"I would wager that venting your anger in such a manner will not win you any points in the negations." Ezra stared John down. "My understanding, limited though it may be, is that a show of good faith and remaining calm throughout is of primary importance." He looked pointedly at the shattered phone. "I would venture to say you have made your task more difficult."

John turned, pointing the weapon directly at Ezra's head. "You volunteering to be a living target instead? No, I didn't think so. Keep the other side off balance. First rule of negotiations. Would have expected a smart dude like you who has watched so many movies on the subject to know that."

Ezra hoped it wouldn't dawn on his opponent that his team would be every bit as determined to keep these lowlifes off balance as well. "What I have learned that the smart move is to keep the line of communications open, and not to risk incurring the wrath that will destroy you."

"Plenty of other phones here, and I've got a basket full of cellphones there, so I don't see a problem there. And we have no intention of being destroyed. Trust me on that. So, you have any other suggestions you want to make?"

"Several, but I believe they can wait for a more appropriate time."

"First smart thing you've said." John grinned as he turned the gun away. He looked down at his watch again, then spun his back to the hostages as he returned to the vault.

Ezra leaned back against the desk again, stretching his sore leg out and rubbing absent-mindedly at the knee. He was tired of sitting on the floor, doing nothing. The men were getting restless, and he wondered if the job was taking longer than anticipated. More likely, there were beginning to give consideration to their escape options, and quite possibly realizing how limited they were.

"Are you trying to get yourself killed?"

"I prefer to consider my actions as an effort to keep their anger and attention focused on one person."

"In other words – yes." Sylvia looked at him with a mix of concern and sympathy. "You're taking a foolish risk, setting yourself as his target."

"That does seem to be something I excel at. Have no fear madam. I have been in worse situations and remain present to tell the tale." Although sooner or later, I am going to cut that deck of cards once too often. He could see no point in sharing that thought with the others.

"He was right about one thing – there is more to you than meets the eye."

Ezra grinned lightly before admonishing her with a soft stare and tilt of his head. "That assumption would be best kept quiet madam. There is no point in encouraging the delusion to the point it may result in false conclusions which could prove, shall we say unpleasant." She nodded her understanding, a hint of fear colouring her features.

He closed his eyes, allowing himself a moment to try to evaluate what had happened so far. He'd have enough experience staring down the barrel of a gun to be able to look past the immediate threat. Doing so now had given him a better look at the watch John was consulting far too often. It hadn't come as a revelation to Ezra to see it wasn't a routine time piece. A wrist phone. He'd been monitoring something, likely texts, on a phone. The possibilities made his head spin even more than the hits he'd taken did. First, there was an outside contact here. That presented a host of problems. It could be that he wasn't the mastermind he presented himself to be. If someone elsewhere was controlling the issue, not only did it mean there was another perspective to deal with, but there was an influence in this who didn't have a direct hand in the pot and might well be more reckless as a result. And, if John was getting information from outside, and there was little doubt on that, anything that was common knowledge out there, was now known on the inside. Ezra could no longer be sure his identity was safe.

He was startled back to the present by John's return.

"OK hero, time to cash in your lottery ticket." Ezra opened his eyes, glancing quickly at the wall clock. Evidently, he been processing scenarios much longer than he realized as a half hour had passed. "On your feet. You get to be our messenger."

"So your show of power did cause damage to the phones?"

"We were planning on the personal touch this time. Make sure the cops remember there are hostages in here."

Ezra stood slowly, stretching his stiff muscles. He was feeling more of the tension than he had realized. He tried to offer a confident smile to those still seated around him, but from their reactions, he was guessing even his best poker face wasn't doing the trick any longer.

"I have little doubt they are fully cognisant of the fact."

"Relax. Just want a bit of face to face explanation. You're gonna talk to this negotiator they got. Sanchez." Ezra was grateful for the fact he was not going to have to explain himself to a stranger. Josiah would be far more likely to understand any underlying messages he could get through. Of course, dealing with him under these circumstances was a stress he didn't relish placing on the big man's shoulders.

