Chapter 56

Commissioner's Ball, The Ritz-Carlton Hotel, Downtown Los Angeles, California, United States

"This better be good," the Chief of Police whispered into the phone through clenched teeth. He had waited to take the call from his Captain until he was safely out of earshot of the party.

"I-I-I can't do this," the captain stuttered on the other end of the phone, his voice aching with fear.

"Are you crying?" Barry Fer's eyes widened with sudden rage. He started pacing, stomping across the thick carpet in the abandoned hallway along the busy ballroom. "What is going on there? What's happened, you moron?"

"My team of men," the captain said, sniffling. "One of them panicked in the corridor behind the vault. They pulled a gas grenade and dropped it by accident. When I came out to see what was happening, they were all passed out."

Barry felt his heart palpitate in his chest. He knew he should have been there tonight to supervise the heist, but the Commissioner was adamant about them having an alibi. Now, look at what had happened. "Are you telling me that your team poisoned themselves? Are you all drunk or just stupid?"

"I-I-I can't do this," the captain stammered again, like a recording of himself.

Thankfully, this wasn't the worst thing that could have gone wrong. It was just a result of having a bunch of idiots under his employ. Barry had to admit that the officers he fired were much more competent but they were also snitches. They would have never gone along with robbing the Federal Reserve. "Look, that's why I have another team ready. Just radio to them and they'll be your backup. We aren't out of options yet."

"There's more, sir," the captain went on, really sounding on the verge of tears.

"What is it?" Barry asked, tensing when someone came around the corner of the hallway where he was stationed. He blew out a breath of relief at the sight of the Commissioner. However, Charlie Sloane looked madder than hell, like he knew something was going wrong with their bank job.

"Officer Taylor says there's a hold up with the trucks," the captain answered on the other side of the phone.

"What?" Barry barked. "What kind of hold up?"

"I don't know, sir. But he said he'd be delayed a bit. We're off schedule."

Barry tried to calm himself, knowing that he couldn't yell right then, although he really wanted to. "Look, you're also delayed. Call in the backup. Get ready to put in the detonator code. Finish this job and do it fast and right."

"That's the other thing, sir…" There was real fear in the captain's voice.

Barry's eyes nearly bulged out of his head as he stared at Charlie, worry covering the other man's face. "What is it?"

"I dropped my code generator for the detonator," the captain said, almost sheepishly.

"And?" Barry growled.

"I stepped on it," the captain admitted. "I broke it. Everything happened so fast."

"You what?" Barry did yell now, his temper uncontrollable. "You are completely incompetent!"

"What is it?" Charlie asked in a hiss.

Barry shook his head, unable to explain right then. There was only one thing left to do. He spoke into the phone. "Call in the second team and be ready. I'll be there in a few minutes."

He didn't wait for a reply on the other end, shutting off the phone and making for the exit at the side of the hotel.

Charlie strode beside him at once, a pointed look on his face. "What's going on?"

"His detonation code generator is broken," Barry whispered, moving fast. "I've got to step in."

"But you can't be there," Charlie argued.

Barry shook his head. "I have to. We've come this far. Everything else is in place. This is our only chance."

Charlie halted, watching as Barry pushed the exit doors open, the night air rushing in to greet them. "I hope you know what you're doing."

Barry nodded. "I'm not losing our money. That's what I'm doing."