The Outlaws

Chapter 3

“Mrs. Collins, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Nelson. Mrs. Collins is a single parent. Her child needs her to pick them at school. Mr. Sanders is also a senior. He has bone rheumatic. Sitting for a long time on the floor like now should be painful for him. Mr. Nelson has diabetes.”

The robber nods. “I’m impressed! Well done on your homework, Mr. Trevor!”

“It is my work, sir. I love talking with my customers and knowing them personally,” I reply, and then I sit again on the floor.

Then the robber commands, “You heard this good man. Those three names, get up!” As he sees Mrs. Collins, Mr. Sanders, and Mr. Nelson rise, he points his gun and asks my three customers to stand behind Mr. Baker. “Now we wait. I remind you all, do nothing stupid! Don’t try to be a hero! Otherwise, you may be the reason someone’s death today.”

My heart beats so fast to hear that. “Sir, we all will follow what you want. Please don’t-” Before I can finish what I want to say, the phone on my desk is ringing again. 

The robbers’ leader nods at me. “Pick the phone.”

I stand and walk fast to my desk. After greeting the caller, I hear the police inspector’s voice again. “Mr. Trevor, I need to speak to the leader in charge again.”

“Yes, sir.” I stare at the robbers’ leader. “It is the inspector. He wants to talk with you.”

The robber is walking to my desk and picking the phone from my hand. “Go back to your place.”

I follow the order, though I am so curious about what they will discuss. It has not been fifteen minutes passed since the last time the inspector calls. So, what can go wrong now?

“Five hostages will be released, as we agreed. Make sure you prepare the bills well. I’ll count all to make sure you won’t fool me, inspector.” 

Then I see the robber shake his head and crease his forehead. I sense anger from him. Hm….

“No negotiation! We’ve already had a deal. I won’t hesitate to shoot them all one by one if you cheat on me. Your time is fifty minutes again. Tick, tock!” After that, the robber slams the phone again. 

I sense his upset. I sigh and close my eyes. Hopefully, it will end soon. 

Then somehow I hear a phone call again, but it is not from my desk. The robber leader picks his phone cell. He says nothing, but he nods. Oh, no! He stares at me. What does he want now? The robber ends the call, puts back his phone cell in his jacket’s pocket. “Mr. Trevor, come here.”

I stand and walk. This time I am not so sure anymore of anything. I sense something very wrong now; what will it be?

“Is there any room we can talk alone?” the robber asks.

“Yes, the meeting room, sir. But, why do you-” Before I can finish my words, he points his gun at me. 

“Lead the way.” He nods to his three friends. “Keep watching them. Don’t be off your guard.”

Then I walk with him to the meeting room. I enter first, followed by him. 

“Sit. Relax, I won’t shoot you. Well, not yet, unless you want to escape or something like that.” He laughs. 

I gulp and sit. The robber still stands but no longer pointing his gun at me. He stares at me for a few seconds until I feel so uncomfortable. 

“Mr. Trevor, you seem a very responsible person. I like you.”

I don’t know what to say, but I nod. “Thank you, sir.” 

“Is there any hidden door we can use here?”

I hesitate to tell him. There is a back door to two resting rooms of Wayne Sullivan, my manager, and me; if we want to rest for fifteen to thirty minutes after our hectic day before taking any overtime work. It is common for bankers to have five days of overtime, and on weekends, we usually do OTS. OTS is a visit to a debtor’s place to assess their business’ prospects. Since not every debtor is available on weekdays, we use our weekends too. As a banker, I barely have a life outside of the bank. But I always try to enjoy it no matter sometimes it feels so exhausting. 

My wandering mind stops when the robber hits the table with his gun. It startles me until I jump from my seat. 

“Now I get your attention. So?”

I sigh. I have no choice, so I tell the robber. “Yes, there is a backdoor connected to the highway on the back of BRC to Maple street.”

“Show me the way there?”

“Now?” I gape. Does it mean he will set us all free after he releases the five hostages?  

“No, next week. Of course now! You seem a little slow today, Mr. Trevor.”

I sigh again. I show the robber the way to the resting room, and then I point to the door. “If you open the door, you can reach Maple street from there.”

He points the gun again at me. As I hesitated for a few seconds, he put the gun on my right temple. I raise my hands. “Calm down. I only want to open the door for you. Please don’t point it at my head. I am so nervous right now.” 

Then I hear his laugh how I hate it! I can feel his joy. What a sick guy; he finds my fear is entertainment for him. After opening the door, I stare at him. “There.”

“Go backward!”

I follow what he says and wait when he sees outside. I am wondering if there is a way for me to lock him out. But then I remember three other robbers on the bank. I sigh. There is no other way other than to follow his instruction if I want to leave here in a piece and alive. 

Later I see the door is closed. I feel the robber is more relaxed since he knows there is an escape for him and his friends. I clear my throat. “So, can you release the five hostages now and the rest of us soon?”

“Hey, don’t worry. If the police give us what I asked, you all will go home soon.”

Then we walk back to the front area of the bank. The five chosen hostages have sat on the floor again. Everyone is looking at me with questioning eyes. “Don’t worry. Please cooperate with these gentlemen, and prayerfully, we can go home soon.” I glance at the robbers’ leader, and he nods at me. 

“You heard him. So, sit and wait. When the police bring us the money, we all will go home.” The robber’s voice is less threatening than before, and it affects everyone in the room. Some start whispering to the people next to them. 

“No talk, people! It’s not your playground.” The robber says again.

Everyone is quiet immediately. The robber points his gun at me. “Mr. Trevor, you may have a seat on your desk. As you’ve helped me, I’ll repay you to make you more comfortable in our remaining time here.”

Finally, an hour passed. I can feel the collective emotions in the room. It is a mix of fear, boredom, and fatigue, but I also sense relief. At first, I am confused, but then I understand. Ah, from my five customers, I get it now. They are expecting their freedom soon. 

“You five, walk to the front door. Slowly,” the robber says. There has been a robber waiting there. He grabs the handle and waits for the hostages to walk there. Finally, the five hostages are in front of the door—the leader nods. The robber opens the door, and the leader walks outside. 

I see a police officer brings a suitcase. He opens the case and shows the money inside to the robber. The leader nods to his friend, and then they let the five hostages go. Thank God! Then the leader walks back to the room and closes the door.

Two of his friends walk toward him. He puts the suitcase on the table nearby and opens it. Yes, the inspector indeed sent them the money. I am glad we will go home soon. But my relief is last only for a short time since I hear something.

“What?! They fool us!” I see scattered blank paper on the floor. Oh, no! The inspector didn’t send them the ransom! Then the phone on my desk is ringing again for the third time. 

The robber nods at me, and I pick the phone—the inspector. Like the two earlier callings, the inspector wants to talk to the robber, and the robber picks the phone harshly from my hand. 

“You betray the deal!” The robber listens to the phone for a few moments, and he yells again, “No more negotiation! You’ll see we shoot everyone here one by one. Their blood is in your hands!” The robber hits the phone several times at my desk and then let it fall to the ground. 

I feel a churn in my stomach since I sense the robber’s thick emotions. It is terrible! I am terrified of what will come next. 

“Mr. Trevor,” the robber says, “I’ll give you the honor to pick the first hostage to get shot.” 

Since I am speechless, the robber yells, “Now!