The bus ride was uneventful and I got off at the stop near Claire’s house full of hopes and dreams for the future we were creating for ourselves.
21
The Final Countdown
When we were all seated in our usual places around Claire’s sitting room, I noticed Laura eyeing me in a strange sort of way. Claire outlined the plan she and I had created for where to park the getaway car but I could tell that Laura wasn’t really paying attention to her. She watched me intently, her eyes moving up and down as though she were looking for something. Quite frankly, it made me uncomfortable.
Cocking my head to the side, I shot her a questioning look and mouthed “what?” to her from across the room.
“Nothing,” she mouthed back and immediately turned her attention back to Claire.
“Susie and I decided that the best place to put the car is here.” Claire stood beside a new diagram on the easel. She had painstakingly drawn a map of the bank, surrounding businesses, and all of the associated streets and cross streets. She pointed to the one-way street we had chosen as the best place to park the vehicle.
“Why not in front of the bank?” Becca asked. “That’s what they always do on television and it makes the most sense.”
“Because there are cameras all over this gas station here.” She indicated the business she and I had scoped out the day before. Claire’s tone had that bored quality it often took on when she addressed Becca. She obviously thought of Becca as the simple-minded child of the group and she rarely attempted to hide that fact when she explained things to her.
“So?” Becca replied, oblivious to Claire’s attitude. “It’s way down the block. It will never pick up anything useful.”
“Why take that chance?” Claire shot back. “I, for one, want to get away with this, not get caught a day later because we weren’t thorough enough.”
“Well, I don’t want to get caught either,” Becca snapped. “That’s why I want the car as close as possible.”
“This is the best strategic location.” Claire pointed to a spot on the map. “We will park here. It’s just as quick as in front if we just cross the grass.”
“Okay. Fine. If you say so. After all you are the professional,” Becca said.
“So, we park the car on the side street,” Laura stated. “Is there anything else we haven’t thought of?”
I remained quiet through the entire exchange, studying the dynamic of the group of women I called my friends. If I had to classify any of them as my “best” friend it would definitely be Laura. We had known each the longest, having met in the hospital when A.J. and Laura’s daughter Mia were born. Our oldest children shared the same birthdate and it had formed a bond between us instantly.
Becca and I were close, but not the same as Laura and I. We met a few years back at a school open house when Sammy started kindergarten. Becca had been an aid in the special education department but due to budget cuts had been let go the previous school year.
Obviously, I didn’t know Claire as well as I thought since I just found out three days ago that she was an international thief on the lam and in hiding.
None of it really mattered anymore anyway. By the same time the next day we would all be felons. Partners in crime working toward a just cause. Our entire relationship as a group would never be the same.
Even more importantly I would no longer be the same Susie Timmons I had always been. I was about to take control of my destiny instead of letting it kick me around like it had been for so long. We were about to prove that there is strength in numbers and that's what it takes to fight back. We were taking back control and telling the big brother government to go to hell.
I turned my attention back to Claire and the others.
Claire switched the charts around on the easel, landing on one of the interior of the bank. “Okay, so, we will meet here tomorrow morning at nine. The costumes and the guns are downstairs.” She motioned to the throw rug covering the underground weapons storage facility. “Once we are all in costume and loaded up, we will take my mother's car—the one I have parked out back. We need to get there a few minutes early.”
“Do we put the masks on here or in the car?” Becca asked.
Claire exhaled loudly in obvious exasperation. “In the car. What if someone sees us when we are driving?”
“Besides, Andy told me once wearing a mask in public is a crime. I can’t remember if it a misdemeanor or a felony but it’s still a crime.”
“Like that’s gonna matter, Susie,” Becca muttered.
“Well, I, for one, would like to actually make it to the bank without getting pulled over on the way,” I glared at her but she refused to make eye contact.
“Ha. You have a good point there,” Laura agreed.
“Why do you keep looking at me so funny?” I finally asked.
“Oh? Am I looking at you funny?” Her feigned shock was so dramatic I knew she was totally mocking me and that pissed me off.
“You know you are.”
“Forget it. You're imagining things. That brain injury of yours has made you paranoid.”
“That was totally uncalled for. You're supposed to be my friend.” I stood up, anger coursing through me. My fists balled up at my sides as Laura rose and took a step toward me.
“What? Are you going to hit me now? Then it is true. Brain damage does make you more aggressive!”
Claire stepped between us then, holding her hands out to keep distance between us. “Ladies! Ladies, please! What are you doing? We are supposed to a team! We have to be a team or tomorrow won’t work! Get it together already, would you?”
“Fine,” I mumbled dropping my eyes so neither of them could see my embarrassment. I don’t know what came over me that I wanted to beat the living hell out of my best friend. Maybe it was the brain damage. Sighing heavily as I returned to my seat, I kept my eyes averted as Laura also settled herself in her place again.
“Now if you all don’t mind, I will finish reviewing what we have here.” Claire motioned to the intricate chart on the easel again.
