Naturally, Danielle made her spill the beans and laughed at Millie’s face when she turned three different shades of red, blushing heartily. She had told her never mind and to keep her sordid details to herself. “Is this another ‘sordid details’ kind of morning?” Danielle asked nicely, but inside was slightly jealous and wanted happiness like Millie had found. Millie had several “sordid detail” mornings lately! She had almost had her own happiness once but she had let it slip away. Danielle sighed heavily and took a long sip of the hot coffee. “Sordid, huh?” she said again, and raised an eyebrow at prim, proper Millie who was perched in her office chair.
Millie looked at her over her cup of coffee, enjoying the hot brew. “Oh yes, very much so!” she said devilishly and turned back to her computer before turning beet red. Truth be known, and she would never admit it to anyone, she was terribly tender ‘downstairs’ this morning from all the ‘practice attempts’ as Jacob called it, over and over again yesterday afternoon and last night. When he tried to ‘practice’ again this morning, she almost laughed in his face at his expression, when she said she needed a break so she could walk into work. Thank goodness he had let her get ready for work because she was sore to walk as it was. Her thighs were aching something fierce!
Millie spent the morning replying back to emails and fielding phone calls. She scheduled one open house and another closing at the title office. She kept busy all morning long and sent a text to Jacob about midday asking how he was doing. She laughed aloud when he texted back that he was dehydrated from last night’s efforts.
Danielle groaned heavily “I do not want to know, do I?” she said teasing her friend and looked up at the window to the front office. “That’s weird,” she said. “There have been four police cars come flying past the office over the last few minutes, is Jacob on duty today or is he at home?” Danielle asked Millie, concerned for her friend and slightly alarmed if something was happening in town. After the shooting across the way, both were leery that the small town had grown exponentially. Danielle flipped on the radio to see if there was any news and googled the local new station.
“Jacob is on duty today. He has patrol until five o’clock tonight. Is there anything on the news?” she asked concerned and picked up her phone to text him again. ‘Are you okay? Lots of activity here,’ she keyed into the phone.
She waited for a few minutes, each minute passing slower than the next. “Danielle, is there anything? Can you check again?” she asked nervously. Usually Jacob would text or call back right away and he had not responded yet.
Danielle gasped. “There is an officer down and they have not released a name yet. Someone has tried to rob the bank on East First Street and there has been a shooting. Millie please don't panic, maybe it's not him.” She rushed as she saw the blood drain from her friends face. “Millie? Millie! Are you okay?” she ran over and pushed Millie’s head between her knees as her friend started to faint.
Millie thought she was going to be sick and cry at the same time. Surely not Jacob! She could hear a rush in her ears and saw black cloud her vision as panic set in. The next thing she knew, Danielle was shoving her head between her own knees to keep her from passing out. Millie swatted at her friend to let go of her head. “I’m okay, dammit,” she snapped, terrified.
East First Street was five blocks away and traffic was at a standstill outside of the office already. “They must have the street blocked. I have to get over there!” she pleaded with Danielle. “Come with me? If something is wrong, I do not want to be alone!” she begged, terrified.
Danielle grabbed her cell phone and her keys. She grabbed tissues, stuffing them in her pocket as she watched Millie search frantically for her keys. “Just leave your keys here, Millie. Let’s go, I have mine,” she said hurriedly. “Grab your phone!” she barked out and tugged at her elbow to get her started up the road. Danielle locked the office door and Millie was already almost a block away running in her high heels.
Damn shoes, she thought as she tried to hurry up the road. Millie got a horrible stitch in her side and had to slow down, allowing Danielle to catch up with her. Millie began to gag and reached for the trashcan at the corner of the street. She felt hot bile come up as she wretched into the thankfully almost empty can. One and a half blocks away she could hear the sirens wailing in the background. Still nothing from Jacob on her phone. It didn't show that he had even read the message.
Millie wiped her mouth, as Danielle rubbed her back reassuringly. Nerves had always gotten to her friend. She had tried to keep it from showing when they were growing up, but it was a dead giveaway to Danielle.
The two raced up the road and as they rounded the corner, Millie gasped. Patrol cars were pulled up on the curb in front of the small bank haphazardly, lights flashing and there was an ambulance present and a news crew unloading their cameras getting ready to go onto the air for coverage of the breaking news.
In front of Millie and Danielle, there were police barricading the streets attempting to control the crowds that were gathering. Millie searched the uniformed men, looking for her Jacob and could feel herself getting sick from enormous amount of anxiety again when she didn't find his face among the crowd of people.
Max, who she recognized from the fateful day that had revealed the supposed ‘bet’ at the station, was pushing back a group who was trying to get through to get a closer look at the action. He and Officer Graham were yelling at the crowd that was straining over the barricade that had been placed. Millie waved desperately “Officer Max! Officer Graham! Where is Jacob?” she yelled and promptly turned and wretched on the ground narrowly missing Danielle’s shoe.
“Hey! Aim that would you?” she shrieked, jumping back away from her friend and trying to sympathetically pat her on the back, away from the line of fire coming from Millie. Danielle knew she was terribly nervous but she had never seen her like this!
Officer Graham was relieved to see there was some sort of commotion that was causing the crowd to disperse a bit. He was very surprised to see strait-laced, stuck-up Millicent Clark heaving on the ground towards a very shocked looking young lady. He almost laughed at her expression and watching her jump away. He stepped over to the end of the barricade, “Ms. Clark, are you all right?” he asked politely, knowing full well she wasn't due to the influx on the ground.
Millie groaned in response and hung her head, one arm flung upwards and waving desperately at Danielle as she continued to dry heave. Millie felt like it was not possible to be any more embarrassed or to throw up any more. There was nothing left in her, but somehow her body had not figured that out yet. Her nerves were shot and her stress level was through the roof currently.
Danielle gingerly stepped away from her ill friend and asked if either had seen Jacob and if he was on site. She watched as Officer Graham’s face shuttered, like a mask had been dropped over his expression. “Oh no,” Danielle breathed and swatted Millie on the back several times distractedly as Millie began to dry heave again at hearing this. “Is he…” she asked, terrified for her friend. She didn't think there was much more in Millie that could come up, unless it was a kidney or some other organ was next?
Officer Graham stood there watching the two women and felt sorry for the ice queen puking out her lungs on the street in front of everyone. He stared Danielle straight in the eyes and gave a very tiny shake of his head, denying their worst fear. Jacob was alive! “Get out of here, both of you!” he barked. “Get her out of here, she doesn't need to be here!” he repeated harshly. Jacob would be devastated if something happened to her and until they got the shooter taken down, it was simply not safe. So much for finishing out his last few years before retirement in a small town, he thought.
Danielle leaned down and told Millie “He’s okay! Now quit vomiting everywhere and relax, girl! Geez! You’d think you were knocked up or something?” she said as she dragged her away through the streets and stopped, turned and stared at her friend. “You aren’t, are you?” she asked amazed and s
eeing her for the first time clearly. “You are?” she breathed, shocked.
Millie took several deep breaths and sat down on the concrete in her trouser pants and heels. “I can’t be yet. We just started trying, literally,” she said, taking gulps of air and holding her stomach trying to keep the rolling sensation from taking over again. Millie felt green and nauseated. Her nerves were frayed. She checked her phone again, still nothing. “So he told you he is okay?” she asked tremulously, with her eyes shut and her head leaned back against the brick wall.
Danielle nodded affirmatively.
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.
Stolen Hearts (Thoroughbred Men Book 2) Page 12