Stolen Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Book 2) (15 page)

18

              Jacob was in deep trouble. He had been on patrol and heard the call sign come across that there was a robbery in progress at the bank on East First Street, he radioed in that he was en route to the scene. He was one of the first to arrive at the bank and pulled up on the curb. He exited the car carefully, gun drawn. There was no report of how many civilians were inside the bank currently, nor was there a report of injuries.

              He was joined by another car, and he saw the newest member of the force, Christian get out slowly, drawing his gun. Christian had just returned from Iraq after serving two tours in the army and was looking to settle down. He had been back in town less than a month and had been a great acquisition for the department. Frankly, Jacob felt confident knowing he was here. They had both known each other growing up; Christian had decided army was for him, while Jacob had decided he had wanted to be an officer. They had gone their separate ways and he had been truly pleased to see him return to town.

              Both raced up to the wood doors quietly, Christian opened it slowly and when there was no sound he proceeded to carefully walk in. Jacob followed quietly, both prepared for anything. Jacob’s heart was pounding in his chest. He was calm as could be, but on edge. He did not like the unknown and did not want to end up surprised.

              They carefully entered the second doorway leading from the foyer into the main room of the old bank. As they slipped inside, they observed the scene. They could see two people on the floor facedown, but uninjured and watching them both nervously hands splayed out in front of them.  Each of them began to nod over to the right, as if to warn them.

              Jacob nodded and squatted down in response behind the large display that held blank deposit slips, envelopes, and pens for clients to use. Christian also dropped down and heard a shot fired. Jacob heard screaming from the two hostages and looked at Christian who was scooted behind the display now also, and white as a sheet clutching his leg.

              Blood was oozing out of his fingers as he looked at Jacob attempting to stay calm. Jacob gestured at his knee and gave a thumb down, to which Christian nodded. Great, his knee was blown out so there would be no walking or running. Christian was pinned and would not be able to stand.

              Jacob took a deep breath, he was going to have to get them out of this, all of them including the people laying prone on the floor watching. He needed to gauge where they were at and how many were in there. He needed information and his only resource was the two people lying prone on the floor nearby.

              He leaned around the display, looking at the crying woman on the floor. She met his eyes and he pointed from where the gunshot came from, then held up one finger, then two fingers, then three fingers hoping she would understand that he was trying to find out how many were in the bank. Jacob watched her hands that were outstretched in front of her on the floor and saw her lift one finger on her right hand. He held up one finger and nodded. She didn't move, she just blinked her eyes at him very deliberately as if to convey a message.

              Okay, one shooter, he thought. Now, to find out where they are and what it was going to take to get out of here? Jacob took another deep breath. “Hey, want to talk about this so we can work this out peacefully?” he said loudly and met silence. No response.

              He tried again. “You know, if you cooperate with us and no one else is hurt it will go better for you. Do you want to talk about what is going on?” he asked. Still nothing.  Only silence and breathing was heard in the building.

              Jacob tried one more time, this time deliberately trying to get a response. “So, what the hell were you aiming at anyway cause you got his leg and that frankly was a piss poor…” and Jacob heard another shot fire off and screams from the two on the floor.

              Okay, person has a temper and is behind the two on the floor, most likely behind the counter of the bank or in the vault. Jacob looked for convex mirrors anywhere in the bank and saw none. He looked for any reflective surfaces and realized it would be extremely hard to see due to the sunlight streaming in. Oh, the sun would cast shadows but it would make a reflection on the windows, or glass pictures on the walls almost impossible to see. Last thing Jacob wanted to see was a shadow moving his way!

              Christian sat on the floor, still clutching his knee and breathing heavily in pain. He was extremely pale and Jacob was afraid he would pass out. He was assuming that the bullet either passed through his leg and hurt like hell or had shattered his kneecap …and still hurt like hell. Either way, he needed treatment to keep from going into shock or bleeding out. He wasn't a medic, but knew the dangers of both.

              Time seemed to tick by; he could hear commotion outside growing and assumed it was other patrol cars arriving. He hoped that this would be handled quickly and sincerely hoped that they didn't gas the place to smoke them all out. Jacob hated that part of training and honestly wasn't sure if Christian could take it based off his expression currently. Maybe they would have a sniper take the person out through the window? That would be nice, he thought and shook his head. Yeah, they were on their own.

              They would not act unless they knew shots had been fired and an officer was down, odds were that none of that was known currently. Jacob stuck his hand out and took Christian’s gun from the floor between them since he was currently trying to put pressure on his leg. 

              Jacob held a pistol in each hand and perched in a defensive squat, sweat trickling down his back between his shoulder blades. Cool as a cucumber, he thought. Cool. As. A. Cucumber, he repeated mentally several times slowly. “So have you ever shot a gun before or were you being kind?” he yelled loudly and heard a voice yell out. “Go to hell, man. You're an asshole!”

              Jacob grinned. Bingo. The kid was right and wrong. He was definitely an asshole some days, today probably being one of them but he was not going to hell. Not today and the kid had just given away his location to him. There was a slight echo when he yelled that and Jacob was willing to bet money he was in the vault hiding, which meant that he could not fire through the walls, he would have to get him to expose himself to shoot or talk him out of there. Judging by the last response, he was guessing it would not be the latter.

            
 
“So did you want to tell me why you thought you would get away with robbing a bank? Do know how much electronics there is nowadays? Do you really think you would get out of here?” Jacob shouted again, calmly. No response. “My girlfriend can shoot better than you did and she has never held a gun,” he taunted again.

              Again, the kid yelled at him to shut up and Jacob laughed. He heard a gunshot again and saw it hit the wall way over the other side. He was either a truly bad shot or was incredibly stupid. Why waste a bullet on a wild shot?

