Robbery In Progress

*Kelsey*

"I was going to pop over to the coffee shop across the street and get some lunch, did you want to come?" My upper lip sweat a bit as I asked the question. It wasn't exactly a date but I was really hoping to spend some time with Emma outside of work and the bedroom. "Sure, there's not much else we can do while we wait to hear back anyway. Did you want to come, Matty?"

I should have known she would extend the offer to him, she was nice like that. I turned towards Matty, eyes pleading with him to suddenly inherit the ability to read minds.

He spared Emma a glance before turning back to his computer, "I would love to, but there's some things I want to catch up on here. We had some other cases we were working on before this one took high priority, I want to check in on them." "Next time, then. I wish you luck." After completing a mental happy dance for his unknowing cooperation, I got to my feet and grabbed my coat. "Ready?"

"As ever." We both waved to Matty and headed across the street.

"So, how was the rest of your visit to the zoo?" The coffee shop was a bit packed, the cold of the season made that a bit of staple. People walking in to get warm before continuing there journey, some stopping for something warm to drink or eat. There were still a few empty tables though, so I didn't let the long line get my down.

"It was good. The wonderment of seeing it through a kid's eye is always entertaining." She paused as we moved up in the line, her eyes on the menu board. "I guess that's true of anything though. There's plenty of things I've just grown used to seeing that I don't really think about it anymore, but they can't get enough of it. I will admit the constant questions can earn a girl a headache pretty quick, but mostly I love it. Although, that's probably a perk of being the aunt instead of the mom. When I've had my fill I can just step back."

I truly thought it was going to take more to get her talking, about anything. *Should have known kids would be the way in.* The thought brought a smile to my face as I watched her examine the board. She either had a terrible time making decisions, or she was avoiding eye contact. She didn't seem stressed though, her shoulders were relaxed, her mouth tilted in a small smile. Her red hair was down today, pinned back to stay out of her face but spilling down her back and over her shoulders nonetheless. God she was beautiful. It was so unfair.

I realized I hadn't said anything to her when she turned to look at me, slight concern in her eyes.

Snapping back, I stepped forward. "Do you want kids? Or do you prefer the role of aunt."

"Well, I do love being an aunt. I don't know, I guess I go back and forth on that front. If I do though, I'd want to adopt. Specifically older kids, they don't get enough attention. They're always overlooked in favor of the younger kids," she shook her head, continuing, "they deserve someone to be there for them. Not in just a temporary sense, but a permanent one. Even after they turn eighteen, when the system would boot them out, they should have a place."

I didn't say anything for a moment, taking the time to absorb the passion the topic brought out in her. It was hot.

Smiling shyly, she apologized. "Sorry, it's a bit of a hot button for me. We're almost up. I'm stuck between the broccoli cheddar soup and the grilled cheese. What do you think?"

I wanted to challenge her on the change of topic, but I let it slide. "For someone who makes all the decisions at work you seem to be having a hard time making decisions outside of work."

She bit her lip, "yeah. Well, by the time I'm done making all the decisions at work I like to take a break from it. Unfortunately, life isn't always so accommodating."

Granting her that, I stepped up and ordered two grilled cheese sandwiches and handed my card over before she had a chance to object, "I'm making your decisions for a little awhile. To give you that break you wanted." Clearly grateful, the fight left her and she stepped away from the register, "thank you."

*No, thank you,* I thought. *Joe*

Jason was rattling off about something I had stopped paying attention to about five minutes ago when my phone vibrated in my pocket. Or rather, the phone I had picked up at the gas station when I slipped out this weekend. I knew Emma was at the zoo. Not only did I see her there but that's where her phone was tracking when I had checked earlier that day. Who I was not expecting to see though was the detective she appeared to be working with. While it would have been very interesting to follow through on my planned conversation with Emma, once I saw the other one sitting on a bench on her own, I had changed course. Being the one on the other side of the phone these days, I only got to interact with Emma. She was damn good, don't get me wrong. But, it was nice to see who else was on this case.

