4:14 p.m.
11 minutes until the gloaming
Radar heard Ralph calling to him through a megaphone, commanding him to exit the bank, but he ignored the agent’s orders.
Out the window, Radar could see more emergency vehicles pulling in. SWAT and local police were there in full force. He recognized the Flight for Life helicopter from the Milwaukee Regional Medical Center hovering overhead.
He turned and looked at the five hostages who were lying facedown on the floor, their hands and feet secured with the plastic cuffs he’d brought with him.
The phone rang. Radar stared at it, wondering if it was Tod’s kidnapper again.
He picked up.
“What are you doing, Radar?” It was Ralph.
“He’s got my son. The guy from this week. He’s got Tod.”
“He was the one on the phone, wasn’t he? The call you wanted me to trace?”
“Yes. Did you get it?”
“No. Just so you know, Gayle and Angie, they’re fine. They’re at the station. They’re safe.”
“Thank God.”
“Is Tod…I mean, do you know if…?”
“I talked to him. He wasn’t hurt, but he was crying. Scared.”
A pause. “What did he ask you to do, Radar? Just take the bank? If that’s it, then it’s done. Let those people go.”
“He said they need to stay here.”
“Until when?”
“Just get Pat over here.”
“He’s on his way.”
“And don’t have SWAT move in, Ralph. This is my kid we’re talking about.”
Another pause. “I won’t. But just be easy, bro. Do you know anything at all about the guy who took Tod?”
“He called me Radar.”
“What?”
“He knows me somehow, but I couldn’t recognize his voice. I’ve been thinking about it, I have no idea who he could be.”
“Someone from the department?”
“I don’t know. But he didn’t attract attention when he dropped off that package for me in the lobby.”
“I’ll do some checking on guys who fit our suspect’s description. Pat will be here in a couple minutes. In the meantime, don’t do anything stupid.”