Chapter 18
Alex tried to relax as the car rumbled along. She had no idea where she was, since she had been blindfolded and stuffed in a trunk, but they had been driving for a couple of hours. After she had left Tobin’s she had driven around for a bit and then had got it in her head for some reason that she should go to Ashlyn’s. She had arrived at Ashlyn’s around 3am and had told Ashlyn what had happened. Ashlyn had listen sympathetically, and then had told Alex to go relax on the couch and had offered her a glass of water. The next thing Alex knew, she was almost naked, gagged and in front of a camera, and Christen was pressing a knife to her throat. Then Christen had removed the gag but had thrown a blindfold over her head, shoved her in the trunk of a car, and had started driving.
Alex tried to remain strong as the car hummed along, but she couldn't, and she started sobbing. I’m so sorry, Tobin, she thought. She hoped Tobin was okay. And she hoped Tobin would be coming to save her.
********
The van hummed along the I-10 freeway going west, towards Santa Monica. Amy was driving. Tobin, Ashlyn, Morgan and Whitney were in the back. Morgan was sorting through outfits. Whitney was checking weapons. Ashlyn was spouting Zen-like wisdom.
“It’s basic dog psychology”, Ashlyn said. “You get them pissing down their leg, and they submit. If you project weakness, you draw aggression, and that’s when people get hurt”, Ashlyn said. She put on her Elizabeth outfit and then tossed Tobin a bulletproof vest.
“Peace through superior fire power”, Whitney said, and everyone but Tobin laughed.
“Fear causes hesitation”, Ashlyn said. “And hesitation will cause your worst fears to come true” Then she looked at Tobin straight in the eyes. “I know you know what I mean. I saw you with Hope and her crew. You didn’t hesitate. You weren’t afraid, and they didn’t back you down an inch. And that is very rare in this world.” She paused as she continued to stare at Tobin and then said, “We’re not that much different, you and I, Special Agent Heath.”
“Only that you’re a fucking criminal, Ashlyn!” Tobin spat back, and Whitney laughed. “All of you are. This is your fucking wake-up call. I am an FBI agent!”
“I know, dude, and isn’t it cool?” Ashlyn said smugly. “See, that’s the thing: we can exist on a different plane. Why be a slave to the system, when you can be its master?”
Tobin just stared at Ashlyn, and then Whitney handed her an empty shotgun. Morgan handed out the masks, and then looked at Tobin as she came up short for her. “Sorry Tobin”, she said. “You don’t get to play Queen today”, she said, and the other Queens laughed as they donned their masks.
Tobin stared at the four women as they finished getting ready, and then she felt the van exit the freeway. “Wait – where are we going?” she asked, looking around, then looked at Ashlyn. “We’re on a time schedule here!”
“Don’t worry, I’ve allowed for this little stop in our schedule”, Ashlyn said. “See, that’s your problem, Special Agent Heath. You’re always so uptight, always in a hurry. You need to stop and relax a bit, take a breather, take a side trip, enjoy life a bit”, she said, and the others laughed. “Besides, this will only take ninety seconds”, Ashlyn said with a laugh. Then she stopped laughing and said, “Who knows? You might enjoy this. It’s a killer rush!”
Tobin glared at Ashlyn. She wanted to strangle the life out of her right now, but she couldn’t. She needed to find Alex, and that meant playing Ashlyn’s game, and as the van approached its destination, a thought crossed Tobin's mind. There was one thing that Ashlyn was right about: If Tobin got out of this unscathed, she was going to make it a point to slow down and enjoy life. She was going to hold Alex close, tell her she loved her, and never let her go.
********
“Freeze! Everybody down! Hands behind your heads!” Ashlyn yelled as The Queens plus Tobin, who was the only one of the five not wearing a mask, stormed the Bank Of America in West Covina, CA. Ashlyn fired a shot into the ceiling and patrons screamed and hit the floor. Whitney, true to form, leveled the security guard at the front door, then headed for the far wall. Amy and Morgan took their positions. Ashlyn put her arm around Tobin and then pointed to a security camera. “Smile - you're on camera”, she said with a laugh. She clapped Tobin on the back and then jumped up onto a counter.
“Good morning, ladies and gentlemen”, Ashlyn said, going into her schpeel. She motioned to Amy, who moved behind the tellers and started emptying the cash drawers with Morgan.
Tobin moved over to a security guard who was lying face down near the left well. “Hey”, she whispered. The security guard looked up. “I’m FBI.” The security guard’s eyes went wide open. “Yes, you heard me correctly”, Tobin said. “How good of a shot are you?” she asked. The security guard bobbed his head back and forth in a so-so fashion, and Tobin said, “Okay. Reach for your gun. I don’t have any bullets in this gun, but I’ll stand in front of you. Then, when you’re ready to fire, tap my leg and I’ll move. Got it?” The nodded, and Tobin moved in front of him. The security guard moved his hands off his head and started to reach for his gun.
“Time!” Whitney yelled.
“Not yet!” Ashlyn yelled.
“What!?” Whitney yelled. “We gotta go!”
“No!” Ashlyn yelled. “We gotta make some more loot.”
“I thought this wasn’t about the money!” Morgan yelled as she looked up from the drawer she was emptying.
“Keep going!” Ashlyn barked.
“What the fuck are you doing?” Tobin yelled at Ashlyn. “You’re blowing your own gameplan, dude! We’re on a schedule!”
“I make the schedule!” Ashlyn said, and pointed her gun at Tobin. Tobin grimaced at Ashlyn. She stood there for a minute and then felt the tap on her leg. She looked down at the security guard. The guard nodded at her, and then Tobin stepped away and the security guard fired.
“Shit! Ashlyn said as the security guard's bullet sailed wide. She returned fire. Tobin dove for cover, but the security guard was not as quick, and he was shot and killed. Mary turned and fired in Tobin’s direction as well, and Tobin took cover behind a stand of withdrawal slips. Morgan stopped stuffing her bag with cash. She came around to the front of the teller stations and raised her gun to fire, but the security guard who Whitney had leveled on her way in had recovered. He took aim at Morgan and fired. Two bullets hit the vest, but the third bullet hit her in the head, and she went down. Mary screamed and fired three blasts into the security guard, blowing him apart. Then Ashlyn screamed and jumped down from her counter. She ripped off her mask and tossed it onto the floor, then ran up to Morgan and cradled her head in her arms.
“No, Moe, stay with me, stay with me”, Ashlyn said. Morgan gasped for a moment and then went limp.
“C’mon, Ash, we gotta go, now!” Whitney screamed, bolting for the door. Amy zipped up her bag and sprinted out, Whitney right behind her. Ashlyn stared at Morgan, lying on the ground, a gunshot wound in her head and a duffel bag full of money beside her, and let out a wail of rage. Then she stood up. She looked over at Tobin and a dark look came over her face. Tobin stared her down as she walked over. She stopped a foot away from Tobin and the two stared face to face.
“She’s dead because of you, Ashlyn”, Tobin said. Ashlyn stared at Tobin for a moment, and then her face turned up into a scowl. She clocked Tobin over the head with the butt of her gun, and Tobin went black.