DISCLAIMER: I do not own the characters of Sam Nixon, Jo Masters, Phil Hunter, June Ackland and Tony Stamp. They are the property of TalkbackThames and shall be safely returned to their original state once I have finished with them. evil grin
Chapter 2:
Phil and Jo arrived on scene ten minutes later. The bank was surrounded by uniform from Sun Hill nick as well as armed officers. The detectives made their way over to Sergeant June Ackland to be briefed on the current situation.
"Right, thanks June," Phil said when the were finished discussing what had happened so far, "Could you make sure the officer making contact has everything they need and keep me informed?"
June nodded and walked over to the van.
"Sarge," Jo began, "I know James Parker, I dealt with him about six months ago."
"Go on," Phil said, intrigued.
"I arrested him on suspicion of handling stolen goods, but I couldn't make anything stick. Then, out of the blue, he confessed," Jo continued.
"Confessed? When you had little evidence?" Phil replied, shocked.
"To the lot! In return for putting in a good word for him with the judge, James became my informant, but I haven't heard from him in a few weeks," Jo replied, "This just seems too big a leap, I mean, from handling to armed robbery?"
"Unless he's been caught up in something?" Phil suggested.
"Yeah, but with who?" Jo said, "I mean…"
Jo was cut off mid-sentence when June had shouted them both to join her. The pair made their way over to June.
"He's asking for Jo," June said.
"Tell him I'll speak to him in return for releasing hostages," Jo replied, knowing there were several members of the public inside.
June nodded and told the negotiator, who informed James.
"He says he'll release five of the eight hostages if you go inside and speak to him," Tony said.
"Okay," Jo responded, without hesitation.
"Jo, wait," Phil said, "Think about this."
"He's right, I don't think you should Jo," Sam agreed, appearing behind them from what seemed like thin air.
Jo turned to face Sam. "Guv, if it gets him to release the majority of the hostages then why not?" Jo replied, pleading her case to her blonde superior, "Besides, once I'm in there I can talk to him, make him see sense."
Sam admired Jo's enthusiasm and concern for public safety. They were a few of the qualities she loved about Jo.
"Okay," Sam said, giving in, "But you've got half an hour or I'm bringing in armed officers."
"Thanks Guv," Jo smiled, putting on a vest as the negotiator informed James of the situation.
"Jo," Sam said, walking over to where Jo was, lowering her voice to a more caring tone, "Be careful."
"I will," Jo replied, smirking a little, "And I'd be careful if I was you, some might think you actually care!"
Sam smiled softly as Jo prepared herself and began approaching the front doors of the bank slowly as her colleagues watched on nervously.
"James," Jo shouted, "It's Jo. Release the hostages like you promised and I'll come in, I promise no funny business."
"Promise?" James called.
"Yeah, come on, you know me, we're a team," Jo replied.
Slowly, the door opened and Jo entered the building as five of the hostages gradually walked out to waiting officers.
"So James, what's this all about?" Jo asked as the door closed.
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Jo nervously watched the clock, knowing she only had fifteen minutes left to talk James into releasing everyone and walking out.
"Come on James, this is silly, Why don't you just release everyone else and walk out of here with me?" Jo said.
"I can't, not now," James replied.
"Why not? I didn't think you could ever do something like this, especially not with firearms," Jo added.
"It's gone beyond all that now Jo, I'm in with the big boys, finally, after all this time," James said.
"Is this what all of this is about?" Jo asked, "Fitting in? Proving yourself? Even I didn't think you'd stoop this low. Come on, lets get out of here, lets go to the station and talk."
"I can't, I just can't," James responded.
"Come on big man!" one of the hostages shouted, spooking James top let off a warning shot.
"That wasn't a good idea James," Jo advised.
"SHUT UP! JUST SHUT UP!" James yelled.
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"That was a shot Guv, what do you want to do?" Phil asked.
Sam hesitated, wanting to trust Jo to sort the situation out, but not knowing it was a warning shot, so she instructed the officers to take their positions.
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"Take your vest off," James shouted at Jo, "You've got a wire, I know you do!"
Jo slowly undid her vest, then James checked her for a wire.
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"All units, go, go go!" Sam said over the radio.
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"I'm not wearing a wire," Jo insisted calmly as James continued checking.
"ARMED POLICE!" came a shout from several officers as they stormed through the doors from all angles, scaring James, who let off a random shot. A scream rang out as one of the officers took a shot at James, hitting him in the lower leg before arresting him.
Sam ran in when she was given the nod by armed support and saw Jo being attended to by Ambulance crew. She had been shot in the left shoulder and was bleeding heavily. Sam ran over to her.
"Jo!" she said, kneeling beside her colleague.
"I told you to give me half an hour!" Jo said, angrily.
"There was a shot, I had no choice," Sam replied.
Jo just nodded, shock taking over, making her feel weak.
Sam took hold of Jo's hand. "You'll be okay, I promise," she said Jo as she slowly began slipping into a state of unconsciousness from loss of blood, making a murmuring sound.
"You're going to be fine," Sam said softly, her eyes watering over slightly, "This is my fault. I'll fix it. I'll take care of you."
"Sam, I…" Jo managed before becoming unconscious.
