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BANK ROBBERY HOSTAGES

By,

LOREN MOORE & KATHY BAKER

 

 

 

LOREN WRITES:

 

I WAS IN THE LOBBY OF MY BANK, IT WAS  CLOSING TIME, AND THEY WERE LOCKING UP, ALL OF A SUDDEN THERE WERE GUN SHOTS. 

 

WHEN I LOOKED UP THIS GUY WAS STANDING AT ONE OF THE CASHIER’S COUNTERS WITH A 45 SEMI-AUTOMATIC IN HIS HAND.  HE HAD FIRED THREE SHOTS INTO THE CEILING.

 

“EVERYBODY GET DOWN ON THE FLOOR.”  HE SHOUTED.  EVERYONE DID BUT THIS ONE LADY.  SHE BROKE AND RAN FOR THE DOOR.  THIS ROBBER LOWERED HIS 45 AND TOOK AIM AT HER BACK, BUT BEFORE HE COULD FIRE, I JUMPED UP AND TACKLED HER JUST SHORT OF THE DOOR.

 

WE BOTH WENT DOWN IN A HEAP ON THE FLOOR.  THE ROBBER TURNED BACK TO THE CASHIER AND SCOOPED UP THE MONEY SHE HAD PUT IN A ZIPPER BANK BAG FOR HIM.  HE STARTED FOR THE DOOR.  AS HE GOT WHERE THIS LADY AND I WERE LYING ON THE FLOOR, HE REACHED DOWN AND CAUGHT HER BY THE ARM.  “COME ON LADY YOU’RE GOING WITH ME.”

 

I GRABBED HER OTHER ARM AND SAID, “YOU DON’T NEED HER.  SHE WILL JUST SLOW YOU DOWN.  TAKE ME INSTEAD.”

 

“OK MR. HERO, I’LL TAKE YOU BOTH.  WHAT ARE YOUR NAMES?”

 

“MY NAME’S LOREN AND I DON’T KNOW WHAT THE LADIES NAME IS.  YOU’LL HAVE TO ASK HER.”

 

“MY NAME IS K … K … KATHY,” THE LADY FINALLY MANAGED TO SAY.

 

THE ROBBER PUSHED THEM OUT THE DOOR AND INTO A CAR THAT WAS WAITING AT THE CURB.  THERE WAS A WOMAN DRIVER WAITING FOR HIM.

 

KATHY WRITES:

 

Once the robbers had their hostages in the car, neither of them spoke a word.  They did, however, take the first corner on two wheels as they headed for the Interstate 35 entrance ramp.  Once on I-35, the driver took off in the Lexus like she was in the Indy 500. 

 

Suddenly, Kathy’s cell phone rang.  She grabbed it out of her purse, saw that it was her husband, and hoped she could alert him to the circumstances before the robbers yanked it away from her.

 

“Lady, answer your phone but you’d better be careful what you say.  If you say one thing out of the ordinary, you’re a dead woman,” grumbled the robber that still had his ski mask on.

 

Kathy pushed the accept call button.  “Hi, Jerry.”

 

“Kathy, you’re not going to believe this,” he began, “I was in my meeting and when I came out to leave, my car had been stolen!”

 

“Where did you say that meeting was this morning?” she asked.  Surely that statement seemed innocent enough, she hoped!

 

Jerry was more than upset over his stolen car and snapped back, “I told you it was about two blocks from the bank!  As soon as you finish there, you need to come pick me up.  I’ve already reported it to the police.”

 

Suddenly it hit her, and Kathy slid her hand into the pocket on the back of the drivers seat.  Sure enough, there was Jerry’s favorite Waylon Jennings CD.  The robbers had stolen her husband’s car, and it had now become a “get away car with her in it.”

 

“I can’t come pick you up,” she stammered.  That was her last statement, as the masked man grabbed her cell phone and turned it off.

 

Meanwhile, Loren was listening and putting two and two together.  A husband named Jerry, a Lexus, and the woman he had tackled was named Kathy.  He glanced over at her again.  Even with the terrified look on her face, he recognized her from the photos he’d seen on the internet; and her voice even sounded familiar.  Good grief, they were friends.  They had written stories together, and visited on the phone, although they had never met in person.

