Hooked on a Phoenix

by Ashlyn Chase

  “What the hell is happening?” he asked the manager.

  “Huh?” He followed Gabe’s nod in Misty’s direction. “Oh my God. We’re being robbed!”

  * * *

  Gabe had learned through his firefighting career to assess a situation before charging in. The security guard had been disarmed by a tall, heavyset man. Hands raised, the other tellers had backed away from their windows by about three feet.

  Misty was the only one frozen in place, and a bald, wiry guy in front of her seemed to be holding a weapon. He was left-handed, so Gabe couldn’t see it, but Misty probably had.

  Gabe turned to the manager and said, “Shit, dude. You’re the manager. Help her.” The manager was hesitating, so Gabe stepped in. He strode over toward the guy threatening Misty. “What’s going on here?”

  “Like I said, hands in the air!” As soon as Misty raised her hands, the criminal gave Gabe an evil smile and turned the gun on him. “You sound like the manager, except that you’re dressed too casually for that. Don’t be a heroic customer.”

  Beyond Gabe, the manager was just disappearing back into his office until the guy yelled to his accomplice, “Go get him, dumb-ass, before he calls the cops.”

  The manager tried to slam the door closed before the big guy got there. But the guy stuck his foot in the door and pushed it open. Grabbing the manager, he hauled him out to the customer area.

  “What do you want me to do with him, boss?”

  “Make him lock the front door, then bring him here. Get the other two on the ground with their hands behind their heads first.”

  “You heard him,” he said to Gabe and the security guard.

  The security guard lay down, but Gabe didn’t.

  “I told you not to be a hero,” the robber said through gritted teeth.

  Gabe didn’t move.

  “What’s the matter? Do you want proof that the gun is loaded?” The guy fired a shot into the air, and everyone jumped. The noise reverberated around the high ceilings.

  Gabe was filled with a cold chill, but this was no time to lose his head. “If you let the employees go, I’ll cooperate.”

  The guy laughed. “Nobody’s going anywhere, except you. You’re going to meet your maker if you don’t lie down, now.”

  Gabe reluctantly kneeled and put his hands behind his head.

  “What are you, stupid? I said lie down.”

  Gabe had hoped that if he distracted the robbers, Misty would be able to hit whatever emergency button would call the cops. So far, she hadn’t lowered her hands, so he doubted his plan had worked.

  He sighed and lay down with his head to one side so he could keep an eye on Misty’s window. If this guy went after her…

  “Now, Mr. Manager, lock the door, then come back here and tell me how to open the vault.”

  “It’s on a timer. I can’t open it unless it’s eight a.m. or four p.m.”

  “Yup. We already knew that, so it’s a good thing you didn’t lie. It’s almost four o’clock now. Lock the damn door!”

  The manager scurried off to do as the guy demanded.

  The scrawny, bald robber waved his gun toward the other employees. “All of you get on the floor too. I’d say get comfortable, folks, but I doubt that’s possible on the cold, hard floor. Oh well, too bad for you.”

  When Misty didn’t move, he pointed the gun at her again. “What’s your problem, sweetheart? Are you deaf?”

  “Can’t you see she’s frozen in fear?” Gabe shouted. He hoped he hadn’t just put Misty in danger. Visions of his dead dog, bloody, broken, and lying against the curb, crossed his mind at that moment. Oh God, if this guy hurts her…I couldn’t live with myself.

  “Okay, sweetheart. You’re going to be the one opening the vault. Back away.”

  Misty’s voice shook as she answered, “B-but I don’t know the combination.”

  “That’s okay. Your manager does. Now get over to it and wait there.” The guy muttered under his breath, but Gabe heard him say, “I want to see that spectacular ass,” and then he licked his lips.

  Misty was finally able to move, but Gabe couldn’t see her. He started to get up.

  “Where do you think you’re going?” the heavyset one asked.

  “I’m an EMT. I want to keep an eye on the tellers to make sure everyone’s all right.”

