The Merger – 30

 

Josh and Mike entered the bank separately, both posing as customers, both carrying messenger bags over their shoulders. Josh arrived first. He filled out a deposit form, but before going to the teller window, he asked the security guard stationed unobtrusively by the customer service desks if there was a men's room. After the guard pointed him in the right direction, Josh went into it then into one of the two stalls. Five minutes later, looking nothing like he had when he'd entered, Josh left, strolling casually to the empty office that Osborne had set up for their use. Stanton was already there with another man he introduced as Thad.

Ten minutes later, Mike joined them, coming in through a door that connected to the employees' break room. He had shed the business attire he'd been wearing when he'd entered the bank, having exchanged it for jeans and a dark shirt comparable to what the other men were wearing. As with Josh, the clothes he'd had on were now in the bag he was carrying.

"I've already installed wireless listening devices in the tellers' work area and where we'll be waiting for Mr. Nowell and his associates," Stanton said, handing Mike and Josh tiny earbuds. "Since I know the access codes, there will be no problem with us getting in there after the last employee has left for the day. I trust you two are armed," he said to Josh and Mike.

With a small smile, Josh replied, "Define armed. We each have a pair of stun guns. I have the feeling Mike also has a pistol. I don't."

"That's right," Stanton replied. "I remember you telling me a while back that you never carry a gun."

"I don't," Josh replied succinctly, suppressing a laugh at the look of disbelief on Thad's face. "Don't worry," Josh told him. "We're well versed in how to use the Tasers effectively to take a person down for the count."

"If you say so," Thad said under his breath.

Since all four men were used to playing the waiting game until it was time to act, there was only the usual tension that came from anticipating the start of an operation. Stanton left once, just before closing time, returning to say that Osborne was doing well, all things considered, and would text him as soon as the last person was gone.

The fact that Stanton was running this part of the operation didn't bother Mike. "After all," he'd told Josh before they'd left the agency, "he does know the bank, since his company set up the security, and he knows Osborne better than we do because of that."

It was just after seven fifteen when Stanton checked his phone, nodded, and said, "Osborne's disarmed everything. Let's move."