Plus, if I thought there was any way I was going to avoid a sentence with this stupid charade, I would have to ally myself with more than just Emma. That's not even including the...other factors at stake.

The desire to pull out the phone and check the message was almost overwhelming but I knew he would question it and me. I couldn't give off any sign that I might be disloyal to him, there was too much at risk.

"I mean it Joe, I don't want us sticking around long enough to get mixed up with those cops again. I don't know what's been slowing us down recently but I'm tired of it." I bit my tongue to stop myself from responding. Never in my days as a member of law enforcement could I have imagined being in this situation, seeing the other side of the coin my entire life was based on. Being a retired crisis negotiator, of course I knew that the other person's life wasn't black and white. It wasn't as easy as to steal or not to steal.

They had a reason, or reasons, to do what they were doing. But before, I only had to witness from a distant and sympathize. I would play a game of chess with the person on the other line of the phone, trying to understand the motives behind their moves without getting too close. It was an artform really, sitting on that line between understanding their logic and becoming it. I was good at it, but Emma was an artist and I respected her for it.

She reminded me of my own daughter in some ways, causing me smile slightly. Which caught Jason's attention, "something funny old man?"

"Not at all," I knew Jason had his reasons, I knew he was desperate. But I still resented him for putting me and my family in this situation. None of that mattered right now though, because he had me by the balls and we both knew it. The minute I knew Samantha was safe I would turn on him, and I think we both knew that too.

"Two more banks we need to hit, then we go our separate ways. You get your wife back. Make sure you and Sarah are at the top of your game, got it?" I nodded, not trusting myself with a verbal response, and left the room. Once I was out of sight I slipped the phone out of my pocket and read the message:

*"I heard you met a mutual friend this weekend."* Emma, of course. I recognized the number but also it only made sense that it came from her. I quickly glanced around before responding to ensure I was still alone.

*"She's lovely. I hope to meet her another time or two."* I hit send and hoped that she picked up on the underlying message. Jason didn't know about the phone right now, but that didn't mean he couldn't learn about it later. So the goal was to tip them off without suspicion. *How hard could that be?*, I thought to myself.

After slipping the phone back into my pocket, I walked towards the room my daughter was staying in. It killed me that she was involved in this too, but there was no way she was going to sit on the sidelines while her parents were in danger and she was sure to set me straight on that. I loved her for it but I was also left in a constant state of fear because of it. *Knock, knock* "Sarah?" I asked softly.

"Come in," she replied, her tone duller than normal. I stepped in and shut the door behind me. She was laying in bed, under the covers, with a book in her hand. "What's up?"

"How are you doing?" I asked that question every time I came to see her.

"It's been months, dad. We don't even know if she's still alive." I sighed and crouched down in front of her, resting my hand on her arm.

"The end is in sight, I promise. Two more, okay?" She nodded so I continued, "I need you to go faster again. Jason is starting to get suspicious." Sarah was our safe cracker, after we moved across state lines I knew we had an opportunity to get the FBI involved so I had asked her to slow her pace. She was just as desperate as me so she had agreed.

"But if I go too fast, we'll be gone too soon."

"I'm working on that already, promise. Speed up just a little, if you speed up too much that could raise some eyebrows."

She paused for a moment, set down her book, and sat up in bed. Not wanting to rush her, I didn't say anything more.

"I used to love cracking safes. They're puzzles just waiting to be solved. And I was helping people too. Helping people improve their security, but now it's tainted. Now we're hurting people." She shook her head and looked at her hands. "Sometimes I just worry that we're being selfish. That maybe we should have just refused."

"It's an impossible situation, but this isn't on us. Jason is the selfish one, okay? He is a loaded weapon, blinded by grief, making choices that no one could have prevented."

"But we could have prevented it."

I shook my head, "no, we couldn't have. We could have redirected it, but it still would end with people getting hurt. The leverage just wasn't on our side when he came with his men. We will make it through this, I promise." She rested her hand over mine and met my eyes, "but what then?"

"I don't know. But we will figure it out."