Milner was gonna be okay. Just a busted nose. He got that taped up. “That shouldn’t stop him from taking credit for everything once this shitstorm is over.” Bronco thought to himself.
A blond policewoman handed Bronco a cup of water. “Here you go, Lieutenant.”
“Thanks.”
The door to the command truck opened. Milner stepped inside. His taped up nose looked pretty bad.
“Proud of yourself Bennett?”
Bronco didn’t answer. He didn’t have to respond to this guy.
Milner eyed him. “We thought you’d be better served cooling off here for awhile...” He sat in a chair next to Bennett. “You’re lucky.”
“Am I?” Bronco snorted. Lucky to be taken off the job. To be humiliated like that in front of 2000 of his men. What bullshit.
“Yeah. You’re lucky I didn’t have you thrown in the back of a car and taken downtown… But lucky for you, we can’t risk the publicity. And we can’t risk the terrorists thinking we’re falling apart out here.”
Bronco made a disinterested noise.
Milner ignored him. He sighed. “Look, just stay put here, stay outta sight and when this shit’s over, one of the patrolmen will drive you home.”
We’ll drive you home?? What kind of pussy did they think he was? He’d put in twenty-five years to the LAPD. And this is what it comes to? Fuck that.
“Yeah, fine.”
Bronco Bennett wished he had killed the guy. He wished he had knocked him into a coma. His rage was starting to build again. He jittered his feet to burn off some of the energy. He reached for his package of cigarettes. Pulled them out.
Milner got up from his chair. “And don’t expect to be on the job on Monday,” he said.
Fucking asshole.
Bronco put a cigarette in his mouth.
“And no smoking in here.”
Bronco took the cigarette out of his mouth and shoved it back into the package.
Who the fuck does this little prick think he is?
Milner opened the door and stepped out back down the stairs. Bennett watched the door, his eyes searing a hole with his rage. He didn’t care how long it took. He would get back at this guy.
Bennett stared at the clock on the wall and watched two minutes tick by.
At that moment the door opened again and instead of Milner, this time it was a police officer. A kid he knew from the precinct. And behind him coming in the door was a vision of a woman, a fucking sight for sore eyes, a fucking knockout. A green eyed blond. He’d seen her before. Not sure where. He liked the looks of her immediately. She had her hair pulled back, but a few strands had fallen loose. Like someone had just had sex with her. Messy but sexy.
The patrol officer spoke to him. “Lieutenant? This woman needs to see you.”
Bronco stood up and as he did he saw her face. He recognized her. And realized why she looked a little disheveled.
“I’m Lieutenant Bennett.”
“I’m Everett Cale,” the woman said. Telling him what he already knew. “I’ve got a message for you and only you…”
“Okay…” Bronco eyed her almost suspiciously. “How the hell did you get out?”
“Devin Jones.”
Just the name filled him with rage. Alongside Milner, the reason he got fucked at every turn tonight. “Uh huh…” Bronco said feigning interest.
“She asked me to give you a message…”
“Okay…”
Everett Cale leaned in like she was going to kiss him. Instead she delivered her message. “She said to tell you the door is open if you want to get your guys in… I can draw you a map.”
Bronco smiled. “Sure… hey, sit down. Can I get you something?” Bronco asked. “Coffee? Some water?”
“I’m okay…”
Everett sat down.
Bronco Bennett smiled because he knew exactly how to get back at Milner and Devin Jones. This chick didn’t know he wasn’t on the case anymore. And she didn’t know this information would end with him. So he could save the day and his job. And fuck over Milner and Jones in the process.
He slid a piece of paper and pen in front of Everett Cale. “Here you go, Sweetheart. Why don’t you draw me a detailed map?”
And Bronco Bennett knew he would take this map and this exclusive knowledge and throw it in the garbage. Devin Jones wasn’t getting out alive. Not if he had anything to do with it.
94
Devin pushed the door open and stepped into the stairwell. She held her Glock in front of her with both hands as she crept sideways up the stairs, ready for anything that came at her.
At the top of the stairs, she opened the door slowly and looked into the backstage corridor. Empty.
Devin slipped through the door, silently, and started along the red carpeted corridor past the bar where they engraved the awards for the winners. She heard a noise and jumped over behind the bar to hide.
A minute later, two security guards passed. She could hear them talking.
“He’s going to do a major kill. Wants to be covered. No fuck ups this time.”
They passed. Shit. Richard was getting a step ahead of her. She pressed a number on the phone.
Brad picked up after one ring. “You okay?”
“Can you pick a new lead in line?”
“Sorry…”
Devin was whispering. “Talk through something with me…”
“Okay.”
“They’re supposed to be escaping on their own. The two assholes in charge of this operation.”
“Okay.”
“Where are they gonna go?”
“Far away I would think.”
“So would I.”
“And the money… How are they tracking it? It’d have to be redistributed. Can’t be in one account. And any bank in the US would be alerted to a deposit like that.”
“Well, there’s your answer.”
“Yeah?”
“To your first question. They won’t be in the US when this is over.”
