Takeover by Lisa Black

Author:Lisa Black
Language: eng
Format: mobi, epub
Tags: Cleveland (Ohio), Women forensic scientists, Murder, Bank robberies, Hostage negotiations, Fiction, MacLean, Suspense, Theresa (Fictitious character), Hostages, Thrillers, Suspense fiction, Crime, Espionage
ISBN: 9780061544477
Publisher: HarperCollins
Published: 2009-06-19T00:48:53.830213+00:00

Across the street Cavanaugh ripped off his headset and turned to Patrick. “Who the hell’s Oliver?”

CHAPTER 17

12:35 P.M.

“Listen up, people.” Lucas addressed them as a group while Bobby hovered nearby, out of sniper range.

Theresa took in her surroundings; the room she’d been watching in black and white had suddenly blossomed into reality, like Dorothy’s Technicolor Oz. The polished granite and the soaring, painted ceilings were quite beautiful. Pity to turn it into a mausoleum, a place for the dead.

“It’s twelve-thirty,” Lucas said. “I don’t want to hang around here waiting for that afternoon shipment, do you?”

He didn’t get a response but didn’t seem to expect one.

“So let’s forget that, and let’s forget the computerized vaults downstairs and their uncooperative robots. Where else is there money in this building? Anyone? Brad—jeez, relax, Brad, I’m not going to shoot you. I’ve got my car, so you’re safe. Where is the money?”

“If I tell you, will you let me go?”

Lucas studied him. “You getting cute on me, Brad? You think because Theresa and I made a deal that the table is suddenly open?”

The young man swallowed hard. “Yes. I’ll tell you if you let me walk out of here.”

“That doesn’t sound like a bad deal. I’d still have six of your coworkers, right?”

Brad nodded, his head bobbing quickly; his fellow hostages were on their own.

Next to him Missy clenched her fists as if restraining herself from slugging him. “Thanks a lot.”

“Don’t blame Brad because he’s less than altruistic. Some people are. Okay, tell me where the money is. When I have it in my bag, you can leave.”

The man opened his mouth, shut it again. He frowned in thought.

“You don’t really know, do you, Brad? You figured I’d take your word for it and shove you out the door. There’d be no one around but your fellow hostages by the time I found out you lied.”

“No, really, I just need to think a minute. I’m usually guiding little kids around….”

“You work on it, Brad.”

“But I’m only twenty-four!”

“And that’s relevant to me…why, exactly?”

“I can’t die.”

“I thought that once, too, Brad. Anyone else? And before you ask, no, I won’t let you walk out. But once I have enough cash, I’ll leave, and then you can all go.”

No response. Theresa’s breath had finally steadied, and the white spots had disappeared from her vision. Next to her, Jessica Ludlow fidgeted, her son shifting in her lap.

“Missy? I’ll bet you can tell me. Receptionists know everything. They’re almost as good as janitors.”

“I don’t.”

“The way I figure it, if I can pick up another million dollars, I’ll just go on my merry way. Or I can hang out here and continue to shoot people. Which do you think is a better idea?”

“I thought you wanted to leave,” Theresa said. “You said you didn’t want any more money.”

Lucas barely glanced at her. “I only said that to get my car in place before the next stage of wealth accumulation commences, because that sort of activity makes cops antsy. Missy?”

“If I knew where a million dollars was, you think I’d be working as a receptionist?”

“Yes, I do.

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