  “Sometimes you don’t get what you want.”

  Then the boss criminal looked as if he were thinking something over. “You know what? It’s your lucky day, hero. I changed my mind. In case anyone comes to the door, I want it to look like the bank is closed. Mr. Manager, turn out the lights. I want everyone behind the counter on the floor, facing the back wall. Don’t even think about getting near an emergency button. As you saw, the gun is loaded.”

  Chapter 2

  Misty had hoped she could find a moment to hit the emergency button under the counter. The gunman didn’t ask the tellers to empty their drawers, during which time one of them could have tripped the silent alarm or at least slipped a dye pack in with the money.

  They were going after the bigger haul. The vault. And it sounded as if they knew what they were doing.

  As the manager, security guard, and Gabe were marched into the teller area, Misty hoped a customer would come up the steps, see what was going on, and call the cops. She listened carefully, but all she heard were the sounds of traffic and her coworker’s sniffles. She glanced over at Betsy, a young mother of two, and hoped nothing would happen to her. To any of them. Even her slimy manager, Adam.

  Gabe caught her eye and gave her a pointed look. She gave him a slight headshake. She didn’t want him trying to be a hero. She couldn’t believe her lousy luck. After all this time, finally moving back to the city as an independent woman, the last thing she needed was for her childhood crush to feel like he had to rescue her—like a surrogate big brother.

  If he lived through this, he’d tell Parker. If he didn’t live through this, she’d die. She’d adored Gabe during their years growing up in the South End. Their brownstone was three doors down from the Fierros, and when they were young, it wasn’t easy to find kids in the neighborhood to play with. But the Fierros’ door was always open to her, and Gabe had always treated her kindly. Of course, it was probably just because she was Parker’s little sister, but she had hoped there was more to it. To say she liked him would be tantamount to saying bears liked picnic baskets.

  She had hoped they’d run into each other at some point and was secretly thrilled to see him here today. Although she would have preferred they’d met at a different time and place.

  “On the floor!”

  The robber’s harsh voice jolted her out of her musing.

  The security guard and manager lay face down, but Gabe walked around them and went down on his knees in front of Misty. She was the only one standing, and to be honest, she was leaning against the vault to keep her knees from shaking. She was dizzy and felt like she might faint.

  Gabe’s reassuring presence calmed her somewhat. He gave her a quick smile then lay down with his hands braced on the floor next to his shoulders.

  “Okay, lady. Face the lock.”

  As soon as she turned around, the criminal whistled. “Ha. I knew she’d have a spectacular ass. That’s why I asked you to do this, sweetheart.”

  She wanted to argue with the guy, tell him she wasn’t his sweetheart and refuse to cooperate, but he’d probably call it “being mouthy,” and that wouldn’t help right now.

  Adam was giving directions to her, but she barely heard him.

  “What?” she said with a tremor.

  “Tell her again.” The gunman kicked the manager’s leg.

  “I said turn the lock to the left four times all the way around. Then stop at zero, and turn it to the right three times. Stop at twenty-one.”

  Misty did as
he said, spinning the dial left four times.

  “Not like that. It’s very sensitive—and old. Turn it slowly and carefully.”

  Misty took a deep breath and let it out, trying to relax. She had already forgotten if she had gone around three times or four. Her hand shook. “I don’t think I can do this. Can my manager take over, please?”

  The gunman placed his foot on the manager’s ass. “You’d like that, wouldn’t you?” He chuckled. “Sometimes there’s a code the manager can dial in, but I’m betting you don’t know that either, sweetheart. So you’re my choice for doing this. Pull yourself together.”

  “I’ll do it,” Gabe said.

  The gunman rolled his eyes. “The customer wants to be a hero again. Fine. I don’t like the way you look like you’re ready to spring, anyway. But understand, I have my gun trained on your girlfriend.”

  “Shit,” Gabe muttered.

  “I can do it,” Misty said. “Seriously. I was just nervous, but I can do this.”

