Shane Cooper

By Shane Cooper

“Would you please pass the potatoes or I’ll pull my gun.”

Rands nephew, James, shot him a what-ever glance and proceeded to cut his steak into bite sized cubes.

“No, I’m serious, hand them over or I’ll pull my service revolver and take care of business.” Rand reached out both hands and wiggled his gimme fingers.

With a cocked grin, which morphed into a toothy smile and a head shake, James gave in, put down his knife and complied with his uncles request.

“No more stupid stories or I’ll with-hold the gravy as well.” James teased.

“What ever the little prince of Winthrope wants.” Rand dished it right back.

Plopping a huge helping of white mashed potato’s onto his plate, Rand glanced around the room at his sister and her brood. Elizabeth had married well, raised a near perfect son, James, and was working on the twins, Lynne and Rynne. James had one year to go in high-school before he began his college career at M.I.T with plans to study computer science, eventually to join his dad at Winthrope Holdings, an electronics company. Both of the girls were destined to become world class swimmers. Like dolphins, they were in their element when it came to water.

Taking a bite, Rand swept his eyes around the room soaking in the opulence his sister enjoyed. While his brother-in-law was away on business, Rand usually filled in for the weekend as the favorite uncle. He enjoyed these opportunities which usually included movie night in the built-in home theater, swimming in the pool or an evening of games.

Several weeks before, they’d spent the summer evening in the exotic pool, which takes up nearly an acre of the estate behind the house. His sister had told him, the entire project was worth well over a million dollars alone. It looked like a jungle theme park, with pools of every shape, size, and depth, water falls galore and palm trees. Spending some quality time with the nieces and nephew in the arcade room with every game known to the modern world or just messing around at dinner was some of his cherished moments. What ever they chose, activities usually would be done here at his sisters ten-million-dollar home that had been featured on several magazines including Architect Today, Home Design and a few that only the rich and famous subscribe.

On a cops salary, Rand’s grandest idea of luxury was his new fifty-two inch flat screen television and the cable sports package. Beyond that, popcorn at the local cinema or an import beer was the highlight of his weekend.

“So, what should we do tonight?” He asked the rhetorical question to no one in particular.

“MOVIE!” the twins shouted in unison.

“Oh yeah, which one?”

James jumped in before his siblings could continue. “As long as it doesn’t have something with a prince, princess and living happily ever after.”

Both girls crossed their arms in defiance and furrowed their brow. “WE wanted to see The princess and the Golden Treasure!”

Rand took a bite and watched the show between the seven year old twins and their older brother unfold. He grinned wondering who was going to win, the twins where tenacious, but James could be just as stubborn.

James rolled his eyes and shot that teen age look towards his mother. “Mom!?”

Elizabeth tilted her head at the twins. “Now girls, uncle Rand doesn’t want to watch frilly girly shows, I’m sure he’d like to see something with explosions, guns and some fast cars.”

James nodded with exaggerated forward head motions in the twins direction, chewed on his steak, his playful eyes said, “I told ya so”.

Deep down, James was a good kid, thought Rand. He knew that if push came to shove, they’d be watching princess, ponies and some handsome prince, so it was a playful stand-off.

The twins grinned back with big teeth in mock humor and stated, “Fine!” Secretly, they liked loud explosive movies, and were excited at the prospect of just hanging with their older brother and cool uncle.

Rand blurted out, “Well, guns, fast cars and explosions it is!”

###

Both dark figures moved in erie silence sliding through the open garage door, easing along the outside walls, past tool benches, garden implements and mountain bikes, careful not to touch the svelte black car or expensive SUV housed within. A car alarm would ruin their efforts, thwart their intentions and end the weeks of planning.

