Chapter 2 The Bank Heist

It was three in the morning when next Sergeant Rollins' phone rang.

"Yes," said a drowsy Rollins, trying to wake up properly. "I'll be right there," he said.

Thirty minutes later, he was walking into the SWAT headquarters. Commander Higgerson was already there. "What happened, Commander?" Rollins asked.

"It started off as a heist, but ended up with two officers being shot. One dead, one critical."

This was always the most heart-breaking moment of the job. The feeling of one of your own going down. "What about the perps? Any idea who they are?" asked Thomas.

"Yeah, they are low ranking foot soldiers of the El Diablos," said Stan, who had just walked in.

"What was the target?" asked Rollins.

"A local bank. But here is the funny part, they did not come in asking for money. They came in asking for an employee, Natasha Wilks," Stan answered.

"Well, why would the El Diablos be looking for a bank employee?" asked Rollins.

"We do not know yet, but we have put out a call on her and we have six officers sitting outside her house, just in case she or any of the El Diablos show up," said Commander Higgerson.

"She will not show up," said Natalie, SWAT's number one tech geek. "She got on a flight bound for Mexico about six hours ago."

"Okay, I will notify Mexican law enforcements, she might be working with El Diablos. Rollins, you and your team gear up. We need to find out exactly who this woman is, and then we can figure out why they are looking for her. Kick down as many doors as it takes, I want results."

"Yes sir," they all replied.

"Deacon," Higgerson was now speaking to the SWAT sergeant. "You and your team gear up and go check out the bank. The rest of us will dig up what we can find out about this Natasha Wilks. Be careful though, the El Diablos might be in the area, so watch your backs. Pick your fights."

Ten minutes later, Rollins and his team were on the road.

"This is Bravo Leader to command."

"Go ahead Bravo Leader," came the response.

"What's our ETA?" asked Rollins.

"You are just around the corner, it's the house with a pink gate and blue roof."

"Rodger that command, standby."

"Standing by."

A few minutes later, they had parked across the street. "Boss, I got movement in the house," Thomas said.

"Okay, Thomas, you and Stan take the rear. Victor, you are with me in the front. Michael and Marcus, you watch the street."

"This is Bravo Leader to command."

"Go ahead," came the response.

"We have movement in the house, we are now engaging."

"Copy that Bravo Leader."

With that they all moved in. Rollins slowly opened the front door. The two perps were oblivious to their arrival and were busy searching through the cupboards in Natasha's kitchen.

"LAPD SWAT! Do not move." The two perps turned around and immediately opened fire, while they ran towards the back door.

"Shots fired, repeat, shots fired." Unfortunately for the two perps, they ran straight into Thomas and Stan.

"Drop the weapons," Stan shouted. The two perps were so taken aback that they did as they were told.

"Ahh, we have a Lucas and Solovan Hernandez," said Thomas, as he tossed the IDs of the two perps over to Rollins.

"Okay, I am only going to ask you this once. Who sent you?" asked Rollins. Just then, the six officers Higgerson had informed them about ran into the house with their weapons drawn. "Everything okay?" asked one of them.

"Yah, everything is fine. We are just about to have a conversation with our two new friends here," said Rollins.

"So, one more time, who are you and who sent you?" Rollins asked the two perps.

"I thought you said that you are only going to ask once?" replied one of the two perps with a sneer on his face.

"Oh, you got jokes. Okay funny man. This is Bravo Leader to Commander. We need you to run two names through the system. A Lucas and Solovan Hernandez."

"Copy that Bravo Leader, standby."

"Thomas, you and Stan go upstairs and see what you can find. We will continue the job that our two friends were busy with, down here."

After a few minutes, Rollins' radio sparked. "Bravo Leader, we have results on that search. Lucas Hernandez, wanted for breaking and entering, grand theft and assault. Solovan Hernandez, wanted for breaking and entering, assault with a deadly weapon, sale and distribution of drugs, illegal possession of a firearm, illegal possession of drugs, kidnapping and murder."

"Thank you, Commander."

"Okay, so it seems like today is your lucky day gentlemen," Rollins said, walking back to the two perps. "You see I just got off the radio with my commander, and it turns out that you two have put up quite a reputation for yourselves, and it turns out that you might never get to see daylight again. Unless, of course, you cooperate with me. The choice is yours."

They both looked at each other as though they were deep in conversation. "Okay, Okay, we will talk. We were sent by Angelica and before you ask, no we are not part of the El Diablos. What happened is we were called by Angelica late last night. He said he wanted to see us."

