The young man looked up, first into Jennifer’s face and then at the large looming blue burka over her shoulder. “Don’t hurt her please, I’ll do it, I’ll do it.” In less than a heartbeat there was a large, metallic, grinding sound, and the slam of a large security grate hit the floor behind him. Michael spun around to see he was trapped like a rat in a cage.
He shoved the woman hard to the left and fired the gun at the clerk through the pass through tray. The bullet ricocheted off the metal and smashed into the wall, missing the terrified clerk completely. Within seconds the clerk was on the far side of the room and on the phone. Then he crouched down out of sight.
For the first time Jennifer spoke to Michael. “Please don’t hurt me; I just came in to cash my husband’s check. It’s my son’s birthday. Please, please don’t do anything foolish.”
“Shut up!” Michael screamed. “Or I’ll shut you up.” He pointed the gun in her direction. He frantically paced about the room. He went to the grate and grabbed it, trying with all his might to lift it but it was locked and wouldn’t budge. For several minutes he paced trying to think of how to escape, but there was none.
In the distance he could hear police cars approaching, sirens screaming. Out the window he saw two cars, with blue lights flashing, approaching from his right. Michael frantically pounded against the grate. Two cars pulled up in front of the building. Without getting out of the car a voice came from the police car.
“You cannot escape. Lay your weapon down. It’s over.”
Michael turned and looked at Jennifer. She was crying and huddling in the corner. He walked to the corner where she sat, grabbed her by the forearm and yanked her to her feet. He pushed her hard towards the grate, grabbed her by the neck and shoved her face into it, and put the gun to her head.
The voice from the police car was instantaneous. “Hurting her will make no difference. Don’t do anything stupid. You can’t escape, lay your weapon down, it’s over.” The officer was well trained and didn’t deviate from the script.
Behind him Michael heard a phone ringing. He turned to see the young clerk approaching the window. He’d put a cordless phone into the tray and pushed it forward and he quickly disappeared again.
The patrolman in the second car opened the door and stepped out. A cell phone was to his ear. He nodded at the other officer and the amplifier voiced a command. “Please pick up the phone.”
Michael looked from the patrolman, to the other car, and back. Jennifer whimpered and trembled. Not releasing her neck, he spun her about and pushed her hard towards the counter. “Sit down, right there.” He pointed with the gun to the floor in front of the window. Taking the phone from the tray, he spoke in a flat, deep, emotionless, tone. “Let me out of here or I’ll kill her.”
The voice on the other end was calm. “My name is Peter, what’s yours?”
“Don’t play any negotiator games with me. Let me out of here, or I kill the woman. I’m in this deep. It doesn’t matter anymore. I don’t have any options. What I do have is a hostage, and a demand for you to let me go.”
“You know I can’t let that happen. So, how are we going to end this peacefully?”
“We’re not. I want to talk to somebody and I want to talk to them now.”
“Alright, who would you like to talk to?” The patrolman was almost conversational, but the slight quiver in his voice betrayed his nerves.
“I want to talk to Cole Sage. Get him down here.”
“Who is Cole Sage?”
“He’s the only person in this town I trust.”
“I’ll see what I can do. In the meantime, I want you to just relax and think about ending this peacefully.”
Michael backed up and slid down the wall under the counter till he was seated on the floor. He spread his legs wide, grabbed Jennifer by the arm, and pulled her hard towards him and over his leg where they were seated together, she in front of him, shielding his body from the outside.
Buried in the flushing sound of the toilet Cole could hear his phone ringing. He quickly ran to the kitchen and picked up the phone from the table. “Hello?”
“Is this Cole Sage?”
“Yes it is.” Cole didn’t recognize the voice on the other end of the line.
“This is Chief Tuckman, Orvin PD.”
“Good afternoon Chief, what can I do for you?”
“It seems we have a situation.”
Cole did not respond and waited for the Chief to speak.
“We have a man who has taken a hostage during the process of robbing the USA Check Cashing place on McKinley.”
“Okay. Why are you calling me?”
“Because, he is asking to speak to you. There is a woman he’s taken hostage. He refused to speak to my men and demanded to speak to you. It seems you are the only person he trusts. I have a strange feeling its Michael Blackbear, the fellow you helped get out of my jail.”
Cole’s heart sank. He was right. While he thought over his hunch that Blackbear was the Burka Bandit, he struck again. Cole felt the fire of rage go up his spine.
“Maybe you should have another chat with Bishop first.”
“Why’s that?” The snap of the Chief’s response showed his displeasure at Cole.
“Because I called him and told him I believed Blackbear was the one robbing the jewelry stores. He blew me off. It seems to me this could have been prevented.”
“We can discuss the shortcomings of my department later. I need you to get down there as quickly as you can. Do you want me to send a car to get you?”
“No, it would be faster if I just drove myself.”
“Then I’ll meet you there.”
“Don’t let Bishop near me. Understood?”
