JD kept half his focus on the bank. He suspected that if Ezra finished his errand first, there was a better than even chance he would go back to the office on his own. Not that JD thought he'd be intentionally abandoned, but given the mood he was in right now, Ezra might just forget he wasn't alone. That concern and attention explained why he noticed the blinds being closed. He supposed that could be against the sun. It was a bright day out. The slowly growing pit in his stomach was telling him there was more to this, and when he saw the guard locking the bank door, he knew he was right. Damn. Damn it. Just once Ezra. Just once, could you not be in the wrong place at the wrong time? Knowing he needed to update Chris, he reached for his phone. Just before hitting the screen to connect it occurred to him there was a higher priority call to make.
"911, what is your emergency?"
"My name is J.D. Dunne. I am an agent with the ATF. I have reason to believe the First National Bank at Gilmour and 5th avenue is being robbed. My partner is in the bank."
"What other details to you have?"
"None I'm afraid. Blinds have been closed and the door was locked by the security guard." He knew it wasn't a lot to base his suspicion on, but the operator seemed to accept the premise.
"Please stay on the line. Units are being dispatched sir. They are on silent approach."
"I have to get off the line to contact my supervisor. I will call you back." Not waiting for the negative response he knew that would get, he disconnected and called Chris, who had obviously checked the display.
"Let me guess - Ezra left you behind?"
"Uh, no. Chris. I think we have a bit of a situation here."
There was no mistaking the tension in the young agent's voice. "You're still at the pizza joint?"
"Yes, but problems not here. It's the bank. I think it's being robbed."
Fighting to squelch the overwhelming "I told you so" sensation, Chris reached for his weapon and badge. "You call the locals?"
"First thing. He's still in there."
"Of course he is. We're on our way."
Without knowing what was going on, the others had started to ready themselves as well. Chris's tone was all they needed to hear to know there was something bad going on. "On our way where?" Vin asked, already halfway to the door.
"The bank."
Buck groaned. "Shit. He's done it again, hasn't he?"
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Ezra was trying to convince himself was that the worst part of this whole ordeal was that Chris now had more ammunition to defend his actions. And the realization that those actions had been valid. It wasn't as if he went looking for trouble but there was no denying he managed to find it with a disconcerting regularity.
The limited space behind the counters in the bank was now crowded by hostages, who sat huddled in clusters on the floor. The had been reminded in no uncertain terms of the advantages of staying quiet and still, and for the most part were following the commands. Someone was crying softly, and Ezra was fairly certain a number of people were praying. Personal beliefs aside, at this point, he was willing to accept any outside assistance. He tried to size the situation up without drawing any undue attention to himself. He'd counted 3 thieves, all dressed casually in a manner not designed to draw undue attention. Sunglasses and baseball caps pulled down helped to disguise their appearance, but the all quickly had covered their faces more effectively with scarves. That was the best sign he'd seen so far. If they were trying to shield themselves, they didn't plan on getting rid of any witnesses. He hoped. On the other hand, they were robbing the bank at one of the busiest times of the day. Too many people to control, which could make things get ugly quickly. That was an amateur mistake. Or part of a ploy more devious that he had divined yet.
He looked around at his fellow hostages. None of the people he was sitting with on the floor leapt out at him as anyone likely to be of significant trouble. Or help, not that he would consider putting anyone in that position. Most seemed as calm as could be expected under the circumstances. There were 17 of them left after the manager had been led away. Ezra could only assume he was taken to open a vault or provide some other access to something. The possibilities were endless. Whatever it was, it seemed to be slowing down what should have been a quick in-and-out job. These guys were after more than the cash in the drawers. If the vault was on a timer, and most were, this could turn into a long afternoon. And, maddening as it was, the best play right now was to acquiesce to any and every demand made of them.
"We got company." The gunman watching out the window called back to the others. It was the first time any of them other than the initial speaker had said a word. "Someone called the cops."
The other two joined him, staying off to the side. After a quick look out, the group spokesman turned to face the hostages. "One of you heroes push the silent alarm?" He scanned each face for a hint as to who had tipped off the cops. "Speak up, or I'll just pick someone at random to pay for it."
Oh yes, that was going to encourage someone to come forward. Ezra had little doubt this was JD's handiwork. How he could tell them that without exposing himself as a lawman was the dilemma. Before he had the chance to say anything, the woman from the reception desk spoke quietly.
"Might be because we locked up. A few people have come to the door. Maybe one of them called?"
"Well what do you know – we have a thinker in the room. A looker too." She swallowed nervously under his scrutiny and let out an audible sigh when he returned his attention to the job. "This is going to complicate things for you folks." He glanced down at his watch before looking around the room for a few minutes, as if searching for inspiration. A shift in body posture told Ezra a plan had been reached, and he knew whatever it was, he wasn't going to like it.
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Three ATF vehicles pulled up a block away. The men had figured there was a chance they would need to split their resources and wanted to be prepared, although not one of them wanted to be away from the scene, and their captive friend. Chris headed toward the command car, while Buck went to check on JD, who was off to the side.
"Sorry sir, that badge doesn't mean anything here." The uniformed officer was doing an admirable job of keeping the scene under control, and at any other time, Chris would have appreciated the man's dedication and commitment. This was not any other time.
"One of my men called this in, and another one is inside. You let me pass, or there is going to be a second crime scene to deal with."
"No need to threaten dismemberment Larabee. You can come ahead."
Chris almost sagged with relief at the sight of a familiar face. Detective Morton had worked with the team on more than one occasion in the past. They didn't see eye to eye on everything, but at least the man knew how to deal with a crisis.
"I talked to your man Dunne. From the lack of movement in there, I'd say he called it right."
"Any signs of activity?"
