A few hours earlier
The intervention seemed routine. A man broke into the bank at gunpoint and threatened to kill everyone present if the employee at the counter did not give him the money he demanded. The police were quickly arrived on the scene.
It was in a leap the Detective Murdoch left the cab, behind Constable Crabtree and before hearing his superior to do the same after him.
-George, move away the crowd, William said watching people gather on the sidewalk.
He took a second to look at all those present. William could never understand unconsciousness people. All flocked to see something without thinking about the consequences that this might have if the man inside the building were to arise outside and begin to fire on passers too curious. He saw a little girl with blonde curls, aged three years old, standing in front of his father, who seemed to want to know what was happening. His heart stoped in his chest for a moment. If he too had a little girl like her, he would never take such a risk. William did not understand the reaction of some parents. He, who had so often seen the danger, suffering and death, he knew too well how he wanted the people he loved to avoid them.
Lost in thought, he resumed feet in reality when George departed man and his daughter standing on the opposite sidewalk, and then he gave all his attention to Inspector Brakenreid who was next to him.
-Obviously he has a gun and threatens to kill the owner of the institution, John Wright.
-According to Miss Grant who was in the bank when he entered, threw a Constable who had alerted by the hostage taking and pointed to the young woman standing a little further, he claims two thousand dollars.
-Two thousand dollars? William repeated stunned.
-He will release anybody as long as he has not this money.
-Do you have had another contact with him? Asked William.
-No Sir, replied the young man.
-Do we know his identity?
-No, we know nothing about him.
-Try to find who he is, Miss Grant should makes you a description and we establish a composite sketch.
-What's going to help you Murdoch? Brakenreid asked.
-To know his motives.
-We don't care, retorted his superior, he wants two thousand dollars and holds hostages, we are more numerous and armed. We enters, we fire, we arrest him and we don't talk about it amore. With luck, we will be back for dinner.
-I do not think this is a good idea Sir, William murmured, he has hostage and he could shoot one of them if we enter by force.
-What do you suggest?
-Give him what he asks, at least make him think we give him what he wants. We win time and when he wishes to flee with the money, we'll just stop when he is most vulnerable.
-That's very nice that Murdoch, but two thousand dollars is hard to find.
-We only need the half, replied William lowest to explain his plan in detail, we are packages and inside we will simply slip sheets of paper. In the rush, he will not count, he will see that the bundles lying above and when he believes in safety ...
-... We arrest him, well thought out, ended Inspector giving him a nod, HIGGINS, he cried before heading to the young man a bit further.
William stood there motionless for a few moments, looking up the building, sighing deeply, the night would turn out long, he was convinced.
He thus took several hours to collect a portion of the amount requested. For dummy tickets, Constables Higgins, Jackson and Crabtree had to cut paper in pieces of the same size of the banknotes. Inspector Brakenreid and Detective Murdoch had tried to keep in contact with the hostage taker, they wanted to know more about him. But it was very clear that they could not get anything, the man walled up in his silence on the other side of the door, repeating endlessly that he hoped that having money and would take with him a hostage to leave the bank safely and to not be stopped once he had what he wanted.
Thus the sun was setting over Toronto. The air was refreshing, only the street lamps broadcast their dim light in the street deserted now, passersby have been delayed at the end of the street. William was leaning against the building wall, just waiting for his colleagues to come with money and when Constable Crabtree brought him the briefcase, he walked over to him and spoke.
-So George, murmured William, you have the money?
-All is there, sir, replied the young man, holding out his dark briefcase that William took immediately.
-Well, he sighed , in this case I'll get when the hostages will be released, stay away from doors and let him go, we will follow at a distance.
-And the hostage that will stay with him? Thomas asked, frowning.
-If all goes well, it will be me, said William plunging his eyes into his, and I know the risks Sir.
-We know nothing about this man, he could shoot you in the second you enter.
-He would have already been able to do through the window, said William, pointing to a nod, he will not shoot me.
-You better have right, Brakenreid retorted by pointing the finger, I do not want to be strangle by Dr. Ogden.
At the mention of his wife, William could not help to have a shy smile. He knew that his superior was right, Julia would be furious to know that he was taking such a risk. He knew how she hid her anxiety behind a tender look and a shy smile. He knew her so well for so many years, now he knew that at the bottom of herself she was scared if he gets hurt. But Julia had always been able to hide, wishing him "good luck", smiling at him to encourage him to do his duty. If his wife was with him at that moment, again she would have plunged her eyes into his, she would have smiled to him and her hand tenderly touched his cheek. She would have said nothing, no words would have passed the barrier of her lips, but William would have understood. He had always been among themselves, words have often failed them in the past, but their eyes were always saying how they felt in the depths of their heart.