Reaching the front of the vehicles in unison, wearing all black from head to toe they took in their surroundings letting their eyes open to adjust for the darkness. Both wore tight silk head masks usually reserved for white ski slopes instead of the itchy stocking mask so commonly used by TV criminals. Solid black hoodies devoid of words, logos or insignias, loose gym pants, black leather gloves and black tennis shoes obscuring any skin insured their anonymity. Even the eyes had black mascara blocking out the skin, lids and cheeks, just in case. With stealth movement, two arms from each intruder shot up one on top of the other exposing their identical Tag Hauer watches ticking the seconds off in perfect unison.

Like ninjas, they looked at each other directly in the eyes, smiled beneath the silk covering their lips, one did a head nod towards the garage-to-house-door, the other confirmed with a nod towards the side door leading to the back yard. Five fingers shot up between their glistening eyes, stating what they already knew, five minutes to go. With a flip, four fingers disappeared leaving a single finger pointing skyward ending with a twirl saying go around, I’ll stay here. All wordless.

One of the black figures nodded, silently slid towards the side door, carefully swung it open to avoid any squeaks, turned right and disappeared down the side of the house.

With soft dancer steps, the remaining black figure eased up the short set of stairs leading to the interior of their intended target, placing ten finger tips on the door.

Sounds wafted through the cracks into the semi-dark garage. Clinking of plates, muffled laughter and dinner chatter made the figure smile knowing they were right on time.

###

“Okay, okay, —so just like on the show COPS,— the bad guy says to me, no, really officer, that’s not my bag of weed!”

Everyone laughed at the absurdity knowing Rand was always full of great stories. Last time he’d stayed over, he carefully told the story about the motel, ladies who worked there, their skimpy outfits and their excuses. Elizabeth hadn’t approved of those stories and asked to change the subject. For Rand, this was an opportunity to exaggerate and the kids loved it.

“More funny stories Uncle Rand.” Lynne begged. “I like the ones you tell about hookers.”

“Lynne!” Elizabeth shot her a stern look. “We don’t use those words in this house.”

“Sorry, ladies-of-the-night.” Lynne was smarter than her seven years and they all new it.

“Lynne! I said…”

“Well, they are… hookers, prostitutes, ladies who work at night, what, you don’t think I know.”

“I said enough!”

Elizabeth shot her brother Rand the stink eye and mouthed, see what you’ve done.

With a shoulder shrug, Rand glanced down at this watch, he knew it was about time to get the real evening started.

“Enough stories, we’d better clean up and get to it or the movies will be all gone.”

“Uncle Rand!” the twins, which usually spoke at the same time, “They’re on demand, it’s not like the olden days.”

“Well, in the olden days, we had to shlep to the video store, rub two sticks together and pick out our video, didn’t even have disks waaay back then.”

Teasing, he stood, grabbed his plate, a glass and shot back. “Besides, the cable company could run out out, then what?”

“Uncle Rand!” They again shouted together.

A dark shadow eased up behind Rand and placed the muzzle of the black Glock against his temple. Rand froze wide eye’d as he saw a dark figure across the room do the same against his sisters head.

“Sit!” an electronically altered synthesized voice spoke behind Rand. “Now!”

Setting down the plate, he complied.

“All hands, on the table, palms down flat!” the odd electronic voice waved it’s voice around the room. Every hand in the room except for the intruders slapped the table.

In silence, the dark intruder eased Rands elbows back behind the chair. Rand heard zip sounds as the plastic ties tightened against his wrist. Another tug and zip indicated that he was bound to the wooden chair from behind.

His mind raced knowing he’d lost his window to react. They’d been on them faster than his mind comprehended what was happening. Thinking quickly his thoughts sank to despair remembering his revolver was in his car, he’d been kidding about the gun earlier. Hands reached down and zip tied both ankles to the chair legs. Wiggling against the restraints, the electronic voice stated simply, “Stop, or I’ll start shooting kids.”

He was convinced.

One by one, each of the kids was tied to their chair as the other silent intruder menaced two guns pointing at different kids in random. Once everyone was secure, both intruders placed their weapons into the small of their backs. Electronic voice stated, “Go.”

Without so much as a sound, the non-verbal intruder who’d come in through the back door was gone.