 

It was somewhat comforting to realize he was in danger with a friend at his side.  However, the more he thought about it the more worried he became.  Kathy didn’t seem the type to take being pushed around without fighting back.  Besides the fact, he knew she was a descendant of the Dalton Gang and the Youngers.  Now he was beside himself – things could possibly go from bad to worse!

 

LOREN WRITES:

 

“WANDA, SLOW DOWN.  NOW THAT WE ARE OUT OF TOWN WE DON’T WANT SOME NOSEY HIGHWAY PATROLMAN STOPPING US FOR SPEEDING.”

 

“HAROLD, WE HAVE TO GET OFF THE INTERSTATE.  THIS CAR HAS BEEN REPORTED STOLEN BY NOW AND EVERY LAW DOG WILL BE LOOKING FOR IT.”

 

“OK, TAKE THE NEXT EXIT.  THAT WILL PUT US IN WAXAHACHIE.  THEN WE’LL GO EAST ON 287 AND CROSS UNDER I-45 AT ENNIS.  WE’LL TAKE BACK ROADS TO PALESTINE AND FROM THERE TO AN ABANDONED CHURCH ON THE NECHAS RIVER - JUST OFF THE MAYDELLE HIGHWAY.”

 

LOREN WAS LISTENING TO ALL THIS TALK BETWEEN WANDA AND HAROLD.  HE WAS THINKING IF THEY’RE USING THEIR NAMES IN FRONT OF US, AND NOW THAT HAROLD HAS TAKEN OFF HIS MASK SO WE CAN SEE HIS FACE, THEY DON’T INTEND TO SET US FREE.

 

LOREN KNEW WHERE THAT ABANDONED CHURCH WAS.  HE HAD PASSED IT SEVERAL TIMES WHEN HE WOULD GO TO THE NECHAS RIVER FISHING.  THE CHURCH HAD AN OLD CEMETERY NEXT TO IT.  HE WONDERED IF THAT WAS WHERE HAROLD PLANNED TO LEAVE HIM AND KATHY.

 

AS WANDA TURNED OFF THE MAYDELLE HIGHWAY, HAROLD TOLD HER TO STOP AT THE CHURCH.

 

KATHY WRITES:

 

Wanda drove into the cemetery and followed the old, narrow, bumpy road to the very back.  It was overgrown with weeds and brush, as well having lots of shrubs.  There was no way the car could be seen from the main road.

 

“Ok, you two – get out,” ordered Harold while pointing, “and go set down by those headstones over there.”

 

All four doors were standing wide open, and as Kathy walked by the front passenger door she casually bent over and reached in.  That got Loren’s knees to knocking – he knew she was going to get them both killed.  Lord only knows how long until their decomposed bodies would be found in this old cemetery.

 

Harold was busy relieving himself by a bush but he was keeping an eye on the situation.  He and Wanda both started shouting at the same time.  Kathy backed out of the front seat very cool, calm, and collected holding up her jacket and a bottle of water.  “I’m sorry, but I’m cold and thirsty – ya got a problem with that?”

 

Then Wanda decided to get pushy.  “Just get over there with your friend and shut up, lady.”

 

Kathy stomped over and plopped down on the ground.  They were finally alone where they could talk for the first time since leaving the bank.  “Did you say your name was Loren?” she asked.

 

“Kathy, just look at me and listen to me!  You know darned well who I am,” fussed Loren.

 

That’s when it hit her!  Yep, it was her old buddy.  It had taken some very unusual circumstances for them to wind up in a mess like this together.  The odds were about like winning the lottery!

 

Kathy started whispering, “Loren, you know when I pretended to need my jacket?  That wasn’t all I got!  Those idiots have no idea I grabbed a 9MM from under the front seat and wrapped my jacket around it.  If you think I plan to die out here, you’re crazy and so are they.  So, Mr. X-Lawman – what’s our plan of attack?”

 

LOREN WRITES: 

 

“OK KATHY, SLIP ME THE GUN AND I’LL GET US OUT OF THIS MESS.  AFTER WE TURN THESE BANK ROBBERS IN WE’LL HAVE JERRY’S CAR BACK AND THE BANK MIGHT GIVE US A REWARD.”

