They came through the door like gangbusters surprising everyone in the bank. People were screaming as the bad guys walked around scaring everyone. Finally, one of them spoke.

"Shut up, everyone. We're not here to hurt you, We'll get what we came for and be on our way. Now, you, at the desk, get the keys for the safety deposit boxes and we'll go down there. Everyone else, on the floor, lay still and nothing will happen. But, get up and one of my guys will make sure you don't do that again. C'mon Blondie, let's go." He forced the woman down the hall.

Maria pulled her cell phone out and dialed the emergency number similar to 911 but for those people unable to hear. When someone responded she typed a message back to the operator with her name, badge number and what was going on in the bank. The operator texted back asking if Maria had an earpiece and could hear but was unable to speak due to the circumstances. After replying to the operator she received a message that a supervisor would be on the line in a moment.

The supervisor was on the line with Maria. "My name is Rosalie. I understand that you are in a bank currently being held hostage. I have questions, please press the number 1 for yes and 3 for no. Will that work for you?"

Maria pressed 1.

Then, the questions began:

Operator: "Is anyone hurt?"

Maria: 3 (No)

Operator: "How many perps? I'm going to start counting, hit 1 when I get the correct number. 1, pause, 2, pause, 3 pause"

Maria: 1(yes, three perps)

Operator: "Do you know if they are male or female? Press 1 for male, 2 for female or 3 for don't know."

Maria: 1

Operator: "Do they all have weapons?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "What kind of weapons? Guns like you carry?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Semi automatic?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Fully automatic?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Are they gathering money from the tellers?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "I've heard from the police. Squad cars are on the way along with ESU. They are going to surround the building. Is someone guarding the front door?"

Maria: 1

Operator:" One perp guarding the front door, one perp guarding the hostages and one perp somewhere else, could that person be at the safe?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Safety deposit boxes?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "That information has been passed to the police. Is there anything else I need to pass on?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Something else is going on in the bank?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Something going on outside the bank?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Something related to the police who are waiting outside the bank?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Is someone waiting for you outside?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "In the parking lot?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Related to you?"

Maria: 3

Operator: "Spouse?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "I'm checking your record…found it, your husband, Daniel Reagan, detective, correct?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Anyone else?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "You have a daughter, she's out there with dad?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "I've passed that information along and someone will be talking to him and getting them out of the area."

Maria: 1

Operator: "Is it still quiet there? Still just the two perps with you and one out of sight?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Do you have your weapon on you?"

Maria: 1

Operator: "Right now I'm waiting to hear from the OIC outside. Please stay on the line. Understand?"

Maria: 1

A few minutes go by, then finally the team is ready to breach the building.

Operator: "Maria, I'm connecting the Officer in charge to this line, Go ahead Lieutenant Gormley."

Sid: "Maria I understand that you can't speak but will answer yes and/or no. Since no one is guarding the back door as far as you know we're going to come in that door and try to subdue the perp back there. Other officers will be coming in the front door as well. When you hear us, if you can, bring out your weapon and see if you can get the two perps to put their guns down. And, Danny wants you to know that the baby is with Jamie and Eddie about two blocks away, inside a building with a detail guarding them. Danny is right here with me and I'll do my best to keep him out of danger. The team is about to breach so get ready. I'll count down with the team - 3, 2, 1, Go! Go! Go!"

As someone came in the front door and grabbed the perp guarding the door Maria pulled her weapon and yelled for the second man to put his gun down and hit the floor. Both men were surprised and surrendered without a shot. The team that came in the back door were also successful in subduing the perp without a shot being fired. Once the scene was secure, Danny came charging in and hugged his wife. "And you think I take chances! Are you sure you're okay?" He stepped back and looked her up and down. She didn't even have a hair out of place. "How did you let 911 know what was going on?"

Maria explained that she was asked questions that could be answered yes or no and that she was just using one key to answer each question. The perps never even noticed.

Finally the perps were handcuffed and escorted to waiting patrol cars. There would be one perp per car so there was no chance of communication between them. All the witnesses were interviewed and all were grateful that Maria was able to contact help and keep anyone from being injured. The civilians wanted to give her a medal but she declined, saying she was only doing her job - protecting people and getting perps off the street.

That night, at the home of Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Reagan

"I still can't believe you pulled that off - communicating with the 911 operator and saving everyone who was inside the bank. My wife, the hero or is it the heroine?"

"Neither, I'm just a cop, who's married to a cop, who married into a family that can boast of a brand new patrolman, a lieutenant, a sergeant, two detectives, the current commissioner and a past commissioner along with the current Manhattan D. A. I think I might have learned a thing or two along the way. Of course my husband might have handled the situation differently but my way saved the city about three dollars if not more."

"Three dollars? What for?"

"Two bullets for the perps holding us hostage and one more for the idiot trying to open the safe deposit boxes. So now, can I claim my reward?"

"What reward?"

"My husband has put our daughter to bed and usually, once she's asleep she stays asleep unlike her father. I thought you and I could take advantage of this time to…" she whispered a few words into her husband's ear. "I'm sure my husband won't mind." She stood up and held out her hand to Danny.

"I know he won't mind," said Danny and they raced each other up the stairs.

And I leave it to the reader to imagine what they did once they were upstairs.