"Blinds have moved a few times. That's it. We tried calling, but no answer." He knew what the real question was. "There has been no gunfire or anything else to indicate anyone has been hurt. Your boy tells me Standish is in there."
Chris rubbed at the back of his neck, trying in vain to loosen some of the tension. "Routine banking business. No reason they should have made him as an agent."
"Unless they've collected wallets from everyone."
"Given half a chance, Ezra will have palmed his ID."
Morton laughed at that. "That's right. Hell, he could probably make a desk disappear in there if he needs to. Hiding his badge should be child's play."
"Just so long as the move doesn't put anyone else at risk. I take it we know nothing else."
"Nope, but I'm gonna try calling again. I've got to figure they'll answer sooner or later."
Chris agreed. What worried him was what would happen after that.
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There was a truly annoying relentlessness with which the large clock on the wall continued to tick. It was the only sound that could be heard whenever the drilling from the vault stopped. Ezra couldn't clear his mind of the comparison to a slow steady heartbeat. As if the building itself was somehow another living thing. Another hostage caught in a complex and terrifying drama on what should have been a routine Wednesday.
He looked around yet another time at his fellow captives. As the shock of the takeover wore off, the trepidation became more apparent on each face. He tried to imagine what they were thinking, what they were feeling. Most would be wondering what was next. What chance they had of getting out of here. Given the choice, they would be calling a family member, saying all of the things they should have said when they left the house that morning. A thousand variations on 'I love you' to people they feared they would never see again. Ezra himself was wishing he could replay his last two conversations. He had little doubt JD would be a long time getting over his misguided sense of responsibility for letting this happen. For letting things slip that culminated in the rant to Chris and subsequent storming off into this hornet's nest. Likewise Chris would be haunted by the fact their last discussion was a fight. Given the frequency with which their discussions escalated to that stage, it was not stretching the odds to assume that that would be the case, but such a realization would not be any comfort. There would be varying levels of remorse and self-recriminations within the rest of the team as well. No matter that there was nothing they could be doing. They would feel a sense of failure, and that simple truth distressed him deeply.
Most of the people in the room jumped when the phone rang, even though they should have been getting used to the sound. It was at least the 5th time, and still the was no indication of an intention to answer. Ezra had to assume since it hadn't been ripped from the wall or shot of the desk, as he was tempted to do, the robbers planned to be using it later. Either that, or they simply had a higher threshold for annoyance than he did.
"I believe it might be in the best interest of all concerned it you were to institute contact with a representative of law enforcement." Ezra didn't have to reach too far into his bag of tricks to add a tremor of fear to his voice. This situation didn't read well, and he was very good at reading people and situations.
"What makes you an expert?" The question was accompanied by a smirk, and the redirection of a weapon to be pointed squarely at Ezra.
"I have had a tendency to favour the viewing of numerous films which delve into the matter. Additionally, common sense would dictate that if you elect to enter into negotiations, you require the establishment of communications with the parties involved."
"Well don't you talk pretty. All the fancy words and the smooth accent. Bet you think you're really something special, don't you?"
"Not at all. I simply am hoping that this matter can be resolved in a manner we will all find satisfactory."
The gunman stepped up next to Ezra, laying the barrel of the gun on his shoulder, aimed toward him. "Don't give a damn about what you hope. Sit back and shut up, unless you want to serve as a lesson to the others."
The leader walked back to the vault area again. He had done that several times already and continued to pace. The periodic drilling sound could still be heard from the safety deposit vault. If they planned on opening each and every one, this was going to take a while. The only time the man had stopped his wandering was to sit at the manager's desk for a few minutes. He glanced from time to time at the clustered hostages and appeared to be checking his watch frequently before starting to make some kind of notes on a desk pad. He set the stack of papers off to the side and wandered to the vault yet again.
"If I may be so bold?" Ezra's voice broke through the silence and the gunman at the window turned abruptly with his weapon aimed straight as Ezra's head. "I was wondering if it would be permissible to be allowed as small break to –" he hesitated, affecting the air of a man slightly embarrassed, "- to visit the facilities?"
The gun was lowered as the thief chuckled. "Hey, our fancy fella out here needs to take a leak." he hollered back, laughing as Ezra blushed. The leader returned and eyed the man he was quickly viewing as a pain in the ass.
"Weak bladder – or are you just mite nervous?"
"I believe being unnerved under the present circumstances is a rational and logical development, and I am equally sure I am not the only one feeling the pressure." His voice trembled as he spoke, and he made sure to avoid any eye contact. Fidgeting with his ring was the final touch to the act.
"Hate to be counting on you in a crisis. Yeah – go. Don't want to have a mess here to clean up."
Ezra stood slowly, doing his best to appear unsure of his footing and anxious. He had taken only a few steps when he was stopped.
"Hold it." The leader called over to the other man. "Frisk him. Get his phone. Get everybody's phone." Ezra reached toward his pocket to hand it over, not wanting any closer examination of what he was concealing. It was the wrong move.
"I said, hold it. What – you don't want him frisking you?"
"I would prefer to take care of more urgent concerns first."
"Too bad. Cross your legs, 'cause you ain't going anywhere." He stepped up next to Ezra. "What is it you don't want us to find friend?"
Slowly Ezra began to reach into his jacket, asking permission to do so with his eyes. The answering curt nod, along with the second gun being pointed at him, told him all he needed to know about being cautious. He slowly pulled his weapon from the holster. "I carry large sums of cash. That's why I was here. To withdraw funds for my business. I didn't plan to – I would never consider trying to use it on any of you. I've never even fired it at the shooting range. I didn't…" his hysterical rant was silenced by a strong backhanded slap from the hand that had taken his gun. The force of the handle on his skin split his cheek open and he dropped to the floor in a daze.
"Search him. Search all of them." He stormed back to the vault.
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tbc