“Go ahead,” Becca said.
“So, we arrive at ten. The armored car service will have come and gone and the holding safe will be full of cash. We enter the bank as one group and then spread out. Susie stays by the door and the ancient security guard. Becca will stand in the back and Laura will take up a position by the entrance to the back hall. I will approach the head teller and give her the duffel bag and send her to the vault room. While she does that, Laura will keep watch over her. I thought we should bring a second, smaller bag to collect the cash from the teller drawers.”
“Something just occurred to me,” Laura said. “Is it only the head teller that has the silent alarm button in her drawer?”
“As far as I could tell,” Claire responded. “If I can get her to you at the vault room and keep her from opening her drawer until after we are done, that should buy us a little time.”
“Well, I have heard Andy say time and again how they don’t respond to bank alarms right away anyway so we should be fine,” I spoke up quietly. I was pretty sure I had already told them that but couldn’t be sure. My memory lately was choppy to say the least.
“You may have mentioned that before, Susie,” Laura said quietly. “But it is definitely worth noting.”
“Anyway,” Claire interrupted, “We will give her sixty seconds to fill the bag and then we get out.”
“That’s it?” Becca asked.
“Well, what else did you expect?” I asked Becca a little more abruptly than I meant to.
“There isn’t much more to it than that, Becca,” Claire said. “The biggest thing is to keep the customers and employees down on the floor and quiet. Oh, and don’t use our real names.”
“What do you mean?” Laura asked. “About using our real names?”
“Only address each other as Lucy. There can’t be any hint of who we are aside from four women dressed like Lucy Ricardo.”
“Oh, righ
t. That makes sense.” Laura nodded her agreement. “I guess it was a silly question.”
“I think that’s everything.” Claire turned all business again. “Just be here at nine tomorrow. We will change and I will give each of you your weapons. Any questions?”
No one had anything else to say so we agreed to reconvene the next morning.
22
Be it Ever So Crumbled…There’s No Place Like Home
“I’ve got to pick Mia up at school and take her to the doctor. You want a ride home, Susie?” The tone of Laura’s voice let me know I did not have a choice. At least if Laura dropped me off at the house I would have the beginning of a cover story. Andy had to be stark raving mad at my earlier escape by now.
“Sure, thanks, Laura. That would be great.”
Laura grabbed her purse off the chair she had dropped it on earlier in the day and we headed to the front door together.
Letting ourselves out, we called final goodbyes to Becca and Claire. The crisp, fall air felt good against my flushed skin. The excitement of the day’s events had left me feeling rather toasty and it was nice to be able to cool off outside before going home and having to face Andy.
We were in the car and halfway down the block before Laura spoke. “Andy called me.”
“When?” I demanded as I turned to face her.
“This morning. Right before you got to Claire’s.”
“Oh no! What did you tell him?”
“It’s what he told me that means more. Did you have a trip to the hospital last night?
“You know I did. Andy told you everything, didn’t he?”
“Yes, he did.” Laura looked somber.
“Great. I guess he told you how he wants to lock me up and throw away the key.”
Laura laughed a little. “I suppose you could say that. He is worried about you. And your little escape act this morning really amped him up.”
“He is so ridiculous! I am a grown woman and he wants to treat me like a child. It’s not fair. Why does he get to decide my life?”
“For someone who just claimed to be a grown woman, you are acting extremely childish right now.”
I folded my arms across my chest and slumped in the seat. “I kinda hate you right now.”
“Grow up, Susie. I have no patience for your foot stomping and whining.”
“Wonderful! So, he got to you. You agree with him.”
“He didn’t get to me, and yes I do agree on some level. You suffered a major head injury and are obviously experiencing some very intense after effects. You are my best friend and I am worried about you.”
I couldn't believe Andy had called Laura. Worried or not, he crossed a line by telling Laura my business and he did it to gain an ally. And it appears he'd been pretty successful.
“Why did he call you?”
“When he woke up and you were gone, he got worried so he called to see if I knew where you were. I told him we were meeting to do a little window shopping and to talk. He was a wreck, Susie. I tried to calm him down and assure him you would be safe with me but he was crazy. It took all my fancy talking to stop him from getting into his car and coming over.”
“I hate him.”
“Oh, come off it, Susie. You do not. You’re just angry. So, get over it. The man loves you. You should have seen him when you were in that coma. I don’t think he slept the entire time. If he wasn’t at work, he was by your side and many times he didn’t even leave to go to work. Cut the guy a little slack already. He loves you.”
“If he loves me so much, why does he want to lock me in a tower forever? I mean, seriously. The headaches and the seizures, they are mine to deal with, not his. He needs to back off a little!”
“I don’t know what to tell you, Susie. He is who he is and right now he is a scared man who almost lost his wife and he is not just going to sit by and let it happen again. His methods might be a little strong but he means well.’