 

“NOT ON YOUR LIFE.  I’M NOT GIVING UP THE GUN.  I’LL USE IT TO CAPTURE THESE ROBBERS.  THEN I’LL HAVE MY HUSBAND’S CAR BACK AND THE BANK CAN GIVE ME THE REWARD.”

 

“KATHY THERE MIGHT NOT EVEN BE A REWARD.  I’M THE X-POLICEMAN AND I KNOW WHAT TO DO, NOW GIVE ME THAT 9MM.”

 

LOREN REACHED FOR THE PISTOL AND KATHY JERKED IT OUT OF HIS REACH.  WANDA AND HAROLD HAD BEEN WATCHING THEM AS THEY TALKED ABOUT WHERE THEY WERE GOING FROM HERE.  WHEN HAROLD SAW KATHY AND LOREN STRUGGLING OVER KATHY’S COAT HE WALKED OVER AND POKED HIS GUN IN THEIR FACE.  HE REACHED DOWN AND GRABBED KATHY’S COAT AND THE PISTOL FELL OUT ON THE GROUND.

 

“I’VE HAD IT WITH YOU TWO YAHOOS.  I’M GOING TO PUT A STOP TO THIS RIGHT NOW.”  HE RAISED HIS GUN AND POINTED IT AT LOREN.  BUT BEFORE HE COULD PULL THE TRIGGER A CAR LOAD OF TEENAGE BOYS DROVE UP.  THEY ALL PILED OUT WITH CANS OF BEER IN THEIR HANDS.  LOREN KNEW THAT HE HAD BEEN JUST SECONDS FROM DEATH AND IT WAS KATHY’S FAULT.

 

KATHY WAS SO AFRAID THAT IT WAS SHE AND LOREN’S TIME TO DIE, THAT SHE HAD WET HERSELF.  THEN HAROLD POINTED HIS GUN AT LOREN AND SAID, “IT’S TIME YOU TWO WERE OUT OF MY HAIR.”  OH WHY DIDN’T SHE LISTEN TO LOREN?  AFTER ALL HE WAS THE X- POLICEMAN.

 

“WANDA GET THESE TWO IN THE CAR, WE’VE GOT TO GO SOME WHERE ELSE TO OFF THEM.”

 

KATHY WRITES:

 

As they made their way back towards the car, Kathy purposely tripped and fell over a crumbling headstone.  The bank robbers shouted orders at Loren to get her on her feet.  As he leaned down to help her up Kathy softly said, “You idiot, you!  But, not to worry – for some reason they haven’t taken my purse yet and I have a smaller pistol in it.  Once we’re in the car I’ll lean over to rub my ankle; I’ll moan and groan and they’ll never notice what I’m really up to.”

 

Loren began speaking loudly enough Harold and Wanda could hear him, hoping they wouldn’t get suspicious.  “Get up lady, they’re getting fed up with you and so am I!”  But, under his breath he quickly said, “If you know what’s good for you, you’ll give me the blamed pistol this time.”  As he continued to help her up, he gave her a nasty pinch on the underside of her upper arm.

 

Kathy screamed, but at least it made the situation look and sound authentic.  Maybe those two low-life's would truly believe she had injured her ankle or leg.  Just for good measure, Loren did it again twice as hard.  This time Kathy screamed like a banshee.  Ah – it did Loren’s heart good – revenge is sweet!  The second blood-curdling scream even got the attention of the teenage boys.  Immediately six half-drunk teenagers were heading towards the back of the cemetery to see what was going on.

 

LOREN WRITES:

 

 WHEN THE TEENAGERS GOT WHERE THEY COULD SEE THEM, WHAT THEY SAW WAS A LADY LIMPING ALONG SCREAMING AND CRYING.  ONE MAN WAS TRYING TO HELP HER WALK, AND ANOTHER MAN AND WOMAN WERE WALKING ALONG BEHIND THEM.