"And you agreed?" asked Rollins.

"Look man, when Angelica says he wants to see you, you do not ask any questions. So anyway, we get there and he simply says he has a job for us. He says that he will pay us each 100 grand if we find out where this Natasha chick disappeared to."

"So, you are telling me a random stranger calls you up and tells you to break into another stranger's house and you agree, just like that?" Rollins said, looking straight into their eyes.

"Look man, when Angelica asks you to do something, you don't ask any questions unless you want to die. Plus, he offered us 100 grand."

"Okay. Sit tight boys, your transport is just about to arrive."

Just then Thomas and Stan came back into the room. "There is nothing, no sign of that woman or any hint about where she went," Thomas said.

"Okay, let's pack it up here and go back to HQ," Rollins said.

One hour later Rollins walked into Higgerson's office. "Any word on the wounded officer?" he asked his mentor.

"He will pull through. Luckily, the bullets missed all major organs," Commander Higgerson said. "What's up with you, Dave?" The commander could always tell when there was something on Rollins' mind.

"Nothing, just thinking. You know, yesterday when I got home, I couldn't help feeling on edge, as if something was about to happen."

"Dave, you could never deceive me, so just spit it out."

"This is the beginning of a war, isn't it, this thing with Angelica? This is just the beginning, the beginning...and lives will be lost, isn't it?"

"I wish I could tell you no, but I would be doing you a grave injustice. Dave, you are right to be concerned or even scared. Fear just shows that we are all human. The truth is that a thing like this is gonna cost us many lives, but we are going to do all we can to make sure that for every one of us who goes down, at least 10 of them will go down." Higgerson looked at his protégé.

"You know, what makes this thing very tough is the fact that there is Mary and the kids. I cannot help but think that it could easily be them among those stats," Rollins admitted to his mentor.

"Stop right there, son. Thinking like that is very dangerous and it will cost you. You need to think and believe that the Lord will keep them safe away from this."

Just then, there was a knock on the door and Natalie came into the office. "Natasha Wilkins has been found. She was found by a local police unit Mexico City, in an abandoned building with her throat slit."

"Damn it, there goes our only lead, all we had right now that could have helped us to find out what their plan is," said Rollins.

"Yah, but we now know that she was definitely not working with the El Diablo or the San Tiago."

"Maybe she was and they turned on her?" They were now all standing in front of the debriefing desk. "Alpha Leader to command."

"Go ahead, Alpha Leader. What do you have?"

"We found out that our girl, Natasha, had not come to work since two weeks ago. Manager says that Natasha was last seen serving a customer who appeared to be Mexican. I am sending you a picture," said Deacon.

"Apparently, this guy had been there to speak to Natasha at least eight times in the past month and that customer never stayed for longer than five minutes. This changed though the last time he came to see Natasha. According to her colleagues, our guy was angry about something. They did not know what it was about though, but they said that they had to call security to get him out. Shortly after that, Natasha also left, saying she was not feeling well, and she did not come back the next day. Actually, they never saw her again."

"And our mystery Mexican guy is Vincent Garcia, no prior records, moved to L.A. about a year ago. He works at a local accounting firm," said Natalie.

"Wait, wait, wait, let me get this straight. What on earth does this accountant Have to do with that bank teller Natasha, and what do they have in common with a guy like Angelica?" asked Higgerson.

"I'd say we go and find out. Let's ask this guy," said Rollins. Wanting to summon Garcia to the HQ for questioning, Rollins drove over to the accounting firm where he worked.

"Vincent Garcia, I want to question you with regard to your interactions with a certain Natasha Wilkins. Where can we talk in private?" Rollins and Garcia walked to the front of the accounting firm's building.

"Now let me see your hands," said Rollins. But as soon as Garcia saw that he was going to be in trouble, he tried to bolt. "Aww, come on man, do I really have to chase you?" asked Rollins. "Nah, I will not catch that guy if he really tries to get away." He then aimed for Garcia's knees and took a shot.

"Damn it, dude, you just shot me," said Garcia.

"Unless you want me to shoot you again, you will start telling me what I want to know," said Rollins.

"Damn it, dude. I'm bleeding."

This time, it was Thomas who spoke. "Boss, this guy is not going to speak here, let's take him back to HQ. I'm pretty sure once he's seen the inside of his nice little cell, he will want to be more cooperative."

Garcia piped up, "I know my rights, I am not saying anything without my lawyer present."

"Oh okay, tough guy, let's go."