“Meaning they’ll be flying somewhere.”
“I’d say so. I’m good at this.”
Devin laughed. “Yeah, remind me to compliment you more when it’s not quite so dire.”
“Yeah, would you?”
“Okay, so they must have a plane waiting.”
“Don’t you think?”
“Do me a favor. Call Nita at dispatch at the BHPD. Tell her what we just came up with. Tell her to get Mike on it.”
“Reyes? Your partner?”
“Exactly. I can’t take a chance of Bronco Bennett fucking this up. We need guys to cover LAX and Burbank and Van Nuys. And pray we’re right.” Devin’s mind was whirring. “Okay, so the money… how can they keep track of it being redistributed if they’re here?”
“What do you mean?”
“If we fuck with their money…. they’re lost. We have to figure out where their money person is.”
“Is he inside?”
Devin thought for a moment. She thought of Richard the control freak. Of Sis the producer and her need for everything to be exactly as she planned. They wouldn’t trust someone outside.
“Oh my God. You’re brilliant. He’s gotta be here. The money person’s here somewhere. Some computer nerd who can handle redistribution like that.”
“Like some hacker or something?”
“Yes, exactly. Some nerd who’s got something to gain from this.”
“So find him. Or her.”
“Oh, sure. Easy,” Devin said.
“For you it is.”
Devin shook her head. That person could be anywhere in this building. How could she possibly check the rooms without being seen? Then she remembered the air vent. It was worth a try.
“Okay, I gotta go. I’ve got a nerd to find.”
95
Richard stood by the bar in the green room. He looked at his watch. Almost time to go. One more big kill and then he and Sis were out of here.
He picked up his cell phone. P
ressed a number.
“Zack, where are we at?”
Zack was looking at the numbers on the screen. The money was coming in so fast he could barely track it.
“Richard, hang on, dude… I need a minute.”
He hung up on Richard. Truth was he was trying to figure out how to get the fuck out of here with his money before Richard came after him. He knew it was a matter of time.
Richard looked at his phone incredulously. That little fucker had just hung up on him. He was about finished with that little asshole. He would go shoot him now but wanted that 250 million. And sure he could leave him to die with everyone else when the building went up in 15 minutes, but he was going to take such joy in killing him he couldn’t resist.
Richard motioned for the cameraman to turn the camera on. He did. Richard looked right into the camera.
“A little bit slow out there. You know what I have to say about that?”
He looked down the line of celebrities. He motioned for Ray Kitson to stand up. Ray was a mess of blood and bruises and sweat.
Richard aimed his gun at Ray Kitson and shot his pinky finger off.
Ray Kitson screamed and fell on the floor. Richard laughed. “Pretty good shot still.” He turned to the camera. “That was just Ray Kitson’s pinky finger. Imagine what the rest of him is going to feel like in a couple of minutes if I don’t get my money.”
96
Devin crawled through the air vent; she saw light up ahead on the right hand side.
She scrambled quickly, sliding along the air vent on her stomach. She got to the grate with the light coming through and peered out. It was the green room. The lights were on full blast. Ray Kitson was lying on his side screaming. Richard was laughing into a TV camera.
Devin shook her head. This guy was a psycho.
She kept crawling through. Got to the next vent – nothing. Just an empty closet. She sighed. “Fuck…”
She crawled further along. She saw another vent up ahead. It was dark like the last closet so she didn’t have a lot of hope.
“Bennett… come on. Get your guys in here. I need you.”
For the first time, Devin really thought about what would happen if she couldn’t do this.
She pushed the thought out of her mind. Not helpful. But still it loomed.
97
Zack felt his phone buzzing. Richard. The numbers were still spinning by and now his keyboard was frozen.
He grabbed his phone. Pressed Answer. “Fuck. Richard. Give me two minutes. Swear I’ll get right back to you. These numbers are just coming in too fast. I gotta make sure you get your money.”
He hung up again. Zack wasn’t much for saying goodbye on the phone. He figured when the conversation was over, it was over. It was fucking obvious and time to get on to the next thing. Anybody still hanging on and chiming “Good bye” or “Bye” was a fucking pussy.
He checked connection into the keyboard. Nothing. He sprung out of his chair and crawled under the makeshift desk to check the connection to the hard drive. Might have to reboot. That would suck. Fortunately he had everything on his laptop next to the desktop computer.
He couldn’t find the connection at first, too dark. He was starting to get irritated. He hated when shit happened like this. And he hated being rushed. And Richard was always fucking rushing him. And to add to his irritation, he heard some big clanging noise behind him somewhere in the room while he was under the desk with the whir of the hard drive filling his ears. Probably his metal water bottle falling again. Fucking cheap thing.
Zack found the mouse cable, what was a little bit loose. He unplugged it and plugged it in again. That should do.
He backed out from under the table and turned around. And as he did he got the shock of his life. The hottest chick he’d ever seen not in a video game - a gorgeous brunette - standing there in a black dress with killer legs and high heels. The only thing that made her hotter was also the thing that scared him shitless. She was pointing a gun right at his head.