 

ALL SIX “SIR GALAHADS” CAME CHARGING UP TO KATHY AND SHOVED LOREN OUT OF THE WAY.  THEY PICKED KATHY UP AND STARTED CARRYING HER TOWARD THE LEXUS.  KATHY WHISPERED TO THE ONE CLOSEST TO HER HEAD, “ TAKE MY HUSBAND AND ME TO YOUR CAR.  I NEED TO GO TO THE HOSPITAL AND THAT OTHER COUPLE WON’T TAKE ME.”

 

THE TEENAGERS CARRIED KATHY TO THEIR CAR.  HAROLD REACHED OVER AND TOOK LOREN BY THE ARM AND SAID, “MAKE THOSE KIDS BRING THE LADY BACK.”

 

LOREN TOLD HIM, “YOU MAKE THEM, MR. BIG SHOT WITH THE GUN.  YOU GOING TO SHOOT ALL SIX OF THEM AND KATHY AND ME TOO?”

 

THE TEENAGERS PUT KATHY IN THEIR CAR AND TURNED TO LOREN AND HOLLERED FOR HIM TO COME ON, “WE’LL TAKE YOU AND YOUR WIFE TO THE HOSPITAL.”  NOW HAROLD UNDERSTOOD WHAT WAS GOING ON.  SO HE TOLD THE TEENAGERS GO AHEAD AND THEY WOULD FOLLOW IN THEIR CAR.  THE OTHER CAR DROVE OFF.

 

LOREN WAS THINKING THAT KATHY WOULD STAY ALIVE AT LEAST.  HAROLD PUT LOREN IN THE PASSENGER SIDE OF THE FRONT SEAT AND TOLD WANDA TO DRIVE.  AS THEY LEFT THE CEMETERY WANDA TURNED TOWARD THE RIVER.  IT WAS ONLY A 20 MINUTE DRIVE TO THE RIVER AND THAT’S HOW LONG LOREN FIGURED HE HAD TO LIVE.  HAROLD WAS SITTING IN THE BACK SEAT POINTING HIS GUN AT LOREN.

 

ALL OF A SUDDEN HAROLD HOLLERED FOR WANDA TO STOP THE CAR.  HE JUMPED OUT AND TOOK DOWN HIS TROUSERS, AND LOOKED AT HIS PRIVATES.  IT HAD RED SPLOTCHES ALL OVER IT AND IT WAS ITCHING LIKE MAD.  IT SEEMS THAT WHEN HE WAS TAKING A PEE IN THE BUSHES, THE BUSHES WERE POISON SUMAC, AND BOY WAS HE IN TROUBLE NOW.

 

KATHY WRITES:

 

Meanwhile, Kathy was telling her young hero’s the entire story, as one of them began dialing 911.  She glanced out the back window and could barely see the back end of the robber’s car, and they were going the opposite direction.

 

“Turn around quick, they went the opposite direction.  If we lose them now they’ll shoot Loren for sure,” Kathy screamed.

 

Zack, the young driver, slammed on the brakes and spun that car around so fast it nearly gave Kathy a whiplash.  They were flying down a dusty gravel road, and Kathy didn’t look at the speedometer again after it hit 90 mph.  She did ask,” Are you kids from around here?  Do you have any idea where they are headed?”

 

They all started jabbering at once, but as close as Kathy could tell, they must be headed for a river.  Only one thought crossed her mind – it’s darned hard to prosecute someone for murder if there isn’t a body.  That had to be it – they were going to dump Loren’s body in the river. 

 

“Tell that person you’re talking to on 911 they had better hurry and catch up with us, or they’re gonna be dragging the river before sundown,” Kathy screeched to the young man handling the cell phone.

 

“My nerves have had it, do you guys have an extra beer?” begged Kathy.  They handed her one, she tipped it up and chugged the entire thing.  They were all oohing and aaahing at the sight.  “What’s wrong with you young whipper-snappers anyway?  Do ya think I’ve always been this old?”

 

That shut them up, but then Zack spoke up again, “Is that guy really your husband or is something funny going on here?”

 

“Good grief!  Are you out of your mind or something?  That old goat is old enough to be my father!  We became friends because we both write, and that’s all there is to it.  In fact, we’d never even met in person until today.  Long story – just forget it and drive!”