As Cole drove to town a hundred scenarios ran through his head. If only Bishop listened. Why wasn’t Michael patient? What could I possibly say to him now? Hi Michael, what is it you want from me? Hi Michael, please put the gun down. With every scenario Cole saw a dead woman on the floor. Please don’t do this, he thought. The image of Michael firing at the police flashed across his mind. He envisioned Blackbear’s body whipping and jerking as dozens of rounds from the police were fired into him. Cole slammed the steering wheel with his wrist. I have no words!
As he approached the check cashing business he saw four police cars and a SWAT team truck in front. Two policemen blocked the entrance as he pulled up.
“I’m Cole Sage, Chief Tuckman called me.”
“Park over there.” The patrolman pointed at a space behind the SWAT truck. “The Chief is in that Suburban.”
Cole did as instructed and made his way to the white Suburban with the police shield on the door. Spotting Cole, the Chief stepped out of the vehicle.
“Thank you for getting here so quickly.”
“I may be here, but I don’t have the slightest idea what I can do.”
“Just talk to him. We have a phone connection to him. He’s been waiting. Let him see you. We’ll see what he has to say.” The Chief pointed at the patrolman holding up his cell phone.
Cole walked over and took the phone and waved toward the window. “Hello? Michael, are you there?”
“Mr. Sage, you gotta get me outta here.”
“That’s not going to happen. You know they’re not going to let you out.”
“Then I’ll kill the woman.”
“No you won’t. You’re an honorable man. You’ve just got yourself into a situation you don’t know how to get out of. Put the gun down and come out.”
“I have nothing to lose.” Michael paused for several seconds before he continued. “I’m not getting Miriam and my son here, and I’m not going to prison.”
“We don’t know that. You need to give yourself up. We need to get you someone to talk to, a professional, a counselor. This is not you speaking. Please, end this and let me see what kind of help we can get you.” Cole looked at the policeman standing with him. Cole took another shot at it. “Michael, let me talk to the lady.”
/> “Why?”
“Because, she’s probably scared to death. I want to tell her you’re not a bad guy. You’re just in a bad place.”
Michael put the phone to Jennifer’s ear. “Hello?”
“Hi, my name is Cole Sage. I just wanted to let you know that the man holding you hostage isn’t really a bad guy. He’s in a very dark place, and I’m going to do everything I can to get him to release you. I need you to stay calm. Can you do that for me?”
“Yes, please, please get me out of here.”
“I’ll do the best I –”
Michael jerked the phone away from Jennifer and put it to his ear. “If she dies, it’s on you, Sage. Go tell whoever’s in charge. I’m serious, and I don’t want to die in here but I will if I have to.”
“Nothing is on me, Michael. This is all about you.” Cole was not going to let Blackbear guilt him into doing or saying anything. He was growing angry at the behavior of someone who depended on him for help. “I’ll go talk to the Chief. I’ll see what I can do. Just stay calm.”
Cole waved, handed the phone back to the patrolman and moved over to the Chief who now stood near the SWAT truck.
“What did he say?”
Cole shrugged. “Nothing any different. He’s demanding to be set free or he’ll kill the woman. I don’t know what I’m doing here. I don’t know what to say. He said he didn’t want to die in there, but would if he had to. He backed into a corner. I don’t know what to say to convince him otherwise.”
“What does that mean? You giving up?” The Chief barked. “Look, there’s a back door to that place. The manager is driving in from Enid. My SWAT guys are ready.”
“So, you’re just going to go in, guns blazing?”
“You suddenly have a lot to say for a guy who doesn’t know what to say. It is my decision as to what we’re going to do. This has to end sooner rather than later. The longer he’s in there, statistically, the worse the potential outcome.”
“How much more time do I have?” Cole was at a loss of what to say next, but the image he saw of Michael being shot to pieces by the SWAT team came back to him.
“I figure the manager will be here in the next ten minutes. She was called by the alarm company when that grate went down.”
Cole turned and walked back to the patrol car and took the phone. “Michael? Are you there?”
“Go ahead.”
“They’re going to kill you. Plain and simple. You don’t have to die. I don’t want to see you die. And, I know you don’t want your son growing up knowing his father was killed by the police, or that you hurt an innocent woman”. Cole stepped around the car and walked towards the windows.
“What the hell are you doing?” The Chief screamed at Cole’s back.
He continued to move toward the window. He stood against the window and put his left hand up and placed his forehead on the glass. “I can see you. Can you see me?”
“Yes.”
“I just want to look you in the eye and have you tell me this is how you want your life to end.”
There was a long pause as Michael stood. He grabbed Jennifer by the arm and lifted her to her feet. They both moved towards the window.
Michael was now standing at the window with only Jennifer between him and Cole. “I want you to promise me something.”
“What is it?” Cole felt a positive outcome slipping away.
“I want you to tell my son I did this all for him.”
Cole found himself bristling at Michael’s words. “You really think that will make it alright?”
Tears began to roll down Michael’s cheeks. “Nothing will make this alright.”
“Then let’s end it now. Let the woman go and give yourself up.”
Michael raised his hand and wiped his eyes. “Lift the grate, I’ll come out.”
“Thank you.” Cole turned, and blew out the breath he had been holding. He walked back to the Chief. “He’s coming out. He’s not going to hurt the woman. Promise me you won’t do anything rash. Otherwise, this has all been for nothing. I want your word of honor that you, or your men, won’t do anything stupid.”