She smiled. “Hi, Nerd….”
98
Devin Jones looked at the floppy haired kid in the too big security guard uniform kneeling on the floor in front of her. His mouth opened like he wanted to scream or say something. But he didn’t.
Then like the slowest draw in the west, he lunged for her leg, Devin effortlessly moved out of the way and gave him a kick in the jaw. He fell backwards.
“Who are you?” she said.
The kid lay on his back rubbing his jaw.
“Sit up.”
He did. Slowly. He looked at Devin. “I’m Zack.”
“You the money man, Zack?”
He nodded.
Devin pointed her gun at the hard drive. “Not anymore… What’s your set up here? Got anything portable?”
Zack nodded again. He pointed at his laptop.
“That have everything we need?”
He nodded again.
“Words please, Zack. I’m not in the mood for a silent movie.”
“Yes,” he said. “It’s everything on the hard drive.”
“Can you get a signal anywhere in the building.”
Zack nodded again. But remembered to add words. “Yes, Ma’am.”
Devin smiled. “Ma’am. That’s nice.”
She pointed her gun at the hard drive and shot it three times. Sparks came out. “So much for that one.”
She waved her gun towards the laptop. “Get it and let’s go.”
99
Richard was getting really pissed off. He pressed end call. No answer. Now Zack wasn’t even taking his calls. He looked across the green room at the gathered celebrities. “I’m getting fucking bored of this.”
At that moment, Sis appeared in the green room. That was definitely against the plan.
Richard walked over to her. ‘What are you doing here?”
Sis shook her head. “Oh, who cares, Richard? They can know. It’s almost over. Besides, fucking Devin Jones went on TV and told the world I’m still alive.”
“When did that happen?”
“About five minutes ago. Haven’t you been following?”
Richard gestured to the room filled with hostages. “I’ve been a little busy.”
“Whatever. Let them know I didn’t die. Fine. Doesn’t mean they won’t be able to identify my remains in fifteen minutes…”
She looked up at him. “You about ready to go?”
Richard looked at the group he selected. “I need to take care of this first.”
“Jesus. Really? You getting some thrill out of this?”
Sis looked at him. “Wait. Don’t answer that.” She looked around. “Okay, time’s up. Let’s get out of here.”
“Sis, don’t tell me what to do, okay? It pisses me off.”
Sis noticed something in Richard that she didn’t like. Something that scared her. She knew she had to lay back.
“Fine… fine.”
Richard wiped some sweat off his forehead with his cuff. He was looking jittery. “I have to go check on Zack. Walk with me.”
Richard looked at the 8 celebrities he’d lined up. “Okay, I’ll be back for you. No one fucking move. Get ready to die if the numbers aren’t what I want.”
A few minutes later, Richard strode down the hallway; Sis was struggling to keep up.
She wanted to tell him they should just forget it and go. Be done with it. They got their money. They made their point. Time to leave it.
But she also didn’t want to say a word; Richard seemed to be on a razor’s edge. Ready to explode at any minute.
They got to the utility closet where they’d set Zack up.
“That little fucker isn’t answering his phone.”
Richard flung the door open and stepped inside. Sis was right behind him. Both of them stopped dead. There in front of them was an empty utility closet – no Zack and no laptop.
“What the fuck?” Richard said.
They walked over to Zack’s table, where the har
d drive was completely shot. There on the table was a note. Richard picked it up. “I’ve got your nerd and your money. Let the hostages go if you want them back. You’ve got five minutes. 323 555 9306”
Richard handed the note to Sis. He picked up one of the now useless flat screen monitors and slammed it against the wall in rage.
Sis finished reading the note. “Now what?”
“Let’s call her bluff.”
“How?”
“Time to start killing people.”
100
Devin was leading Zack through the corridors underneath the stage.
“Okay, Zack… here’s what I need to know…first of all what’d they tell you about getting out of here?”
“They said to sit tight and they’d come get me at 9:30. And then we were all gonna fly off somewhere.”
Devin shook her head. She rounded a corner with her gun extended. Holding her hand out for Zack to stay back. When she saw the coast was clear, she waved him forward.
“Unfortunately what they didn’t tell you is that the building is set to blow at 9:15. Which is ten minutes from now.”
“Holy shit.”
“Yeah, pretty much… The other thing I need to know is can you reroute that money?”
“Yeah… where do you need it?”
“Can you return it?”
Zack looked pensive. “I guess… But it would take awhile.”
“That’s fine… we’ve got time.”
“Are you going to kill me?”
“Why would I kill you?”
He looked at her. “Who are you?”
Devin laughed. “I’m a cop.”
“No really… who are you?”
She looked back at him, then kept moving forward. “Zack, I’m a police officer.”
“Yeah, maybe from the Land Of The Hot Women Police Department.”
“Or The Beverly Hills Police Department. I’m a Detective there.”
Zack paused a minute. “Aren’t you a little out of your jurisdiction?”
This is Devin Jones Page 21