 

Kathy was calming somewhat with the help of her liquid medication, but now she had other worries.  What if they drove Jerry’s car into the river with Loren’s body in it?  Insurance would pay for the car but Jerry still wouldn’t be a happy camper.  He’d told her before he thought Loren was a little “touched” in the head because of the discombobulated stories he wrote.  Would he ever believe she got into this mess by accident?  Maybe Loren should have just let Harold shoot her in the back as she fled the bank.  Dying would definitely be easier than trying to explain!

 

Suddenly she heard the sound of sirens!  Kathy looked out the back window, but still couldn’t see anything because of the huge cloud of dust behind them.

 

 

LOREN WRITES:

 

ALL OF A SUDDEN LOREN, HAROLD AND WANDA HEARD SIRENS AND SAW TWO CARS CHARGING DOWN ON THEM.  ONE OF THE CARS HAD FLASHING RED LIGHTS.  WANDA PANICKED AND SLAMMED HER FOOT DOWN ON THE ACCELERATOR.  HAROLD TRIED TO RUN AND CATCH UP WITH THE CAR, BUT WITH HIS TROUSERS DOWN AROUND HIS ANKLES, ALL HE DID WAS FALL ON HIS FACE.

 

WHEN THE CARS FOLLOWING WANDA GOT TO HAROLD, THEY STOPPED.  THE POLICE OFFICERS TOOK HAROLD INTO CUSTODY AFTER KATHY TOLD THEM WHAT HAD HAPPENED.

 

KATHY TOLD THE OFFICERS THAT WANDA STILL HAD LOREN AND SHE MIGHT KILL HIM IF THEY DIDN’T FIND THEM, LIKE RIGHT NOW!

 

 “RELAX LADY THE ONLY PLACE THIS ROAD GOES IS BACK OUT TO THE MAYDELLE HIGHWAY AND WE’VE GOT ANOTHER CAR COMING IN FROM THAT END.”

 

AFTER DRIVING FOR A COUPLE OF MILES WANDA TURNED UP ONE OF THE LITTLE LOGGING TRACKS THAT RAN BACK INTO THE WOODS.  I FIGURED THIS WAS THE END OF THE ROAD FOR HIS LIFE.  OH WELL, HE WAS 72 YEARS OLD AND HE HAD DONE AND SEEN A LOT OF THINGS IN THAT 72 YEARS.

 

WAIT A MINUTE, I THOUGHT TO MYSELF, I’VE NEVER GIVEN UP ON ANYTHING, AND I’M NOT GIVING UP NOW.  “WANDA YOU’VE GOT THE GUN AND YOU CAN SHOOT ME ANYTIME YOU DECIDE TO.  BUT LET ME TELL YOU THIS.  RIGHT NOW YOU’RE ONLY WANTED FOR ROBBING A BANK.  WHEN THEY CATCH YOU, AND THEY WILL, YOU WILL SERVE A FEW YEARS IN THE PENITENTIARY.  BUT IF YOU MURDER ME, JUST REMEMBER THEY HAVE THE DEATH PENALTY IN THE STATE OF TEXAS.”

 

BY THIS TIME IT WAS ALREADY GETTING QUITE DARK. WANDA STOPPED THE CAR AND LOOKED AT ME FOR A LONG TIME.  THEN SHE SAID, “GET OUT OF THE CAR.”  WHEN I GOT OUT, WANDA TURNED THE CAR AROUND AND DROVE OFF.

 

WITH NO CAR LIGHTS TO SEE BY, I COULDN’T EVEN SEE THE OLD LOGGING TRACK THEY HAD DRIVEN UP.  I DECIDED THE BEST THING TO DO WAS TO SIT DOWN AND WAIT FOR DAYLIGHT.  I LEANED BACK AGAINST A TREE AND LISTENED TO THE NIGHT SOUNDS.  I COULD HEAR AN OWL SOME WHERE OFF IN THE DISTANCE, AND SCURRYING OF LITTLE FEET IN THE LEAVES ON THE GROUND.  THEN THE CALL OF A COYOTE BROKE THE STILLNESS.  I WAS COMFORTABLE WITH ALL THESE SOUNDS.  THESE WERE THE SOUNDS I HAD KNOWN ALL MY LIFE.  IN JUST A LITTLE, I WAS SOUND ASLEEP.

