the staff in the bank – three men at the desks and two female tellers, plus Cathy Deakins.
Bobby jotted it down. If one hostage was Cathy Deakins, that left three others-- bank employees. Which meant that two bank employees were dead.
"Okay, so why not let the women go? I know you've never been the type to harm women, Benny – I mean, you always treated your mother and sister with respect and..."
Vasquez: "You shut up! You leave my family out of it," he screamed.
"Okay, okay," Bobby tried to calm him. "But how 'bout it, Benny? Why not let the women go?"
"I don't have no women..I got one woman! –stupid cop!"
Sanchez smirked at Schultz, "This guy is stupid."
Bobby noted it down. That meant that the three male bank employees were alive, along with one woman– Cathy Deakins.
"So, let the woman go, then," Bobby said, softening his tone to almost a plea.
"No way...woman are worth more to you cops," he sneered.
Schultz' eyes met Bobby's, then Bobby looked at Alex – she recognized his little half smile–the one that always crept across his lips when he was purposely being a wise ass. "Well, maybe to some cops, Benny...but uh...some of us don't care one way or another," he chuckled, "love 'em and leave 'em, right?."
Alex rolled her eyes, with a silent "oh brother!"
Bobby's comment had sent Vasquez off on another tirade of expletives against cops and Bobby, in particular. Obviously, the subject of what Bobby had done to Benny's sister was still a sore one.
"Okay, okay...Benny...why don't ya' tell me why you hadda' go and kill the guard and the two tellers."
"That was Mikey! He shot the guard – you ain't pinnin' that on me!"
"And what about the women? You don't respect women any more?"
"Those bitches got what they deserved," Vasquez snarled.
"Any what about Mikey? You put a bullet in him so you wouldn't have to give him his cut of the money?"
"The guard shot Mikey! I don't turn on my friends! Not like you, you no good pig!"
Bobby nodded and continued jotting down notes. "Benny, I'm gonna' hang up now – give you some time to think about all this. I want you to think about what you want, Benny – how you want this end. You've gotta' make a move towards resolving this– a demonstration that you're not irrational or unreasonable. Think about lettin' the hostages go, Benny, and we'll see what kinda' deal we can work out for ya', okay?"
Vasquez had been listening, but didn't respond.
"And Benny? Since... uh, since we know it's you, I think you can take off the ski mask now...must be gettin' pretty hot in there," Bobby smirked, as he hung up the phone.
Schultz and his crew laughed.
Bobby stood and rubbed the back of his neck. "Well, the guard's dead, the accomplice is dead and the two tellers..."
Alex nodded, "female tellers."
Bobby's face reflected his true regret, "I didn't think he had it in 'im...not against women."
Sanchez twisted open a bottle of water and thirstily gulped. Marino reclaimed the chair by the monitors and Schultz dryly commented, "Ya' spend over ten years in the joint, ya' come out a different man."
Alex looked at Bobby, eyebrows raised, "So, what's the plan?"
Bobby sighed and rolled his shoulders, "Give him some time – then call 'im back and see if he's come to his senses – if he'll release the hostages."
"Pretty big 'ifs'," Alex replied.
8:05 p.m.
Inside the Chase Manhattan Bank
Vasquez slammed down the receiver and yanked off the knitted ski mask, now feeling almost foolish. His bald head and his face were beaded with sweat. He turned towards the hostages, who were getting their first look at their captor, and began pacing in front of them. They sat in silence, watching him– fearful of his next actions.
"Excuse me, sir," came Cathy's soft voice.
He whirled around and looked at her, his piercing black/brown eyes now more filled with panic, caused by indecisiveness and desperation, than with the anger she'd seen flash in them while he was on the phone with Bobby.
"I, I have to use the restroom," she meekly said.
"Where is it?" he snapped.
Cathy looked at him, shrugging her shoulders. "I'm not sure, sir...I don't work here, I'm just a customer."
Dave Conway interjected, "It's down the hallway...a little farther than the supply closet we went to before."
Vasquez looked at Dave, "Are there any windows in there?"
Dave looked at the gunman, "Um, I'm not sure. I know there aren't any in the men's room."
Vasquez overlooked the wise-ass tone of Dave's response – partly because he didn't need another altercation and partly because he realized how stupid his own question was.
"Get up," he said to Cathy.
Cathy didn't have to do much acting to pretend that her butt was stiff from sitting – she had a little case of "pins and needles" in her legs. The awkward movements afforded her the opportunity to slide over the now dead cell phone from behind her back to behind Dave's.
"Check your watch," Vasquez said to her. She looked at the time and announced, "8:07."
"I'll give you two minutes. If you're not back, sitting in that spot in two minutes, I put a bullet in his head," he threatened, pointing at Dave.
Cathy nodded, "I'll be quick." It felt good to be up and walking and it was true – she did need a bathroom break.
Vasquez kept pacing while Cathy was gone, but stopped to watch her, once he heard her returning footsteps in the hallway. He looked at her curiously; "What is that you're holding?"
She held out her hand, "Just some paper towels – I wet them with cold water, s-so you could wipe your face. He looked at her, not quite sure what to make of her kind gesture, but he took the towels and quickly wiped his face, head and neck, enjoying the refreshing coolness.
Cathy had returned to her spot on the floor. Vasquez walked towards her, standing at her feet. "Thank you," he said, softly.
She nodded and managed a small smile. "I just wanted to do something to thank you for letting me use the bathroom."
She had no idea how much her small, humane act affected him. For the first time in years, he was reminded of how it felt to be part of a civil society, rather than being treated like –and hence becoming– an animal in the cages of a prison cell block – an inmate's number instead of a man with a name. It was, however, a fleeting feeling and Vasquez quickly returned to the situation at hand.
8:10 p.m.
Inside the MCU
Alex poured a cup of water for Bobby and handed it to him. "So," she said, how long you gonna' give him?"
Bobby swallowed. "Another five minutes, maybe. He should be ready to talk by then."
"You think that was so smart?" she asked, "..Getting him all riled up like that?"
"We'll see," he said curtly and took another gulp.
Alex hated when Bobby did that – kept his thoughts and plans from her. She knew how he worked and that he was usually three steps ahead of everyone else. It was just another one of his quirks that she had gotten used to – but that didn't mean she liked it. She watched as he took out his cell phone and dialed.
"Calling the Captain?" she asked. He shook his head in the negative, as the called connected.
"Morris, its Goren. Do me a favor and dig up whatever information you can on Vasquez' family. Yeah – parents, brother..." He paused and glanced at Alex "...and uh...especially his sister, Maria Elena. Yeah, whatever you can find – thanks, Morris. Call me back on my cell as soon as you can." He flipped the phone closed.
Alex gave him her classic, eyebrows raised inquiring look and teased him. "Tracking down your old girlfriend, big guy?" She didn't get the reaction she expected. Bobby merely looked at her, brows furrowed and walked back over to the panel of monitors. It would have been amusing, but, apparently, Vasquez wasn't the only one with a sore spot where his sister was concerned.
8:20 p.m.
Inside the Chase Manhattan Bank
Vasquez had been doing a lot of thinking, since Bobby's call. He had been weighing his options and knew he had only two: Release the hostages, surrender and go to prison, for life – or die by a Policeman's bullet. He had already made up his mind. He had spent ten years in prison and there was no way he was going back. And if he was gonna' die and 'go straight to hell,' as his own father once cursed him, he was gonna' take Goren with him. He had a plan. He waited for the phone to ring.
END Chpt. 6