Best-Laid Plans

Chapter 9 (R)

"Fred," Donna whispered, looking over at him.

Fred looked at her. "You feeling better?"

"Yeah. Listen. Thanks...for, you know. Just...thanks."

Fred had too much on his mind to come up with a witty comeback. "Anytime." He didn't want to raise her anxiety level again, but there was too much that could be happening too soon, so he carefully tried to broach the subject with her.

"Listen," he said. "The guys out front are probably going to call back in a bit, and we'll see what's next, but you remember what I said before, about I'll tell you when to really worry?"

Donna looked at him closely. "Yeah."

"Well when we— if we do, really have to worry, I mean, it will probably happen kinda fast. I highly doubt anything will happen," he said as he saw her eyes get wide. "But just...if this guy goes nuts and something starts to happen, just do what I tell you to as soon as I tell you to do it, and don't question it. For example, if I tell you to get down, just do it, and ask me why later. If I tell you to do the Charleston, just dance your heart out and tell me I'm a lunatic after it's over. I'm serious. Those guys out there are professionals, but I can't say the same for these three," he nodded slightly at Bernard. "So no kidding around, OK?"

"Okay," Donna said, looking a little shaky, but still determined.

"Okay. First things first, if could pass that message on to Patti, please, and have her send it down the line."

Donna cast a glance at the strong one, who was watching Bernard and Hank as they continued their planning, then whispered briefly to Patti. Patti nodded and turned to the teller beside her. Donna faced front again.

"Another thing, Donna," Fred said. "He might try to use your connection to the White House to help him get what he wants. I want you to remember something. He cannot get to the President. There is no way possible that he can do that. If he starts back in on you, answer the questions he asks you, say what he tells you to say, whatever you have to do to keep him happy. But don't let him play with your mind. He can bluster all he wants, but he can't get to the President. And the guys out there," he nodded toward the blinds, "aren't going to let him get to you."

Donna took a deep breath. "Okay." She nodded her head for emphasis.

"Good g—" he cut himself off. "Good for you."

"Nice save." Donna smiled ruefully. "I don't mind telling you, Fred, I could use a drink."

"Well, if I were you, I'd make...what was his name...Josh. I'd make Josh take you to the nicest restaurant in the District tomorrow night," Fred said. "There's this great little place over in Georgetown, very romantic. On 36th Street. I'd make Josh prove how much he loves you and drop a few bills on you over there tomorrow night."

Donna's head snapped to her left. "Make him...what?"

"Make your boyfriend prove how much he loves you and —"

"Josh? Josh is not my...where did you get the idea that he was my boyfriend? When did I even mention him?" she said, more than a little surprised.

"Before, you said he would be upset if something happ— Before. You mentioned him, mentioned the name. I thought he must have been your boyfriend," Fred stammered.

"No! He's...he's my boss." Fred raised his eyebrows at her. "And my friend," she added.

"The one you won't bring coffee to?" he asked.

"The very same."

"Well, I guess dinner's out then," he said. "Turnabout is fair play."

"I wouldn't count on —"

The ringing phone made even Fred jump this time. Here we go...

"It's about time," Bernard said to no one in particular. He swatted Hank on the arm. "Answer it," he ordered, then turned in a dramatic motion toward the group. "Oh, Donnatella," he called sarcastically. "You have a phone call on Line 1."

He started toward her and Donna shrank back.

"He can't get to the President, Donna," Fred said. "And he can't get to you."

Bernard jerked Donna to her feet by the lapels of her winter coat, but at the same time, the strong one saw Fred speak to her.

"HEY!" he shouted, charging over to Fred as Bernard began to drag Donna toward the phone. "Who said you could talk, old man?!?" the strong one hauled Fred up by his shirt collar.

From that moment on, everything started happening at once. Hank picked up the phone and was about to speak to the negotiator. Bernard was dragging Donna toward the phone, and the strong one had Fred pinned against the wall, while the others leaned away from him as best they could. The front doors burst open with a loud boom and the S.W.A.T. team swarmed the entryway, dressed in black from head to toe.

Bernard looked as if that had honestly been the last thing in the world he'd expected to happen. He spun Donna in front of him almost instinctively, and he had his gun poised already, but he didn't make a move beyond that. Hank and the strong one both had their guns in their hands as well, but froze, the strong one with one hand still holding Fred against the wall, and Hank gaping and holding the phone.

The officers were shouting for all weapons to be dropped immediately, but everyone stood frozen, perfectly unmoving. Donna looked directly into the eyes of one officer and was amazed at how calm he seemed despite the chaos all around him, and the gravity of the situation. Bernard's arm was across her midsection, holding her back against his chest, and she struggled to stay upright with the cable tie around her feet. Everyone just stared at each other, and for half a second, Donna dared to dream that this might end well. And then everything went straight to hell.

The strong one was the first to regain control of his body, and he let out a guttural cry as he let go of Fred and opened fire on the S.W.A.T. team wildly. Hank had been moving to set his own gun down at that moment, but startled when the strong one fired the first shots. Bernard startled too, and Donna wasn't sure if he got off a shot before or after the S.W.A.T. team returned the strong one's fire, but she remembered hearing the sound of his gun really close to her, remembered a searing pain the next instant in her left shoulder, and remembered falling backwards, Bernard's arm still around her, as everything went black and the sound of gunfire filled her ears before everything went, mercifully, silent.