  “Awww… Isn’t that sweet? They’re both trying to protect each other. Well, forget it. There are two of us and two of you. And we have weapons. We win.” He scanned the others across the floor and asked, “Does anyone else want to be a hero?”

  The other tellers either shook their heads or murmured, “No, sir.”

  “Good.” He waved his partner over. “Keep an eye on this one.” He nodded toward Gabe. Then with a nasty smirk on his face, he said, “I’ll keep my eye on his girlfriend.”

  Gabe narrowed his eyes, and his lips compressed into a thin line, but he got up and moved to the lock.

  The robber kicked the manager again. “Start over.”

  “Turn the dial carefully four times to the left. When you get to zero, begin turning right,” Adam said.

  Gabe did as he was told, and when he was slowly approaching the third revolution, he confirmed, “Stop on twenty-one?”

  “Yes.”

  He reached the mark. “Now what?”

  “Two revolutions to the left, and stop on forty-four.”

  Gabe did that, then asked, “And now?”

  “One revolution to the right. Stop on thirty-five. That should unlock the mechanism, then turn the wheel to the right to open the door. It’s heavy.”

  Misty wasn’t worried about a heavy door. With Gabe’s muscles, he could probably lift a safe over his head…not this one, though. In height, it spanned from floor to ceiling, and its width took up most of the side wall. It was like a room in itself. Gabe continued to follow all the manager’s directions, but when he turned the wheel, it didn’t open.

  The gunman kicked the manager hard and said, “Don’t fuck around with me. Did you give him the right combination or not?”

  “Yes. Sometimes it takes a second.”

  At that moment, something clicked, and the gunman pushed Gabe out of the way. He yanked on the handle and grunted as the door opened. “That’s better.” He grinned and grabbed something out of his jacket’s deep front pocket…two backpacks that folded up small and flat.

  His partner had taken out identical packs from his own jacket pockets. “Should I empty the drawers, boss?”

  “Depends. Are there any dye packs in there?” he asked Misty.

  “Yes,” she said.

  “Brownie points for honesty.” He handed Misty his backpacks and said, “Go in there and fill these up.”

  She took the backpacks and pushed open the heavy door enough to enter the vault.

  “Hey, numb nuts. Toss me yours, so I can give her more to fill.”

  A second later, she was shoved in the back. As she stumbled forward, the door slammed shut, encasing her in complete blackness. “What the hell?” she cried. For a moment, she didn’t know if she was alone or not.

  “It’s me, Gabe. Relax. They can’t get you in here.”

  She spun toward his voice. “Gabe? I can’t see a thing in here. Where are you?”

  A warm hand found her arm and gently caressed it on his way up to cup her face. “I’m right here. We’re safe.”

  She lurched into his strong arms and grasped him around his waist. He held her for a moment, then extricated himself gently.

  “Wh-why did you do that?” she whispered.

  “Misty, I couldn’t let anything happen to you. The minute he didn’t have his weapon pointed at you, I took the opportunity to keep you out of harm’s way.”

  “What about everyone else out there?” she cried.

  “You didn’t see the way he looked at you. Plus, I wouldn’t be surprised if they took you with them, for insurance for their getaway.”

  She hesitated, not knowing how to feel about that. “You realize we’re stuck in here until morning.”

  “I’m sure the criminals won’t wait that long to be caught. As soon as they leave, someone will call the cops, and the fire department will come too. They’ll be able to cut through the door and get us out in no time.”

  She huffed. “You watch too much TV. This vault was created in the 1920s, back when bank robberies were a lot more common. This thing is made of steel-reinforced concrete. Not the kind of concrete used in construction. Something much stronger. The walls are over a foot thick. The door, as you saw, is even stronger. I was told the bank was actually built around the vault.”

  “Are you saying the FBI couldn’t even get us out? This is a federal crime, so the feds will take over from the local police. TV doesn’t lie about that.”