Rand started to say something when the intruder behind him, who’d come in through the garage smacked him in the head. “Shut-up, no talking.” A clear demanding tone came through, electronic or not.

Lynne dropped her chin to her chest and started whimpering. Her brother James shushed her to no avail. The intruder behind Rand shot a nasty stare at the little girl who’d attempted to suck back the tears, failing miserably.

“Listen!” Electronic voice shot out over Rands head. “We don’t have a lot of time, so I’m going to say this once.”

With both hands behind the back like a swaggering general, the intruder paced behind everyone seated at the table. “I want silence. —No one is to speak unless spoken to. —Do not move and this will all be over in a matter of minutes.”

All eyes were on the intruder as the rules were being explained.

“If anyone so much as moves, blinks or whimpers….”

All eyes moved from the intruder to Lynne, who promptly sucked up the sobs wiggling her shoulders in silence.

“… Any moves, blinks or whimpers will be dealt with. A single shot to the head will silence you. Do I make myself clear!”

All eyes stayed locked onto the intruder, they punctuated their understanding with exaggerated head nods, yes, they all understood.

Rand locked eyes with his worried sister. As kids, they’d learned the useless ability to blink morse code, previously used in scrapes at school or getting a lecture from their father. He blinked , it’ll be ok.

Elizabeth looked at each of her kids and smiled telepathically tried to instill confidence that they’d be okay just as her brother had predicted.

Rand took in the movements as the intruder paced around the table waiting. He’d heard about home invasions, but was not prepared for this scenario. Being the one who takes charge, he couldn’t help himself and stated what he knew Elizabeth was thinking.

“What do you want.”

In a flash, the all black intruder with blue eyes shot behind Rand, grabbed a hand full of hair and jerked his neck back. Rand looked up and found himself staring into the blunt barrel, the black Glock had reappeared and was now resting between his eyes.

“I said, shut-up. That’s your only warning.”

With a shove, the intruder forced his head forward. Rand looked across the table at his sister who’s eyes were wide with fear. He mouthed, I’m sorry, I’m a cop.

###

Seconds ticked by for what seemed like hours. Rand continually looked around the room watching for an opening. None came. Pushing his legs against the plastic restraints, he attempted to see how far they’d move. They were tight. Tingling began in his palms, his hands were falling asleep. Wiggling his fingers required concentrated effort as he slowly lost feeling.

Dinning room lights twinkled above the silence as they waited. For what, Rand thought. Why was it taking so long. What would happen next.

Silently, the second intruder slid up next to Rand, shoved aside his plate and produced an open laptop. He glanced up catching the intruders brown eyes, then shot back as far as his neck would go searching for the intruder clearly in charge.

Blue eyes narrowed and darted down at the laptop. He looked at the second intruder who’d placed the laptop on the table before him. Brown blank eyes were darting between Rand and blue eyes behind him.

Rand felt two hands on his arms and heard zips and a snap. His left hand stayed still, his right was free. His fingers automatically wiggled trying to force the feeling back into his hand.

“Don’t get any ideas. Now, type!” Blue eyes pointed at the keyboard with the gun.

Rand looked down at the laptop screen. A simple, clean web page stared back at him. Several blank fields were displayed, one a user name, a password, some symbols to prove you were a person and a secret phrase. Above these lines, a simple blue logo announced, Suisse AmBank.

Suddenly, he knew what they wanted. With a bit of panic, he looked up at his sister, darted back at the screen, then back at the intruders waiting.

“Type! Now!”

“But…”

As before, the blue eyed intruder grab hair, pulled backwards and moved within inches of Rands face. “I said, type.”

“But, I’m… “

Before he could say another word, his sister interrupted. “My husband doesn’t know anything about that laptop. It’s mine.”

In exasperation, the electronic voice stated. “What?”

Elizabeth sighed deeply. “I said, what ever you want on that laptop is nothing he can help you with.”