The Chief stared at Cole. “You really think he’s going to let her go?”
“Yes, he’s going to let her go and surrender. Let me take the gun from him. Please, let me do that. Please, let me do it.”
“You really think that crazy Indian is going to hand you his gun?”
“No, I believe that a decorated United States Army Veteran will keep his word.”
The Chief stared at Cole for a long moment. “It’s your funeral.”
Cole saw a car coming into the parking lot. A woman stepped from the car and approached the Chief and Cole.
“I’m Rebecca Beeler, I’m the manager.”
“How do we get that grate up?” The Chief motioned toward the door.
“It’s on a double remote system. I have a key here, and a remote here.” Beeler held up a group of keys on a black, spiral key holder.
“Do you have to be inside the building to raise it?”
“No, sir. It’s on the left side of the windows.”
“Tompkins!” the Chief yelled to the SWAT Commander. “Escort this lady where she needs to go.”
Cole jogged back to the sidewalk. “Michael, they’re raising the grate. I told them you would surrender the gun to me. I told them I trusted you and that you were an honorable Veteran of the U.S. Army and would keep your word. I hope that means something to you.”
“It used to. But you have my word anyway.”
Cole glanced to his left and saw the manager inserting the key into a chrome plate on the wall. There was a whizzing noise and a slight clunk and the grate began to roll. As the grate rose above the door, Cole moved closer to the front of the door. He intentionally stood between the police and where Michael would come out the door, using himself as a shield to make sure the Police Chief kept his word.
Michael moved Jennifer to his side as they approached the door. They stood motionless at the door for a long moment before Cole reached out and pulled it open. The mechanism locked it in place. “Let her go, Michael.”
Michael leaned forward and said softly into Jennifer’s ear, “I’m sorry. Forgive me.” He gave her a slight nudge on her shoulder. She ran from the building not looking back.
“You used to be a newspaper man.”
“Yes, I did.”
“So, you know the news people will interview you when this is over.”
Cole chuckled. “You know, they probably will.”
Michael smiled and said, “You’ve been a good friend. I wish things were different.”
“Me, too.”
“I want you to tell the news people something for me.”
“Alright.”
“Tell them that the war in Iraq had one more casualty.” Michael raised the gun to his temple and fired.
CHAPTER 18
The vibration of Becca’s phone distracted her from the note she was writing. She put her yellow notepad and pen down, and saw Matt’s photo appear on Face Time. “Hi, Matt.”
“Hey, there! How’s it going?”
“I was hoping I would get a call from the Horse Whisperer tonight.”
“I was getting kind of concerned. I hadn’t heard from you in a couple of days. Is everything okay?”
Becca took a deep breath and bit her bottom lip. I will not allow myself to cry, she thought. “No, I don’t think it could get any worse.” As much as she tried to avoid it, Becca began to choke up.
“Hey, hey now. What’s all this? Talk to me, what’s happened?”
“The police brought back the books from the Center. They had taken them as part of the investigation. The police auditor found that someone was skimming money from the Center’s accounts.”
“Do they suspect someone?”
“Thankfully, any suspicion of wrongdoing by my dad was removed. So, the whole idea of him being depressed about the financial state of the Center disappears like a
puff of smoke. You see, money has been removed twice from Center accounts since my parent’s death. That means that there’s really only one person who could be taking the money. Cassie.”
“That’s a pretty heavy accusation to make, Becca.”
“I’m not the one making it, Matt. The police found that someone withdrew large amounts of money four times from the Center account.”
“Are they going to arrest her? I mean embezzlement is a pretty serious crime.”
“They don’t have any other suspect. At least not that they have told us. Detective Bishop said for us to sort out the mess. Then it would be the decision of the Board, or me, how to proceed. Kelly Sage said that the Board needn’t be involved because it was just an honorary position. That puts the whole responsibility back on me. I don’t want it. What am I supposed to say? What am I supposed to do?” Becca covered her mouth with her hand and sobbed.
“Hey, it will be okay. Let’s think this through together. I’m sure we can come up with a way to resolve it without involving the police. I mean, what would she be doing with large amounts of money? She must still have it. Just have her give it back.”
“It sure explains a lot.” Becca sniffed. “That’s why she’s been so nasty to me, its guilt.”
“You’ll need to do it in a kind and gentle way; otherwise it could get really ugly.”
“Are you serious? I can see it now. She’ll start calling me Miss Goody-Goody or Better Than Thou or one of the other horrible things she’s been calling me lately. Oh Matt, I am so angry. I think I’ve skipped being hurt, disappointed, and in disbelief and went straight to just wanting to choke her.”
For a long moment neither one spoke. Becca found herself sitting with her fists clenched.
Matt was the first one to speak. “Listen, I get it. I’m not sure how I would react, but yeah, I’d be really mad. How about I drive up and we do it together? Would that help?”
“You’re sweet, but I don’t think that would work. It would be two against one, and she’s resentful enough as it is. But that is so kind of you to offer.”
Soul of Cole Page 19