  “The feds have no more access to this vault than I do.” She swayed, then caught herself and laid her head on his chest. He didn’t hug her. In fact, he stiffened.

  What’s that about?

  * * *

  “Gabe, do you still see me as a little girl? Is that the problem?”

  Jesus. Gabe backed away a step. “What problem? There’s no problem. Well, other than being stuck in a safe.”

  “I was just looking for a little comfort, and you backed away. All I can figure is that you still see me as Parker’s little sister.”

  “I can’t see you at all.” Gabe hoped sidestepping the question with humor would kill the topic. How could this woman think he perceived her as a little girl? She was a full-grown, gorgeous, well-developed female. “Let’s try to find a light switch. I’ll take the right side of the vault. You take the left.”

  “My left or your left? I think I’m facing the door, and you’re facing the back wall. Wait. Actually, I don’t know where I am.”

  “Just slide your hands along any wall, and we can play Marco Polo until we find each other again.”

  “Fine.” She didn’t laugh.

  Parker hadn’t mentioned anything about not hooking up with his sister, but Gabe couldn’t imagine that he’d condone that.

  Patting the wall next to him, working his way toward the back, he figured they could just talk and keep track of each other that way. “Look, Misty. I don’t think of you as that little girl. Not anymore. I’ll admit, until I saw you today, the picture of you I had in my head was more like a cute twelve-year-old kid. But you’ve obviously…changed.”

  “So have you.”

  “Not as much as you have.”

  “Well, I guess…” She sighed. “Never mind.”

  “No. What?”

  “I guess I’ll just have to hug myself.”

  Gabe slapped his forehead. “Misty, I…” He didn’t know how to finish that sentence. I’m afraid to? You turn me on, and you’re not ready for what I might want?

  “You what?”

  “Where are you?” Gabe reached out a hand and grabbed something soft and round. “Oops. I was looking for your arm, not your… Sorry.”

  Misty giggled.

  “Okay. You reach for my arm, and I’ll find yours,” he said.

  “What for?”

  “I want to give you that hug.” I�
��d be an ass not to.

  “Okay.” He felt a soft touch on his upper arm and slid his hand along it until he found her shoulder. Then he enveloped her in a warm hug. Holding her close, he tried to visualize the little girl she once was. Maybe that way, he could keep a lid on his libido.

  She grasped him tight and leaned against his chest. He felt protective of her, and in some ways, he liked it. Shit. This is not good. He still didn’t want her dependent upon him, long term, but this was one of those temporary circumstances in which his first responder traits wouldn’t rebel.

  “Don’t worry, Misty. I’m sure they’ll have us out of here before long.”

  “I still doubt that.” After a long silence, she added, “I hope we have enough air to survive in here until morning. Do firefighters have any idea how much oxygen a person needs?”

  There was an exact formula for that, and it took him a minute to remember it. “How big is this vault?” he asked.

  “I’m not sure. Maybe twelve by twelve? Something like that?”

  “I’m pretty sure we’ll be okay.” People used up more oxygen if they panicked and hyperventilated, so the best thing he could think of to do was keep her calm. “If worse comes to worst, we can always share some oxygen, like underwater divers.” Did he really say that?

  She was quiet.

  “I was kidding,” Gabe said. What a dumb joke. Get your head out of the gutter, Fierro.

  “Oh.” She sounded somewhat disappointed.

  He stroked her back and said softly, “I’m sure the fire department must be here by now. Relax. Firefighters can get into anything.” Including a lot of trouble.

  “I hope you’re right.” After another long silence, she said, “I doubt we’d hear gunshots through this door.”

  “Shit. Don’t even think that way. Your coworkers were cooperating, and the gunmen probably decided to leave before getting caught.”

  “Linda is pregnant. Again. She has three little kids at home. Betsy is a mom of two. I can’t help worrying about them.”

  Maybe talking about her coworkers would distract Misty from their predicament, but it would use up more oxygen too. Now Gabe had to decide whether he believed his own words.