 

KATHY WRITES:

 

One of the fine “men in blue” had brought Jerry along from Dallas so he could see for himself that Kathy had survived.  They both watched and smiled, as Harold was crammed into a police car - handcuffed, and shackled.  All the while Harold was squirming and wiggling like someone that had ants in their pants. 

 

Then the caravan was off again in search of Loren.  Several police cars, the teenagers in their car, and an ambulance brought up the rear.  It wasn’t long until they saw Wanda being cuffed by the police that had intercepted her from the other direction.  She kept insisting she didn’t know where Loren was, but that she had let him out a ways back.  

 

Things were looking up, Jerry thought.  Kathy was fine, and his car was fine except for an inch of dust.  Now if they could just find Loren!

 

“Jerry, we really need to call Loren’s wife!  Johnnie is probably worried sick since he didn’t come home last night,” said Kathy.

 

“That poor woman!  Yes, you need to call her, but I’m sure she’s used to this kind of thing.  Didn’t you say she’d been married to that lunatic 50 some years?”

 

Loren had slept like a baby propped up against a huge, old, live oak tree.  He thought he was dreaming about something squirming up against his leg, but suddenly he realized the sun was beating down on his face and it was morning.  That’s when he heard it – rattle, rattle, rattle.  He hadn’t been dreaming!  A 6 ft. rattlesnake had snuggled up against him during the night for warmth.  Now with the sun warming him – he was toasty warm, lively, and ready to go.  Loren slowly lower his eyes and the darned thing was staring him right in the face, and shaking its rattles…….

 

 

LOREN WRITES:

 

WELL I HAD BEEN HERE BEFORE SO I KNEW WHAT TO DO. I JUST CLOSED MY EYES AND DIDN’T MOVE.  AFTER A WHILE THE RATTLE SNAKE SETTLED DOWN AND CRAWLED OFF LOOKING FOR SOMETHING TO EAT.  WHEN THE RATTLING STOPPED I OPENED MY EYES BUT STILL DIDN’T MOVE UNTIL THE SNAKE WAS GONE.

 

THEN I STOOD UP AND LIMPED AROUND TRYING TO GET THE KINKS OUT OF THIS OLD BODY. I COULD PLAINLY SEE THE OLD TIMBER TRACK NOW THAT THE SUN WAS UP, AND I STARTED WALKING DOWN IT BACK TO THE ROAD. WHEN I GOT TO THE ROAD I SAW A WHOLE CARAVAN OF CARS COMING DOWN THE ROAD.

 

LEADING THE CARAVAN WAS JERRY’S LEXUS. THEN CAME THE CAR WITH THE SIX TEENAGERS. NEXT WERE SEVERAL POLICE CARS, AND FOLLOWING UP IN THE REAR WAS AN AMBULANCE. IT LOOKED LIKE SOME KIND OF PARADE.

 

ACTUALLY, I DIDN’T KNOW WHETHER TO LAUGH, CRY OR SHOUT FOR JOY. WHAT HE DID IS A WHOLE NOTHER STORY FOR A DIFFERENT TIME.

 

 KATHY WRITES:

 

Jerry slammed on his brakes, flew out of the car, and went racing towards Loren.  Kathy jumped out and took after him shouting, “Jerry, don’t hurt him, he really didn’t do anything.   He probably saved my life. We can explain all of this mess, really we can.  Just give us a chance!”

 

Loren started backing up.  He couldn’t tell exactly what Jerry was thinking, but he knew couldn’t handle any more trouble.  Jerry was almost upon him now and started lifting his arms.  Suddenly he had Loren in a bear hug.   Loren figured the next sound he heard would be his ribs going snap, crackle, and pop.  Instead Jerry was saying, “Oh, thank you buddy, for taking care of my wife.  How will I ever repay you?”

 

“Weeelll,” Loren stammered, “if there happens to be a reward… oh, never mind that really isn’t important right now."   He was so relieved Jerry hadn’t crushed his ribs; he decided he’d wait and see if there even was a reward.

 

The End

 

 

  BY LOREN MOORE & KATHY BAKER

COPYRIGHT 2005

LOREN

 KATHY

 

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