"Now, just in case you had any ideas, I'm going to explain a couple of things. You try to bolt, to not come back, and I kill three people in here, including the pretty lady who should be going outside now. I have feeling that would be incentive to someone like you." Ezra nodded his understanding, hoping it reassured Sylvia and the others. "You go off script, try to tell them anything outside of what I tell you to say, and I kill her first."

"If you expect me to work from memory, we may have an issue."

John handed Ezra an ear-bud. "Stick this in your ear. All you have to do is pass along what I tell you to. I'll be able to hear you too, so don't get cute"

This was limiting his options, but there was no real room for discussion. Ezra walked toward the door, turning back to the others. "I will do nothing to endanger any of you – you have my word." The last thing he saw before heading out was a confident smile of support from Sylvia.

7-7-7-7-7-7-7

"Everybody hold your fire." The SWAT commander was issuing the command through the communications system at the same time Chris was shouting it out. Every eye was glued to the door which closed quickly behind Ezra. He looked up, smiling at the assembled crowd. He forced himself to walk slowly, trying to hide the slight limp he had earned inside. It was harder than he expected to hide his relief at seeing familiar faces. It became even more difficult to maintain his detachment when Josiah and Chris both stepped from behind the barriers to approach.

"No. Please stay where you are." He called out. In a quieter voice he added "I know that wasn't script, but I am a bit anxious."

"Tell 'em who you are and ask them if the demands have been met."

"My name is Ezra Standish. I am one of the hostages. The gentleman you have been speaking with would like to know if his demands have been fulfilled."

"He's got an ear-bud in Chris. He's being told what to say." Vin had been able to see it through his spare rifle scope before turning his attention back his aim on the bank. As much as he wanted to keep focused on Ezra, he knew what the job was.

"I'm Josiah Sanchez. Chris Larabee and I are working on it. Most of it is in place, and the bus in almost here. The money is still being prepared for transfer, but we are almost set. Can you tell us how they want to proceed?" Or anything else, he added silently.

"When the bus arrives, it is to be parked at the side entrance. If there is anyone on board, hostages will die."

Chris nodded slowly. "Understood. Is everyone OK in there?"

Ezra stood quietly for a minute, waiting. "At this time, none of the hostages have been injured."

"Looks like that's not true." Josiah raised a hand to his own cheek, then pointed at Ezra. "You OK?"

"This is nothing."

"Careful hero – that wasn't in the script."

"Reflex, I assure you. I shall watch what I say from now on." Ezra answered loudly. He began fidgeting with his hands. "Please, do not punish anyone for my lapse in communication protocol."

"Shut up. Any more slips and someone in here will pay." Ezra nodded. "We expect the bus in 20 minutes. Cleared route to the interstate. Any helicopters or drones and people die."

The order was repeated verbatim. Chris knew from the style, or more appropriately the lack of it that Ezra was staying on script. Clearly there was a threat if he varied. But, the nervous movements, the tapping of fingers, and reaching toward his ear only to quickly bring his hand back down again. The fact that those were a message was obvious to him. What the message was, on the other hand, was a mystery.

"OK Hero – almost done. Convince them not to mess with us, or the results won't be pretty. Then turn around and come on back."

"These men are deadly serious Mr. Sanchez. I implore you, do not jam them up. They will kill people if you fail to adhere to every signal instruction." He turned and approached the building, watching the gunmen who were watching his every move. He was about halfway back when he was ordered to stop and turn around.

"Sorry about this Standish. Like I said, I think under other circumstances things might have been different."

Ezra wasn't listening. He focused his gaze on Josiah and Chris, who had both been making their way to the barracade and now stopped, alerted to the development. They turned back, both making eye contact. Although he couldn't see the rest of the team, he knew they were there, watching the scene unfold. He wished more than anything he'd been able to find a way to spare them this moment. Ezra scanned the area, seeking out the faces of his friends, finally focusing on Chris and Josiah before mouthing out as clearly as he could "I'm sorry." Before he finished, a single shot rang out from the bank, and his body jerked forward as he fell to the ground.

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tbc