CHAPTER EIGHT

After several minutes of discussion, the first robber returned to the phone to give more details to the negotiator.

The second robber looking appraisingly at Sara, "You're pretty fine, you'll do as our tagalong." His take on Iris was not encouraging, "You're a bit old, close to bein' my mom's and I never did dig older ones."

The first robber chimed in, "No, man, the younger chick's plenty, but the older one is collateral damage."

Iris sensed strongly she was on borrowed time and turned toward Sara with a sad smile. Sara's stomach wrenched at the very thought of being alone even one second with their captors. Something had to give and give now. They carefully helped Elena to her feet and walked her to the door.

"We're ready for the hostage to be released," Grissom's voice came over the bullhorn.

They saw an ambulance worker come to stand at the door. The first robber tentatively opened the door and pulled the worker in. The EMT was patted down for weapons and none was found. Sara found herself looking into the eyes of Captain Brass. He nodded briefly to her. He also looked to Iris. Neither she nor the police captain had formally met beyond a brief introduction. He also nodded briefly to Iris and began to walk Elena out to the waiting ambulance, the first robber holding the door open as a false gesture of politeness.

"All right, get that pregnant chick outta my sight!" the first robber said.

With the second robber also watching the exit of one their hostages, Sara said fiercely to Iris, "We are on our own and we are not leaving with the likes of them."

"Show time," whispered Iris.

They both looked on as Brass walked Elena on out to the ambulance and to safety.

Their two captors were conversing again in what was to happen next. They were talking louder now and more confident that they were indeed going to get away. They were considering asking for a ransom that would more than make up for the paltry amount they would have gotten from the store robbery. The words of a plane and flying to Mexico were expressed.

"These guys have been watching way too many action flicks," whispered Iris to Sara.

"Yeah, go figure, Ocean's Eleven," Sara quipped.

Robber one turned toward Sara to say, "Get ready, pretty mama, we fixin' to plow, but your other friend here is just along for the ride than kapow." He chuckled menacingly, "Yo, gonna love partying with us, huh, babe?"

He then turned back to talk his partner to finalize their plans and call the negotiator back.

"NOW," roared Sara to Iris. And all hell broke loose in the store.