Holding the white-tipped marker only millimeters from the paper, Jennifer Frost tried to concentrate on the real purpose of her work. She was essentially making the bank into a shield. Pressing the marker along the straight edge, she drew another set of parallel lines. In order to strengthen the layers of this “shield” she would have to think like a thief. This was her chance to make the bank impenetrable.
After another sleepless night, her mind searched for alternative plans, but she was hypnotically pulled toward one brilliant concept.
“Jen, you can’t be serious.”
“Look, I’ve thought this through a hundred times. It’ll work.”
Cameron paced around the coffee table as he imagined the risk involved. His many nights of pacing had worn a trail in the carpet, and his big toe protruded from a hole in his stressed socks.
“Cam, I’ve weighed the other options. I know how this works. I don’t think…”
“No, you don’t know how this works. Have you considered what might happen to Sarah? What if they enter our home?”
“That’s not going to happen. You know the house is protected.”
Cameron’s gut churned with nervous energy. “If they injured the bank guards just think what they might do if they broke into our home.”
Jen sat on the couch and watched her husband blaze another trail in the carpet.
After a moment of silence, she stood and folded her arms.
“I’ve already made my decision about this. Now, you need to trust me. Besides, no one will ever figure this out. The vault will be safe. Security always comes at a price.”
“And what about our own security? This house. Our home. It’s our job to protect Sarah. You act surprised that I’m not excited about this? Come on! Don’t be so selfish! Nothing is more important than our daughter right now.”
“I’m not going to be humiliated again. Do you want me to lose this job?”
“Would you rather lose your job or your daughter? Because that’s what we’re talking about here.”
“Look, Cam, our house has more locks and alarms than most jewelry stores. No one is going to hurt us. No one is going to hurt Sarah.”
“She’s ten years old, Jen. She has her whole life ahead of her. Why do you have to involve her in this?”
“We’re not talking about it anymore. I’ve made up my mind.”
Jen ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.
It was now 2:30AM.
Cameron realized he’d have to spend the night on the couch.
He turned off the living room lights and tried to calm his mind, but a rustling penetrated the silence in the kitchen.
What was that ? He thought . Cameron, settle down. It’s nothing. The house. Yes, the house is shifting.
The rustling grew louder.
It’s just your imagination . He laydown on the couch . Get some sleep.
Then, the kitchen floorboards squeaked. Paranoia tapped him on the shoulder, taunting him.
Cameron. Stop. It’s nothing. Just the…
* Squeeeeak *
He quieted his breathing.
Was someone in the house? An intruder?
Cock-eyed faces flashed across Cameron’s mind, projecting an increasing sense of terror. The faces were non-descript criminals – the recent culprits of closed investigations. Along with the faces, he saw flashes of red. Streaks of red. He shut his eyes further, avoiding the sounds altogether.
Was Jen wrong? Did they forget to set the house alarms? One night would be all it took.
He opened his left eye.
The fridge door opened and spilled light into the living room. Cameron thought if he stayed quiet, he might be able to sneak up on the intruder, maybe even tackle him from behind.
No, too risky.
Either way, the gun he kept in the bedroom upstairs was out of the question.
Too far away.
Just then, the fridge slammed shut, drawers jostled open, and glasses clinked in the cupboards. Clearly, there was no time to get the gun. He would have to confront them before they reached Sarah’s room.
They are not taking her. Not tonight.
A glass shattered on the
After another sleepless night, her mind searched for alternative plans, but she was hypnotically pulled toward one brilliant concept.
“Jen, you can’t be serious.”
“Look, I’ve thought this through a hundred times. It’ll work.”
Cameron paced around the coffee table as he imagined the risk involved. His many nights of pacing had worn a trail in the carpet, and his big toe protruded from a hole in his stressed socks.
“Cam, I’ve weighed the other options. I know how this works. I don’t think…”
“No, you don’t know how this works. Have you considered what might happen to Sarah? What if they enter our home?”
“That’s not going to happen. You know the house is protected.”
Cameron’s gut churned with nervous energy. “If they injured the bank guards just think what they might do if they broke into our home.”
Jen sat on the couch and watched her husband blaze another trail in the carpet.
After a moment of silence, she stood and folded her arms.
“I’ve already made my decision about this. Now, you need to trust me. Besides, no one will ever figure this out. The vault will be safe. Security always comes at a price.”
“And what about our own security? This house. Our home. It’s our job to protect Sarah. You act surprised that I’m not excited about this? Come on! Don’t be so selfish! Nothing is more important than our daughter right now.”
“I’m not going to be humiliated again. Do you want me to lose this job?”
“Would you rather lose your job or your daughter? Because that’s what we’re talking about here.”
“Look, Cam, our house has more locks and alarms than most jewelry stores. No one is going to hurt us. No one is going to hurt Sarah.”
“She’s ten years old, Jen. She has her whole life ahead of her. Why do you have to involve her in this?”
“We’re not talking about it anymore. I’ve made up my mind.”
Jen ran upstairs and slammed the bedroom door.
It was now 2:30AM.
Cameron realized he’d have to spend the night on the couch.
He turned off the living room lights and tried to calm his mind, but a rustling penetrated the silence in the kitchen.
What was that ? He thought . Cameron, settle down. It’s nothing. The house. Yes, the house is shifting.
The rustling grew louder.
It’s just your imagination . He laydown on the couch . Get some sleep.
Then, the kitchen floorboards squeaked. Paranoia tapped him on the shoulder, taunting him.
Cameron. Stop. It’s nothing. Just the…
* Squeeeeak *
He quieted his breathing.
Was someone in the house? An intruder?
Cock-eyed faces flashed across Cameron’s mind, projecting an increasing sense of terror. The faces were non-descript criminals – the recent culprits of closed investigations. Along with the faces, he saw flashes of red. Streaks of red. He shut his eyes further, avoiding the sounds altogether.
Was Jen wrong? Did they forget to set the house alarms? One night would be all it took.
He opened his left eye.
The fridge door opened and spilled light into the living room. Cameron thought if he stayed quiet, he might be able to sneak up on the intruder, maybe even tackle him from behind.
No, too risky.
Either way, the gun he kept in the bedroom upstairs was out of the question.
Too far away.
Just then, the fridge slammed shut, drawers jostled open, and glasses clinked in the cupboards. Clearly, there was no time to get the gun. He would have to confront them before they reached Sarah’s room.
They are not taking her. Not tonight.
A glass shattered on the
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