            
 
“Hey, kid, how old are you?” he asked. Silence. “I’m asking cause they are going to have snipers here soon and they will take you down fast. You seem sort of young and you have your whole life ahead of you. Do you really want to die today?” he asked in the silence of the bank. Jacob ducked as another shot whizzed past him and imbedded into the wall in front of him. That was too close, he thought as he felt his legs beginning to cramp. Not good, last thing he needed was to have to jump or sprint and to get a charlie horse in his leg. 

              He attempted to shift position to ease the cramping, checking Christian again and saw him sitting with a dazed expression. Christian looked like he was going into shock and was going to need treatment immediately. He wasn't bleeding massively from what he could tell, but his skin was unusually pale and he looked close to being unresponsive. Jacob nudged him and barely got a response.

              Time to go, no more fooling around. Jacob cocked both guns back and thought of Millie. Boy, she would be angry if he got himself shot or killed but he could certainly understand, because if the roles were reversed he would be furious himself for her getting herself into danger. This was his job and he was damn good at it. He would do everything he could to make sure he could make love to her again. Hell, if he got out of this alive, he was going to make her marry him and get her the biggest damn ring he could find for his woman.

              Jacob took a deep breath, prayed the kid was as bad of a shot as what he seemed to be and surged upwards with both guns in front of him like he was in some old western movie. As Jacob’s head cleared the counter, he spotted the assailant. A young thug in his late teens or early twenties, swung up his gun towards him wildly, firing. Surprise and fear registering on his face.

              Jacob fired two shots quickly, one hitting the man’s shoulder. The other slamming into his chest and he dropped to the ground. Jacob felt a slight sting and yelled for the civilians to stay on the ground as he saw them beginning to get up and run. He wasn't sure it was clear yet!

              He slowly walked over to the counter, watching carefully and guns held tightly in front of him. He swung around the corner and saw the slumped body on the floor. He continued to check the back of the bank for any other people and radioed in that it was clear but they needed medical help immediately.

              A flood of uniforms came through the door quickly and Jacob yelled out that two gurneys would be needed, and to get Christian first. Jacob was kneeling by Christian, slapping him lightly on the face and checking for a pulse. He laid his friend down and kept talking to him as the medical team came in and evaluated him on the spot. They moved Jacob away and started checking him. Jacob pushed their hands away. “I’m fine,” he said annoyed.

              The paramedic looked at him and gave a wry grin. “No hero, you’ve been shot but you will be fine. It’s not bad at all.” He palpitated Jacob’s arm and quickly found the spot. He felt no bullet and deemed him clear, beginning to clean and put pressure on the wound.

              Jacob looked down at his left arm, which now hurt like hellfire. He could see the small entrance hole in his sleeve and it looked wet. He barely felt it when the bullet hit and honestly felt more like a bee sting due to the adrenaline that was pulsing through him. He was so glad this was all over and felt bad for the young man, hoping he didn't kill him. That part of his job he had a tough time dealing with, he knew it was necessary but it didn't make it any easier. He just hoped Christian was going to be okay.

              They finished clearing the bank; stretchers were brought in and wheeled out Christian first and then the unknown assailant. Jacob did not recognize the man whatsoever and usually he at least could place their face, if he didn't know the family name. Jacob refused the stretcher but said he would join Christian in the ambulance for treatment.

              As he walked outside, he was a bit perturbed at the sight of the news crews and the crowd that was gathered. Max was in the process of escorting him out, when Max grabbed his right arm and held it high, eliciting a cheer from the crowd. He didn't want any recognition; he was only doing his job and jerked his arm back down. As he walked over to the ambulance, Graham tapped on his shoulder. Jacob turned and saw Millie’s ashen face behind Graham. He had escorted her over so she could see that he was okay. Jacob gathered her tightly in his good arm and held her.

              Millie clung to him tightly. She was so thankful he seemed to be all right. She had been terrified when Officer Graham had come to get her from the crowd and escorted her through the barricades to where they were exiting the building. Millie had insisted that Danielle come with her, in case she needed support. She breathed a sigh of relief when she saw his face come through the doorway and she did not see him on the gurney. 

              Danielle however had moved over to the gurney and was looking strangely at the fallen officer that was being treated. She took his hand and followed into the ambulance without a second look to Millie and the surrounding environment.

              Danielle felt she was needed and had so many questions to ask, when she had seen who was on the gurney. She could not believe Christian had returned and was stunned by his fatigued appearance. He did not look like the boy she had seen climb onto the recruitment bus all those years ago.

              Jacob held Millie for quite some time beside the ambulance as Christian was loaded into the first one. A second one arrived and loaded the other wounded man. A paramedic came to escort him to the ambulance for treatment but Jacob would have none of it.

              Jacob dropped to his knees in front of Millie and the now silent crowd. “Baby, I intended to do this for some time now and when I was in there, all I could think of was you,” he said thickly, his hand held hers and he could feel her shaking. Her lovely eyes were watering as she smiled lovingly at him.

            
 
“I thought of us, thought of our life we are building together and thought of the baby we have been working on making,” he said smiling and kissed her flat stomach. You could hear a pin drop; it was so silent outside as the group gathered to see the activity at the bank now listened to each word.

            
 
“I was so scared something would happen and I would not be able to return to you and I cannot imagine my life without you. I don't have a ring yet,” he chuckled brokenly “but I hope you understand? I want you for my wife more than the air I am breathing and more than the blood I’m losing,” he said smiling wryly. This drew a laugh from the surrounding onlookers that could hear him.