Again, thanks for the kind reviews so many people have sent. I also appreciate being named a favorite author (g)

CHAPTER FOUR

The sharp, bright ring of a phone pierced the darkness around his mind. The room became very quiet, with the robbers and hostages staring at the phone on the receptionist's desk. There was a faint whimper from the little girl as Bobby won his battle for consciousness and managed to sit up.

"That's the cops," he said softly.

Rye stepped towards the phone.

"No," Kevin said harshly. "Leave it, Rye."

"Kevin, it's the only chance we got of getting out of here alive," Rye pleaded. "We gotta…"

Kevin scanned the bank.

"He thinks he's in control," Bobby thought. "And he doesn't realize he's never had control…"

"Kevin," Bobby said softly. "Let me answer the phone…I can talk to them…"

The phone's constant ringing began to fray nerves.

"For God's sake, Kevin! Let somebody answer it!" Larry screamed.

"All right!" Kevin pointed his gun at Bobby. "Answer it. But don't tell them anything." He shifted the gun to cover several of the hostages. "You say the wrong thing…Someone gets hurt…"

Bobby nodded as he struggled to his feet. "I understand. What do you want me to say…"

"Tell them…tell them my name is Kevin Maguire…So they'll know who they're dealing with…"

Rye and Larry stared at Kevin in shock.

"You…you told us…no names…" Rye said.

"Plans have changed!" Kevin said. "Tell them…I want…money…a plane…to take me…us…"

The phone rang relentlessly. Bobby knew that Kevin had no plan, that he was making things up as he went along. The young man wasn't stupid; he was smart enough to know that the NYPD wouldn't and couldn't provide a plane. From the look on Rye's face, Bobby also knew that the younger Maguire brother knew that too. Larry, on the other hand, had a look of hungry pleasure on his face.

"Where we going, Kev? An island…in the Caribbean…lots of sun…girls…" Larry said eagerly.

The phone kept ringing.

"They'll keep calling, Kevin," Bobby said. It hurt to speak. His ribs hurt when he breathed, and his upper lip felt thick and heavy. "You…you should have a list of what you want…And…" Bobby hesitated. It might be too soon to press Kevin for a concession. Fear and doubt rose in his mind.

"It's been too long since I did this," Bobby thought. "If I was ever good at it…If I read things wrong…" He was painfully aware of the hostage's eyes on him.

"What?" Rye asked.

Kevin glared at but didn't correct his brother.

Bobby took a deep breath. "You need to make a gesture…of good faith…to show you're not the bad guys here…that…that you're like those gangsters who help people…like Robin Hood…"

Larry looked at him blankly, but Rye and Kevin's eyes flickered in recognition.

"You have to show that," Bobby continued. "Give a sign."

The idea appealed to Kevin. "Right…but what…"

"Let a hostage go," Bobby said softly.

Kevin considered the idea. "Who?"

"The kids…"

Kevin shook his head. "No way…The kids are too valuable…"

Bobby felt dizzy, and leaned against one of the counters.

"You? Because you can't take a little roughing up?" Kevin sneered. Larry laughed unpleasantly.

Bobby recovered. He scanned the hostages, his eyes finding the security guard. The man was sweating heavily and very pale. He ignored Kevin's taunt. "The guard…or one of the older people…"

"Why them?" Kevin asked.

"You know why, Kevin," Bobby said evenly. "The guard is hurt…The older people may have medical conditions…You said the kids can't leave…"

Kevin thought for a moment. "All right…the guard can go…"

The guard rose unsteadily with Bobby's help. He appeared ready to argue against leaving until he looked in Bobby's eyes. Bobby subtly shook his head, and the guard's acquiescence told of the man's pain.

"Get going! Get out!" Kevin yelled.

The guard stumbled, and Kevin grew increasingly agitated at his slow progress. "You!" He pointed his gun at the businessman. "You go with him and help him!"

"There's others," the man said. "You should…"

"Go with him!" Kevin insisted. "Or you'll wish you had…"

The man, a desperate look in his eyes, glanced at Bobby. The man clearly didn't want to take the place of another hostage, but was obviously very afraid.

"He'll go with the guard," Bobby said softly, offering the business man absolution. "He's the best person to help him."

Kevin rushed to Bobby and slammed the rifle against his side. Bobby reeled and staggered, but caught himself on the counter.

"He's not in charge here!" Kevin shouted. "I am! Pay attention to me! Get out! Get out!"

"Kevin," Bobby gasped. "They…they need something…to let the cops know…they're coming out…"

"Here." The businessman pulled out a white handkerchief. "I'll wave this…" He addressed Kevin.

His words appeased Kevin. "All right…Get out…But be sure to get my name right…"

The man moved to the guard's side and helped him out the door. He waved the white cloth, and glanced back at Kevin and Bobby.

"Get out!" Kevin said, but the two men didn't move because of the young man's words. They reluctantly left because of Bobby's subtle nod.

Bobby felt a small bubble of relief. Two hostages, including one who may have been badly hurt, were out. They could tell the assembled cops how many perps and hostages were in the bank. If they were perceptive—and Bobby thought both men were—they could give the cops some idea of the dynamics among the young men. He clung to the hope that Alex might be among the cops, and that she might be listening to his cell phone.

"If she's there," Bobby thought. "Maybe…they didn't let her…Maybe she didn't want to…"

A shadow fell over Bobby. He looked up at Kevin Maguire.

"What's going to happen?" Kevin asked coldly.

Bobby straightened up slowly.

"They…they'll call again," Bobby said. "And they'll pay attention…Because you made the first move…"

The phone rang again.

"Answer it," Kevin said.

Bobby lurched to the phone. "What do you want me to say?"

"Tell them." Kevin smiled at his brother and Larry. "Tell them I'm Kevin Maguire. A man to be respected…They have to talk to me…Tell them to give you a number to call when I'm ready to make my demands."

"All right." Bobby picked up the receiver. "Goren," he said, keeping one eye on Kevin.

"Detective Goren…This is Captain George Fusco…The two hostages are ok…They've given us information."

"Good," Bobby said.

"We still have the connection to your cell phone and can hear a little…"

"Stop talking," Kevin ordered. "Tell him."

"Captain…I'm sorry…I have to tell you…The leader…the guy who planned this…is Kevin Maguire. He wants a number to call you back when he's ready…" Bobby hoped Fusco would understand the need to give Kevin control.

"Of course," Fusco answered after a beat. "Let him know we appreciate him giving us the two hostages. The number is 212-555-7474."

"212-555-7474. Got it," Bobby said.

"We'll call again in fifteen minutes if we haven't heard from you. Hang in there, Detective," Fusco said.

"So," Bobby thought. "I'm still a detective…"

"Yes, Sir," Bobby answered.

"Hang up!" Kevin yelled.

Bobby obeyed.

"What were you talking about?" Kevin asked.

Bobby leaned heavily on the desk. "The Captain…You've got the attention of a Captain, Kevin…wanted me to tell you…He's very grateful you released the hostages…They're all right…He wanted you to know he'll call again if he doesn't hear from you in fifteen minutes…"

Kevin cursed and screamed. "I'm the one who'll do the calling!"

The little girl, who had been remarkably quiet for several minutes, yowled. Her mother desperately tried to calm her.

"Shut that kid up!" Kevin shouted and waved his gun wildly.

Bobby staggered towards Kevin. "Please…She's a scared little girl…"

"Be quiet, you stupid pig!" Larry, his nerves fraying, jumped forward and slammed his rifle butt against Bobby's back. Bobby fell forward to smack his head against Kevin's gun. He fell into pain and darkness.

END CHAPTER 4