“So, what? You're on Andy’s side now? I thought I was your friend. Aren’t you supposed to be supporting me?” I hated how whiny I sounded but I couldn’t seem to help myself. The line had been drawn and I needed to know which side Laura stood on.
“I am your friend, Susie. I love you but I am worried about you too. The things that have been happening are not normal. You know it as well as I do. Maybe you have been trying to do too much? What would it hurt to rest for a week or two?”
“I think that I should be the one who gets to decide what I need. Not you. Not Andy. I am doing just fine without anyone’s input.”
“Oh, right. You are doing just great.” I couldn't miss the sarcasm in Laura's voice.
“What is that supposed to mean?” I demanded.
Laura slammed on the brakes and pulled her car over to the side of the road. Turning to look at me, her eyes flashing in irritation, she said, “Just look at you. You have lost so much weight your clothes hang on you. You let yourself get dehydrated and wound up in the hospital. You only leave the house to see us. When was the last time you got the boys off to school?”
I looked down at my baggy sweater. I had noticed my clothes were a little bit loose but I just attributed that to being in a coma for three weeks. I pulled down the deflector and peered into the mirror on the back side of it. For the first time in months, I really studied my reflection. The tired, sunken eyes, gaunt cheeks, and pale lips that reflected back were foreign to me. Gone were the bright green eyes and tanned skin I had before the accident. I looked like an old woman. A tired, worn out, old woman.
“Damn. I look like hell. Why didn’t anyone tell me?”
“Who’s gonna tell you that when you just survived a major car wreck and woke up from a coma they said you would never come out of?”
I still don’t know where the flood of tears came from. One minute I Laura had me completely pissed at the entire world and the next I was crying like a newborn baby.
“Susie! Susie, I’m sorry! Don’t cry. I didn’t mean to make you cry!” She leaned across the armrest and tried to hug me but I slid over close to the door to avoid her arms.
“Can you just take me the rest of the way home now?” I asked between sniffs. “I would walk but I don’t want to deal with Andy when I get there.”
Laura sat back against the seat, obviously miffed. “Sure. Fine. Whatever,” she whispered, the husky sound of tears threatening to break free coloring her voice.
She slammed the car into gear and jerked the wheel pulling back out into the flow of traffic. We didn’t speak at all the rest of the way home. The tension in Laura’s car by the time she pulled up in front of my house was so thick a knife would have barely made it through.
Jumping from the car, I slammed the door a bit too hard and headed up the walkway toward the house. Barely half way there, Andy yanked the door open and stepped out onto the porch. Nodding and waving to Laura over my head, he barely acknowledged my presence as I walked past him and into the house. Heading straight to my room, I never looked back but I knew he followed me.
Entering our bedroom, I slammed the door but not quick enough. Andy caught it with his palms and pushed it back open with so much force the door slammed against the wall leaving a hole in the drywall where it hit.
“Susie! We need to talk!”
“No, I don’t really think that we do. You already talked to Laura. That’s enough talking don’t you think?”
“Why did you climb out the window like a fifteen-year-old girl sneaking out on a date?” His hands were on his hips, demanding I answer.
“Umm, maybe because you wouldn’t have let me leave the house? Laura and I had plans.”
“Well, why didn’t you just say so?”
“Would you have let me go?”
“Probably not.” He took a step toward me but I slipped to the other side of the bed before he could reach me.
“Then that’s exactly why I didn’t tell you.”
“Susie? Come on, give me a break here. You spent half the night in the hospital
. Did you really feel it was in your best interest to go joyriding with Laura today?”
“Maybe.” I knew I was being coy but couldn’t help myself. Andy already treated me like a child. I didn’t want to disappoint him.
“Seriously, Susie. You need to be in bed or something. Not gallivanting all over town.”
“What the hell, Andy? I’m not a baby. I know how I feel and I don’t need you nagging me all the time. Locking me away in the house like I was in prison! Can’t you just back off and leave me alone already?”
Tears hovered close again. I did not want to cry. I didn’t want to give Andy the satisfaction.
We were standing on opposite sides of the bed, staring each other down. What I wanted more than anything in the world was to climb across our unmade bed and jump into my husband’s arms. Instead, I turned my back on him and swiped at the tears in my eyes.
I heard his steps as he quietly made his way around the bed. Yet it took me completely by surprise when he put his arms around me and turned me to face him.
“I’m sorry, Susie,” he whispered in my ear as he held me close. For the first time in months I felt safe. “When I almost lost… you…” I could hear the tears in his voice as he fought for control. “When I almost lost you in your accident, I nearly lost my mind. I don’t know how to live without you. You scared me half to death yesterday. All those helpless feelings from your coma came flooding back and I couldn’t stand the thought of losing you again.”
Several minutes passed as I let my husband hold me. I couldn’t speak. I could barely breathe. All the stress of the previous weeks came to a head in those few minutes. As he held me, I could feel the raw emotion he had been carrying around for so long. It washed over me in waves, surrounding us both and then flowing away leaving us feeling empty and exhausted.
The Heist Page 12
