Dead End

Two gun shots were fired. Deacon shot and disabled the two cameras that were placed in the Manager's office. Deacon pushed Crystal on her back – she staggered forward and stood before the strong room's door. In her trembling hands, hanged two long keys that she inserted in the lock and opened the room. One of the villains pulled the door open and Crystal, with the gun pointed to her head, led the way to the most secured area of the bank. Deacon shot two more cameras in the narrow way that led to the vault and the party marched on.

At the door to the vault, there was a biometric system. It continually flashed a green light. In addition, there was a small keypad just above the biometric. Crystal, without looking at Deacon, said, "The bank has a two-step verification system. My index finger and a six- digit code." Deacon looked at her, "We don't have the whole day." Crystal hesitantly placed her finger on the biometric and remarked, "I do not have the code." Deacon grabbed her by the nape, this time a little tighter, "Who has the fucking code?" Crystal closed her eyes and groaned in pain, "Head office has it. It is accessed centrally from HQ. I simply place the finger and they do the rest."

Deacon called out to his fellow, "Bring him in."

The gun man rushed back to the hall and came back with Mateo after a few seconds. No duress was written on his face. The man in a chino carried the backpack that one of the robbers had on his back when they first made into the bank. At the vault, Mateo took out a laptop and a long cable. He quickly inserted the cable to the computer and placed the other end in the slot on the keypad. Mateo turned the laptop on and put it on the floor. He then took to the knee and raced his fingers on the laptop's keypad… the screen turned black. Random numbers and letters in white began to run on the screen. Silence took precedence. Deacon and the gunman looked at Mateo as he mumbled to himself. A few minutes later, Mateo spoke, "5, 1, 0, 9, 4, 8." Deacon pressed the finger on the vault's keypad. The system declined. "Place the finger first and try again," Mateo yelled. Deacon poked Crystal in the head with the gun. She obliged and placed her index finger. Deacon keyed in the code but still it was declined. He thus announced, "It's not working."

Mateo, with quick fingers, worked the keypad again and the random numbers and letters appeared in a descending order. A shear moment of silence swept the room. Time was ticking away. The three men held their breath until Mateo called out, "1, 0, 1, 5, 3, 8. Finger first." Crystal placed her index finger in the biometric. Deacon called out the codes as he keyed them in, "1, 0, 1, 5, 3, 8." A clicking sound rang out. The code was correct and the vault opened. Mateo exhaled heavily before packing the laptop in the bag. Deacon pushed Crystal inside the vault and instructed his man, "Bring in the sweeper."

A moment later, Deacon, Mateo and his men except one who keep vigil by the door of the Manager's office, broke every safe and took jewelries and precious stones that were held at the financial institution. They also stashed cash in the trunk up to its brim. This, they did with speed and precision. And while they did, Crystal remained rooted in the corner of the room where Deacon had pushed her to. After they were satisfied with the loot, Deacon instructed one of his men, "dress her up." The robber took out a vest laden with two bombs and severally grenades and made Crystal wear it. The bombs set up and the timers started the count down from twenty- five minutes.

Deacon grabbed Crystal by the hand and roughly led her back to the Manager's office and after a few steps, they resurfaced in the bank hall with the plunder. Mateo resumed the role of a hostage as it were – thus a gun was pointed at his head and he had his hands raised. In the main hall, Mateo was shoveled to the floor and he laid next to the Security who had been condemned thereon too. It was almost time to go and enjoy the dough. But there was a problem. A lone figure on whose frame hung a black suit and blue shirt, seemingly unarmed, stood at the door of the bank. Behind him, a sea of Police officers, armed with guns and riot gear, had arrayed around the building. The operation was a stealthy one. No siren was heard wailing. No warning was given. Thanks to Crystal who had alerted the Police just before Deacon fished her from beneath the table. Fear, hopelessness, and anxiety quickly superseded the satisfaction the robbers got when they had opened the vault and appetite to spend the loot.

Deacon wrapped his arm around Crystal's neck firmly and pointed his gun to her head. He walked to the entrance bulldozing her along. At the door, Deacon locked eyes with the lone man, officially known as YUAN LEE, a seasoned detective with thirty years of service under his belt. His wrinkled skin bore testament of the fact that he was in the late fifties. Yuan drew his gun tucked behind and put it down. He then removed his jacket and threw it on the ground. Next, he raised his hands in the air and made a three hundred and six degrees turn, assuring the robbery kingpin that he was not armed. Deacon looked on as the old stud put up a show.

Yuan motioned forward and stood at the door of the bank. He looked at Deacon sternly without making an utterance.

Deacon pulled the hammer of his pistol and searched for sincerity in the eyes of Yuan. The "Fire' in his eyes was made a stern statement that he was not bluffing. He meant business. And rightly so, as the bombs perched on the vest Crystal was made to wear had ticked one minute away. On the other end, the swam of Police officers had arrayed and with guns aimed at the entrance of the building, they waited for an instruction to engage. There was literally nowhere to go for Deacon and his cohorts.

It was a dead end.