Amanda carried the tray of coffee back into the living room, followed by Finn and set it down on the sideboard. She had only made three cups and noticed a puzzled look from Mark as she silently offered the mugs to their captors, but she refused to meet his eye. Mitch took a big gulp. "I think you're coming over to our side," he said. "Not making your friends any coffee. Too bad, cos I was only going to throw it over them anyway."

Scarlett accepted a cup and took a sip before setting it down beside her. Finn refused.

"Hate the stuff," he muttered.

"You said two sugars!" Amanda said.

"I didn't say it was for me," leered Finn.

"I'll have it," said Mark.

Amanda froze in quandary. If she didn't let him have it, it would look suspicious. She waited for Mitch to say he couldn't have it. But he didn't.

"Oh, let the old man have a coffee. Might be the last he ever has!"

Amanda slowly took the cup over to Mark, and made sure her back was to the others as she mouthed the word 'no' as she looked at the mug, and widened her eyes. Mark nodded almost imperceptibly and she resisted the urge to sigh with relief. She sat down again and watched as Mark pretended to drink from the cup, then put it down. "Hot," he said by way of explanation, wondering what on earth Amanda had put in the coffee.

Amanda was annoyed that Finn hadn't taken a mug of coffee. Still, if the medication worked, the three of them would be left with only him to deal with. And if she or Mark could distract him, Steve would be able to take him out. She thought desperately of Jesse. He must be still alive, she thought. Please be alive. Hold on Jesse, we'll get to you.

Mitch took another drink of coffee and glared at them. "Right," he said. "Enough of all the messing around and heroics. Think of your friend upstairs, bleeding all over the carpet. We don't care about him. We don't particularly want him to die. So you co-operate NOW, and he may be all right. The more time you waste, the less likely he'll live to share your new poverty."

"But we don't have a million dollars just lying around in the bank to be withdrawn," said Steve in frustration from between clenched teeth. "This is the kind of demand you can give to millionaires who are used to making huge withdrawals, but not us! We may live in a nice place but our money is tied up in the house."

"Nice try. I know how much money doctors get paid. Especially one in such a senior position as your father here. Chief of Internal Medicine at the hospital, aren't you doc?" said Mitch.

"You haven't thought this through, have you?" Mark said thoughtfully. "I know your type. You're used to the guns because you hold up banks and convenience stores. You go in, demand the money, and its put in a bag for you. But you can't do that with individuals."

Mitch drained his coffee cup. He seemed to be giving himself time to think, and Steve realised incredulously that his father was right. They had just expected to be handed over a suitcase full of money. However, this didn't bode well. If they couldn't get any money, they would just kill them all.

"You are signing your own death warrant, doc," sneered Mitch. He appeared to think quickly. "Now here's what we're gonna do. Me and the lovely Amanda are going to go down to her bank and withdraw all that she can. Then when we come back, me and the doc will go. And then you and me," he said to Steve.

"You must let us see to Jesse," Mark said anxiously.

"Oh no doc," Mitch said. "Now, if I get back and you've all been good little boys while we've been gone, I'll let someone see him. Now first I'm going to lay down some rules. Any one on the outing makes any kind of move or signal to anyone, I'll shoot them dead, no questions asked, and no second chances. And if anyone here does anything stupid, like I just know you're itching to do Mr Cop, Finn and Scarlett here are gonna shoot you. Don't think we won't cos we need your money. This is damage control. So nobody try anything. Come," he commanded Amanda, and she rose to her feet, looking fearful but with a determined face.

"Amanda, just do what he says," Steve said. "Be careful."

"That's good advice," Finn said. "You make sure you follow it."

Scarlett gave Mitch the key to the front door. Mark and Steve watched the pair leave the room and shortly afterwards heard the front door open and close. Steve caught his father's eye. He didn't like the idea of Amanda alone with Mitch. He was very jumpy and there was no end of things in the outside world that could cause him to snap. And Steve couldn't shake off the feeling that their numbers were being diminished, one by one. Now there was only he and his father left. He pushed the thought aside. Amanda would be fine. Jesse would be fine. He had to just obey, do what these guys wanted and let them leave. He could go after them and catch them later, when his friends and family weren't in danger. But he hated to be out of control.

X X X

Jesse landed softly on the balcony. He stood up and looked over the edge. It looked a long way down. There was a tall trellis reaching up the side of the house. A climbing rose had spread itself all the way up.

"Ah to hell with the thorns," thought Jesse. "My friends are in danger." He swung his leg over the rail and placed it in a gap in the trellis. It seemed firm enough and he swung his other leg over. The thorns scratched at his hands and legs but he ignored them and began to work his way down. Half way down there was a crack and Jesse's left foot gave way beneath him. He felt himself falling backwards and made a desperate grab but all he caught hold of were the stalks of the roses. Jesse fell off the wall and landed on the ground in rather a muddle. He lay stunned for a moment but there didn't appear to be anything broken. He made to get up and realised that he had pulled half of the rose plant down with him. He carefully extracted the thorns from his shirt and jeans, wincing when they scratched him. He set himself free and stood up. His arms were covered in little scratches and both palms of his hands were bleeding.

"That's going to be sore tomorrow," he thought. He made his way softly around to the front of the house and flattened himself to the wall in the shadows as he heard the front door open. His eyes widened in surprise as he saw Amanda come out followed by Mitch close beside her holding a gun to her side. What had been going on downstairs? He waited until he heard a car driving away before he moved. He could see the bush where Steve's gun had been thrown. Jesse didn't feel comfortable with guns himself, but if only he could somehow get it to Steve, especially with one of the criminals out of the way, he was sure Steve could get a hold of the situation. He moved forwards.

X X X

In the living room the atmosphere was tense. Scarlett was wincing and rubbing her stomach absently. Mark noticed that she had now drunk most of her coffee and wondered again what was in it.

Ten minutes passed in silence. Steve kept looking at his father and Mark kept looking at him, both being relieved to see that the other was holding up well. Finn played with his gun, swinging it round on his finger, but always keeping one eye on Steve. Scarlett rubbed her stomach again and frowned. "Can you keep charge, Finn?" she muttered. "I'm going to the bathroom."

Finn became extra alert. He focused on Steve. "Don't try anything now, cowboy!"

Scarlett soon returned, looking a bit pale. Only a minute had passed before she muttered something incomprehensible and rushed out of the room. Knowing the disruption would distract Finn only for a second, Mark took the opportunity of Finn's divided attention and began to fake a heart attack. He clutched at his chest, threw out his arm and knocked his undrunk cup of coffee flying, gasping for breath. Finn's attention was drawn to Mark and Finn leapt to his feet. Out of the corner of his eye Mark saw Steve rise silently from his chair.

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