Part 42 (1/2)
She glanced at the clock.
3:58:05.
Chapter 51.
HOLMAN THOUGHT it was going pretty well. No one made a break for the door or fell out with a heart attack like last time. The tellers quietly emptied their drawers. The customers stayed together in their line, watching him as if they were waiting for him to tell them what to do. All in all, they were excellent victims.
Holman said, ”Everything's going to be okay. I'll be out of here in a few minutes.”
Holman pulled the pouch of keys from his pocket and went to the young man standing at the customer service desk. Holman tossed him the pouch.
”What's your name?”
”Please don't hurt me.”
”I'm not going to hurt you. What's your name?”
”David Furillo. I'm married. We have a two-year-old.”
”Congratulations. David, these are safe-deposit box keys, box number on each key just like always. Take your master and open four of these boxes, any four, doesn't matter. Go do that right now.”
David glanced at the women standing by the desks behind the counter. One of them was probably his boss. Holman touched David's chin away from the woman so he was looking at Holman.
”Don't look at her, David. Do what I say.”
David opened his desk for the master box key, then hurried toward the box room.
Holman trotted back across the lobby to the front door. He edged to the door, careful not to expose himself, and peered out. Cecil was still in the car. Holman turned back to the customers.
”Who's got a cell phone? C'mon, I need a phone. It's important.”
They milled around uncertainly until a young woman tentatively drew a phone from her purse.
”You can use mine, I guess.”
”Thanks, honey. Everybody stay calm. Everybody relax.”
Holman checked the time as he opened the phone. He had been in the bank two and a half minutes. He was past the window of safety.
Holman trotted back to the door to check Cecil, then held out his arm to read the number on the inside of his forearm.
He called Pollard.
Chapter 52.
LEEDS HAD cautioned Pollard that Cecil's connection to Alison Whitt did not ensure a conviction, so they were making arrangements to see if Mrs. Marchenko could pick Cecil's picture from a six-pack. In the moments when Leeds was placing his call to Random, Pollard had tried to reach Holman by phoning his apartment. When she got no answer, she phoned Perry Wilkes, who told her Holman had been there but had since departed. Wilkes was able to offer no other information.
Alison Whitt's informant registration form indicated Cecil had first recruited and used her as an informant three years earlier. Cecil had learned of Whitt while investigating the involvement of a onetime singer turned B-level movie star who was suspected of bankrolling a gang of South Central dealers in their dope importation business. In lieu of being arrested for prost.i.tution and possession, Whitt agreed to provide ongoing information about the singer's contacts with certain gang members. Cecil stated in her registration doc.u.ment that Whitt provided regular and accurate information that aided the prosecution.
Now Pollard was sitting in a cubicle outside Leeds' office when her phone rang. Hoping it was Holman or Sanders, she checked the caller ID, but did not recognize the number. She decided to let it go to her voice mail, then grudgingly changed her mind.
Holman said, ”It's me.”
”Thank G.o.d! Where are you?”
”I'm robbing a bank.”
”Hang on--”
Pollard called out to Leeds.
”I've got Holman! Holman's on the phone--”
Leeds left his desk as Pollard returned to the call. He stood in the door, murmuring into his phone as he watched her.
Pollard said, ”The fifth man is an FBI agent named Bill Cecil. He was--”
Holman interrupted her.
”I know. He's in a green Ford Taurus outside the bank right now. He's waiting for me--”
Now Pollard interrupted him.
”Whoa, waitaminute. I thought you were kidding.”
”I'm in the Grand California on Wils.h.i.+re Boulevard in Beverly Hills. Marchenko stashed the money here in safe-deposit boxes. Cecil had the keys--that's what they found at the Sign--”
”Why are you robbing the bank?”
Leeds frowned.
”What is he doing?”
Pollard waved him quiet as Delaney came over to watch.
Holman was saying, ”You know a faster way to get the cops here? We flushed him, Katherine--Cecil had the keys, but he was scared to get the money. I've been inside three and a half minutes. The police will be here soon.”
Pollard cupped the phone, glancing at Leeds and Delaney.