Both intruders slunk backwards into the shadows of the room, but within watchful reach of Rands free arm. Soft whispers told Rand they were trying to decide what to do.

He looked down at the fork and knife, then back up at his sister who was shaking her head no. Darting his eyes to his nephew, who’d remained quiet and stoic the entire time, James was shaking his head as well, then mouthed, not worth it.

Rand found his hands being retied behind his back and the laptop disappeared. With swift motions, the brown eyed intruder quickly set the laptop to rest in front of his sister. While they must have been expecting his brother-in-law, not him, he still figured they were pros. This was not regular street hoodlums out gang-banging or looking to score money, jewelry or computers to sell for their next fix. They were professionals through and through.

“What if I refuse.” Elizabeth stated with one hand frozen above the keys.

Without warning, the blue-eyed intruder grabbed the back of Lynnes chair. Little girl eyes shot towards her uncle in horror as she was dragged out of sight.

A shrill scream was heard through the open doorway that led into the large family room. Two shots rang out like cannons rattling the lights above the table, glass shattered on the first shot, the second one ended in a muffled woof. Lynne went silent. Elizabeths eyes welled up wet.

Blue eyes marched back into the dinning room, gun outstretched pointed straight, directly at the second twin. “Type, NOW!” Electronic sounds like a growl emanated from behind the silk mask.

Rand could see a small round object protruding from the intruders silk lips, he figured it was the sound box being used to disguise their voice. What pros, he thought. No way anyone at this table could identify them.

Without hesitation, Elizabeth started one hand typing on the laptop. Tears streamed down her face as her gut wrenched knowing it was her fault her little girl had just been accosted.

Rand sat blank faced shooting darts at both intruders thinking what the hell do you think you’re doing. Blue eyes caught his hard stare and grinned wide, eyes sparkled, they were enjoying this.

###

As soon as Elizabeth finished and the brown eyed intruder was satisfied, the laptop disappeared, whisked away into the far reaches of the spacious house. Relaxing, blue-eyes pushed the gun away into the small waste band of the gym pants and started for Rand.

Instantly, Rand felt his neck snap back staring upside down into deep blue eyes.

With narrowed eyes as the intruder leaned his chair back and stated. “You want to kill me don’t you?” Electronic or not, the voice had an edge.

Rand tried to swallow, but the tautness of his neck caused a spasm and his head twitched side-to-side. Spittle dribbled from the corner of his mouth flowing down his cheek.

“I should drag you into the other room and just kill your smug rich ass right now.”

Eyes wide, Rand pleaded with the blue eyes in silence.

“Please don’t.” Elizabeth shot out from across the room. “Please, I gave you want you wanted.”

In an instant, the gun reappeared and pointed across the table. “Shut-up, bitch.” Electronic or not, the warning was bitter and sank in quickly.

Looking back down at Rand, the blue-eyed leader simply stated. “Now, because of her, you’re dead.”

Rands head bobbed up and down over the edge of the chair back. He starred up at the ceiling as the intruder dragged him across the floor. Wood scrapped on tile bumping every foot as the legs caught grout. The intruder drug Rand, chair and all into the well lit gourmet kitchen.

Rand heard Elizabeth scream, “Please! Don’t kill him!”

Double swinging doors that led into the dinning room stopped swaying as the blue eyed intruder sat Rand upright next to the large island cook top. Marching toward the doors, blue eyes peaked in and placed the gun down on a nearby counter. A thumb locked the door with a click.

Rand watched as the intruder reached up and removed the ski mask revealing short blonde spiked hair. Over the black shoulder Rand saw the beautiful face of a women who looked back with a sly grin on her face and a finger on her lips. “Shhh”.

Two hands on hips, the blue-eyed intruder in front of Rand, legs apart. “Now, what am I going to do with you?”

Rand shook his head, softly pleading. “Please don’t kill me.”

“Now, why would I want to do that.”

Authors note: This only half the story. If interested in knowing what happens, please send me a private email. Shane

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