Part Five
Alex Karev thrust a handful of bills at the cabdriver and bounded out of the vehicle with a hurried "keep the change." Jogging up to the throng of onlookers gathered behind the police barricade, Alex felt a rush of anger. All these people cared about was getting their dose of drama and possibly a gory tale to regale over and over again at social gatherings. What pissed him off the most was that they were in his way, a sea of bodies pressed tightly together, an obstruction which would cause him to waste precious minutes overcoming.
He took a deep breath and dove headfirst into the crowd, using his elbows to deliver a nudge here and a poke there, earning many glares along the way. Just as he neared the front, a burly man grabbed his forearm, swinging him around. "Now nobody, and I mean nobody pushes me" he growled, forcing Alex back.
"Let go of my arm" Alex ground out, barely keeping himself from punching the guy. He was further incensed when he heard murmurs of "Yeah that's what he did to me too" and "he had it coming." If it wasn't for the fact that he would severely damage his credibility when the police caught him brawling, Alex would have enjoyed taking the guy's ego down a peg or two. But he knew that the satisfaction of wiping the smirk of his face would not be worth the price Addison could pay if the police refused to believe him.
"Not unless you step back."
Using his hand, Alex gripped the man's forearm, putting them in a locked position. Lifting his shoulder and rotating outwards, he was granted freedom when the guy shouted in pain, reflexively releasing Alex's arm. Not wasting a moment, Alex vaulted over the plastic blockade. He was lucky, his point of penetration somewhat in the middle of two officers in the line of policemen positioned along the barricade. Preoccupied as they were with minding the crowd, none took notice of the lone figure swiftly making his way towards a white van where a large concentration of uniforms were gathered.
"I have crucial information, I need to speak with the officer in charge immediately!" Alex shouted over the din.
There was a second of silence before the officers resumed their discussion so that Alex knew he had been heard. It wasn't the reaction he was expecting to get. For all his trouble, the only person who approached him was a fresh faced officer who attempted to herd him away from the makeshift headquarters. "Sir, an official statement will be released later. Please remain on the other side of the perimeter."
Alex couldn't believe his ears. His one and probably only chance of helping Addison was quickly slipping through his fingers and he was desperate for someone, anyone to believe him. "Please, you've got to listen, please!" He pleaded, attempting to side-step the officer. "My fiancé's in there" he began, deliberately putting an engagement ring on Addison's finger. "I called her cell phone, she didn't pick up, then they called me back, told me to come here, have to relay a message, your chief negotiator…"
Although Officer Murphy was new to the force and couldn't boast of having 'seen it all', he was fairly certain that none of his superiors had ever met someone quite so frantic before. While the man rambled on, he gestured emphatically, eyes darting continuously to the bank entrance, the other officers and back to him again. The wild look Officer Murphy saw cancelled any suspicions he had of the intruder being a hard-nosed, suicidal reporter, overly eager to sink his claws into a juicy story, all else be damned. Instead he believed the guy's ludicrous tale, which sounded like the gospel truth accompanied by his sincere tone and edgy demeanor. The man was either telling the truth or he was a nutcase.
"Please, you have to believe me, I'm a doctor at Seattle Grace" Alex continued, taking the policeman's lack of reaction to be a good sign. At least he hadn't been manhandled or arrested. He flipped open his wallet to show his hospital identification.
'Definitely not a nutcase' Officer Murphy concluded. "Come with me" he instructed, taking the man by his elbow, he gently guided him over to the temporary headquarters.
Reaching the chief negotiator, Officer Murphy greeted him formally with a sharp "Sir!"
Looking up from various floor plans laid out across a large table, his superior gave a barely discernable nod. "You'd better not be wasting my time" he warned.
"Yes Sir! This man, has talked to the hostage takers over his fiancé's cell phone. He says they want him to tell you something…"
"Are you still wet behind the ears Murphy?!" the chief officer roared. "Why are you letting such bullshit reach my ears?!"
"But Sir, he's a doctor and…" Officer Murphy continued feebly.
Alex saw the chief negotiator's face redden as he rose from his chair to approach them. He moved with feline grace, all the more surprising given his considerable size. Chief negotiator Grant had a large physique, an overbearing personality, a booming voice but he also had a short temper and zero tolerance for- as he frequently reminded the recruits- 'incompetent greenhorns.'
Alex inwardly groaned. It wasn't going to help any if his only advocate was steamrolled; and by the way Officer Murphy was quaking in his boots, they were going to get well and thoroughly crushed. He stepped forward, removing the heat from Murphy by turning his superior's attention toward Alex himself. He wasn't sure why, but Alex felt it wise to employ a different strategy than the one he had used with Murphy. Perhaps it was the coolness of his gaze which gave Alex the impression that the chief negotiator would respond better to precisely delivered logic than to heartfelt pleas.
"Sir, I received a phone call at twelve hundred hours…" Alex launched into his monologue, picturing himself presenting during morning rounds with Dr. Bailey standing across him. Somehow having the Nazi close albeit only in his mind's eye enabled Alex to keep his voice steady and his thoughts coherent enough to have him sounding like a reliable source.
When Alex described the demands made, placing emphasis on the 'or else' and 'Freddy', the skeptical frown was replaced by pursed lips, an indication that chief negotiator Grant was not only believing Alex's recount, but was also deciding upon the best course of action.
Letting the doctor into the fold so as to get his cooperation would give them access to the elusive hostage takers who had until then been ignoring all ringing phones in the bank. However he was aware that all Alex was concerned about was a certain other doctor currently held hostage and his single-mindedness to get her out might jeopardize the safety of all involved in the extraction. Yet if they continued to be out of communication with the hostage takers, there wouldn't be a chance of carrying out any rescue operation. Grant didn't have much of a choice, he would have to use the doctor.
"Was there any sign if anyone's been seriously hurt?"
Grant was pleased to see Alex pause for a moment before answering. It showed that the doctor was still thinking coherently and not overwhelmed by a desire to charge headfirst without a plan.
"I can't be totally sure. From his dead seriousness about hurting Addison, my fiancé, I'd say some people may be banged up. And yet, given his arrogance, if someone is badly hurt, I think he would've taken the opportunity to use it as another bargaining chip if nothing else but to hasten the fulfillment of his demands" said Alex.
Despite talking to Dr. Karev for under five minutes, chief negotiator Grant liked and respected the man. He was keeping it together remarkably well and his detailed recount and sharp observations had put a new spin into things. What's more, the doctor readily surrendered his cell phone which he took with a curt nod. Grant decided that he really liked Alex Karev.
"Come with me. I've got to make some arrangements and do some talking over this line" Grant said, raising the phone. Hoping to ease some of the man's fears he added, "when we start negotiations, we play along, give in to gain their trust. Your fiancé will not be put on the spot. For now, we'll abide by their rules so she should be fine."
Alex swallowed nervously, once again glancing toward the entrance of the bank. He thought he saw movement behind the blinds. They were still being watched.
A/N: My boyfriend just bought me the Grey's Anatomy season 2 on DVD and now I'm in heaven! I know I've thanked you before darling, but thanks again. I love it… and you… and… okay, I'm digressing. What I mean to say is after watching a bit of the DVD, my muse has been working over time. Hence the lonher chapter, yay!
Anonymousgrrl commented that the previous one seemed like a filler. I hope this one's more satisfying, girl :)
Elizabeth Perry, your reviews are lovely, detailed and insightful; an absolute joy to read.
Most importantly, thank you all for your kind and encouraging words.