Outgoing gently from his thoughts, William forcefully closed his fingers over the briefcase, and after a last glance accorded to his colleagues, he headed for the door.
-Mister Romart, I am here with the money you requested, gave William a secure voice, you will free the hostages as we had agreed.
-Except one, said the man's voice on the other side of the door.
-And it will be me, said William, what better than a police Detective? My colleagues let you go.
Silence fell for long and endless seconds, every policeman standing ready to intervene if the need arose. Inspector Brakenreid put his hand at his gun, crossing the gaze of William when the man on the other side of the door spoke again.
-Aright, you're coming, I release the hostages and you stay with me until I'll be safe with money.
-Well, said William, I'll enter.
After a last inspiration, William went up the two small steps leading to the door of the bank entrance. He heard the latch to unlock the other side and saw the door was open,. He pushed it and entered. He soon found himself nose to nose with a much taller man than he, burly, with dark eyes and hair as clear as the sun. He held him against a young woman who does not yet debated. In a glance, William walked around the room. The lobby was almost empty. There were only two people sitting on the floor, two women and a boy of about ten years. The bank was almost pitch black except for a few oil lamps burning in here and there. The man opposite him gestured to the people a little further to rise. All loyally in silence and he let the young woman who came once the little boy to take him in her arms. Then he gestured toward the door. William nodded and he pulled away to see the hostages quickly leave before the man closes the door violently behind.
-Have you the money?
-All is there, said William, pointing to the briefcase.
Without a word he grabbed it and put it on a desk a little later to open. William clenched his fists when he saw him counting tickets, air thinned and he felt sweat beading on his neck as he left danced the tickets in his hands.
-You lied to me, the count is not there, replied the young man, pointing to the newspaper hidden between the notes at the bottom of the case.
-Listen, to me ...
-No, it is you who will listen to me, threw the young man pointing his gun at the chest of William, I'm not stupid. You tried to trick me, and you certainly not let me leave this place. She was right again.
-She? William repeated. Who?
-No matter, he murmured, laughing softly, and it's better after all. If I go out I'll be shot or imprisoned, then why continue? Leave this place if you do not want to die.
-Mr. Romart, I can help you if ...
-LEAVE! He shouted before firing a bullet into the ground which startled William. Otherwise I will kill you, he whispered.
William then took a deep breath and nodded, then, slowly, he opened the door to leave the bank. Once in the doorway, he caught one last look of the young man, without a word he opened his coat and William froze. He recognized the explosive which was at his height.
-Tell her that I did it for her, murmured the young man before striking a match and close the device.
-No, don't ...
Detective Murdoch did not finish his sentence. The blast burned his face and he was thrown several meters down the street. He heard the shouts around him but he did not care. His head was spinning and he had tried to open his eyes, he saw anything, his eyelids were heavy and he felt the pain, so much pain.
When he finished his story with a trembling voice, Julia's tears already flowing freely down her cheeks. She wanted to know what had happened but yet she could not restrain her sadness and pain of seeing how her husband suffered. He had told her everything, while he was lying in the bed, as she looked at his bruised face and his eyes covered with a thick bandage. She held his hand, sitting on a chair beside the bed, giving him the courage to continue his story. Of course, William had not noticed her condition, it was only when he was finished and he felt a tear fall on his hand he understood.
-I have been blinded by the explosion, he whispered, that's why I can not see anything, is not it?
-Yes, Julia replied, feeling her voice scratch her throat.
-There is ... will I stay ...
-I do not know, Dr Parks neither, it takes time, it is necessary ...You need to rest William, she said, tenderly stroking his forehead, I am here, I am with you. I do not leave you a moment.
William did not answer, his fingers tightening on those of his wife wiped her tears with her sleeve. She knew that the injuries were probably serious, but she was also relieved that William was alive. She would never have endured losing him. William was there, injured, seriously injured, but alive and that was all that mattered. Slowly, she leaned over to kiss his lips. He was surprised, but nevertheless, he kissed her back a second later.
-Do not cry, he whispered on her lips, please do not cry.
Julia then closed her eyes and rested her forehead against his, savoring the feel of the warm breath of her husband on her skin, feeling his heart beat in the palm of her hand she had placed on his chest. William was there, alive.
to be continued...