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CHAPTER SIX

"It's not good," one of the techs muttered as he worked with Alex's cell phone. "What we can hear…The third guy is a loose cannon…"

The Chief of Detectives hovered over the response team. "What are you going to do?" he demanded.

"Letting Goren talk to them has worked so far," Ross said softly.

Before the Chief could respond, Captain Fusco said quietly. "Can't argue with the results so far…Goren has gotten two of the hostages out…Calmed the situation…"

"Look!" a cop yelled. "Someone's coming out…"

Alex's heart flew into her throat. She wasn't sure she could bear seeing an injured Bobby again.

"Wait," Fusco commanded. "It may be another hostage…"

A young woman clutching a small child in her arms rushed from the bank. Before Fusco's orders to help them had left his mouth several cops surrounded the mother and daughter and hustled them to safety.

"More! More are coming out!" several cops shouted.

The older people, moving stiffly but as quickly as they could, emerged. Again, several heavily armored cops surrounded and rushed them to safety. Another young woman stumbled from the bank, but turned and started to go back in.

"No, no," Alex whispered, her words echoed by other cops. More officers rushed to the woman and pulled her to safety. Alex and Ross moved quickly to where the former hostages were being treated. A buzz of voices greeted them.

"The policeman…the big detective…He saved us…He talked one of them into letting us go…They hurt him…He didn't think about himself…"

Alex's heart sank as she heard the voices' descriptions of Bobby' injuries. The cries of the young woman shattered the air.

"Ben…My son…Ben…He's still in there!"

"Damn!" Ross said. "Goren and a kid are still in there."

"People!" Fusco called over his radio. "We've got this far…Detective Goren has gotten us this far…He got most of the hostages out…We owe him…We need to protect this boy…Let's get 'em out!"

"Captain," one of the techs said tensely. "From what we can tell, it's bad in there…Kevin Maguire seems to have lost control…"

The bank's door banged open, and Rye Maguire, waving his empty hands wildly, ran out. "Don't shoot!" he screamed. "Don't shoot!"

"It's great, Kevin!" Larry laughed. "Everyone knows who we are!"

"They'll know more…respect us…before I'm done…" Kevin halted and stared. "Rye…Rye! Whatya doing?"

Bobby staggered to his feet as quickly as his battered body allowed. Rye shoved Mrs. Mitchell through the front door. Her glazed eyes briefly met her son's, but a raging Kevin rushed forward to grab the boy. As Rye propelled the woman through the front door, Kevin threw Ben back into the lobby. Bobby stepped into the boy's path and kept him from crashing into a counter. The two fell in a tangled heap on the floor. Bobby gasped in pain, but managed to wrap his body around Ben. For several terrible moments Bobby waited for the gunshots or blows he knew were coming.

When they didn't come, Bobby tentatively raised his head. An astonished Kevin stared at Rye. Larry looked around the lobby in confusion. Beyond the three young men, Bobby saw several officers outside the bank hustling Beverly Mitchell to safety.

"Your Mom is ok," he whispered to Ben. "She was trying to get back to you, but the cops got to her…She'll be all right…They'll take care of her…"

Ben shivered and clung tightly to Bobby.

"Kevin," Rye said. "I'm sorry…but I couldn't let you hurt anyone…"

"Rye…What've you done?" For the moment, Kevin was more shocked than angry. Bobby wondered if this was the first time Rye had challenged his brother.

"Kevin…It's not worth it," Rye said. "To hurt people…Just to be famous…"

Larry was increasingly confused and angry, and Bobby sensed that he was becoming more of a threat than Kevin. "Kevin," Larry asked. "What's going on? What's Rye talking about? We're going to get out of here, right? With the money?"

"Kevin," Bobby said softly. "Your brother is trying to protect you." It was hard for Bobby to speak. Ben clung tightly to him, and pain choked him. "You're a bright guy, Kevin…You know that…that things are over…"

Kevin stared out the windows at the assembly of cops. "I…I wanted…"

"People to know…to respect you." Bobby gently pulled away from Ben, but kept one hand on the boy's shoulder. "They will, Kevin…If you end this now…You'll be the man who let the hostages go…Who showed mercy…You won't get hurt…Your brother won't get hurt…"

"C'mon, Kevin," Rye said. "For once…Do the right thing…"

Larry slammed a fist on one of the counters. "Kevin…You aren't buying this…You told me this would be easy money…Or don't I matter…"

"Shut up, Larry," Kevin muttered.

"Why you getting on me?" Larry growled. "Rye's the one who screwed up…He let the hostages go…"

"Because I care about you, Kevin," Rye pleaded. "If they get a hold of you…"

Kevin began to pace.

"Damn it, Kevin!" Larry shouted. "Are you listening to this? We've still got the kid…"

Bobby moved without thinking in front of Ben.

"The cop…" Larry continued. "We can still get out of here with the money."

"Kevin," Bobby said softly. "Who are you going to believe? Your brother…who's stayed with you…supported you…Who went into this in spite of his questions…"

"Kevin!" Larry screamed. "Look at me! I'm here! I'm with you!"

Kevin ceased pacing. "Shut up, shut up, shut up…" he muttered. "Everyone shut up…"

"The bag, Kevin…What's in it?" Larry asked eagerly. He strode toward the bag. "Is it our ticket out?"

"Stay away from the bag, Larry!" Kevin said. "That…that was supposed to be insurance…" He turned to Rye. "If something went wrong…"

"Look around, Kevin," Larry said angrily. "I'd say things have gone pretty wrong." He stepped closer to the bag.

"I told you, Larry…Stay away from the bag…" Kevin raised his gun.

"Kevin…Don't…Just tell us what's in the bag…" Rye pleaded. He also raised his gun, but Bobby wasn't certain where he intended to point it.

"This cop has you confused," Larry said. "Let's use him and the kid…" He pointed his gun at Bobby and Ben.

Bobby stood uncertainly in front of Ben. "I've screwed up," he thought. "I was so wrapped up with Kevin and Rye…I let Larry off my radar…Stop it…Stop it…Concentrate…Help Ben…"

"Larry," Bobby said. "Please…This kid…He's an innocent…He has nothing to do…"

"Shut up!" Larry shouted. "The kid means nothing but a way out to me!"

"You're not in charge, Larry!" Kevin yelled. He swung his gun towards Larry. "I am!"

Rye raised his gun to cover Larry. "Don't, Larry…"

"Guys…Please," Bobby said, but only Rye heard him.

"Let's find out what's in that precious bag!" Larry pointed his gun at the bag.

Bobby lurched to his feet, grabbed Ben, and shoved the boy in front of him.

Rye dropped his gun and rushed to the front door. "Don't shoot!" he screamed as he ran through the door. "Don't shoot!"

"No!" Kevin screamed.

Larry fired.

The explosion threw Bobby forward, and he caught Ben's body. Heat and pain and noise flooded Bobby as he wrapped his body around the boy.

The explosion swallowed Rye's desperate cries and threw the young man down on the street. Even the most hardened of the cops flinched and ducked. After a few seconds, Alex raised her head and stared at the devastated building.

"Bobby…" she whispered.

END CHAPTER SIX