The Millionaires

12

“W-We didn’t…” Charlie tries to say something, but nothing comes out. My throat locks up and I feel like I swallowed my tongue.

“Back up!” the bull-necked agent shouts, moving deeper into the cavern.

My legs are jelly as we step back. I look to Charlie, but it only gets worse. His whole face is white… his mouth gapes open. Like me, all he can do is stare at the gun.

“Officer…” I stutter.

“Agent!” the man with the bull neck corrects me.

“I-I’m sorry… I just…”

“You must be Oliver.”

“How’d you…”

“You really thought you could leave the bank twice without being followed?”

“What the hell’re you doing, Gallo?” Shep calls out. “I was just about to bring them in. All I needed was-”

“Don’t bullshit me!” Gallo barks as Shep falls silent. Before we can react, Gallo pushes between me and Charlie, shoving us back with his shoulders. Not too far. Just enough to aim his gun at Shep. “I’m not a moron,” Gallo says. “I know what you’re up to!”

Oh, God – he thinks we – “I-It’s not how it looks,” I blurt as Gallo turns back to me. “We were about to come in! I swear, that’s where-”

“Enough,” Gallo interrupts. He’s got a heavy Boston accent that doesn’t apologize for a single syllable. “It’s over, Oliver. Y’understand?” He doesn’t even wait for an answer. “The only thing that’s gonna make your day better is if you spare us some headache and tell us where you hid the money.”

It’s a simple question. Spill the beans, hand over the money, and take the first step to getting our lives back. But the way Gallo asks it… the anger in his voice… the way he grits his teeth… you’d think he had a personal interest. I’ve seen enough divorce settlements to know something’s up.

I look to Charlie, who slowly shakes his head. He sees it too.

“Oliver, this isn’t the time to play hero,” Gallo warns. “Now I’m gonna ask you again: Where’d you put the money?”

“Don’t tell him!” Shep shouts.

“Shut up!” Gallo snaps.

“Once you give it up, we’ve got nothing left!” Shep continues. “It’s our only bargaining chip!”

“You want to see a bargaining chip!?” Gallo explodes, his face a deep red rage. Standing between me and Charlie, he lifts his gun and points it directly at Shep.

“Oh, you gotta be kidding,” Shep blurts.

“What’re you doing?” Charlie asks, stepping forward.

“Plant your feet!” Gallo shouts, turning his gun to Charlie’s face. My brother backs up, hands in the air. “DeSanctis…” Gallo shouts to the lanky blond agent by the door.

“I got him,” DeSanctis says, aiming his gun straight at Charlie’s back.

Unable to turn around, Charlie looks my way to get the overview.

Don’t move, I say with a glance.

Don’t tell them, Charlie shoots back. He’s trying to play strong, but I see the way he’s breathing. Already short of breath.

“Last chance, Oliver,” Gallo warns. “Tell me where the money is, or we start with Shep and work our way to your brother.”

Charlie and I lock eyes. Neither of us says a word.

“He’s bluffing,” Shep says. “He’d never do it.”

Gallo keeps his gun on Shep, but he’s watching me. “You sure you’re willing to take that chance, Oliver?”

“Please just put the gun down…” I plead.

“Don’t fall for it,” Shep says. “They’re Secret Service, not hitmen. They’re not gonna kill anyone.” Turning to the blond agent by the door, he adds, “Isn’t that right, DeSanctis? We all know the protocol.”

Gallo looks back at DeSanctis, who gives him one of those imperceptible nods I usually save only for my brother. I know the look of that one. Storm clouds brewing. There’s more riding on this than just some lost cash.

Without a word, Gallo pulls back the hammer of his gun.

“C’mon, Jim,” Shep laughs. “The joke’s over…”

But as we all quickly realize, Gallo isn’t laughing. He tightens his grip, and his finger slithers across the trigger. “I’m waiting, Oliver.”

Frozen in place, I feel like someone’s standing on my chest. I can barely breathe. If I stay quiet, he pulls the trigger. But like Shep said… if I give up the cash, we lose our only chit. Big deal – it’s better than gambling with our lives.

“Tell him!” Charlie shouts.

“Don’t say it!” Shep warns. Turning back to Gallo, he adds, “Can we stop with this already? I mean, you’ve already caught us – what else are you hoping to-”

The two men stand face-to-face, and Gallo lets out the slightest of smirks.

Shep’s expression falls. He’s paste white. Like he just saw a ghost. Or a thief. “You want the money for yourself, don’t you?” he stutters.

Gallo doesn’t answer. He just steadies his aim.

“Don’t do it!” I plead. “I’ll tell you where it is!”

“So the big dollars were yours?” Shep asks. “Who brought you in? Lapidus? Quincy?”

The answer never comes. Gallo licks his lips. “Goodbye, Shep.”

“Jimmy, please…” Shep begs as his voice cracks and shatters. “You d-d-d…” He can’t get the words out. As big as he is, his whole body’s shaking. His eyes flood with tears. “Not in the h-hea…”

“No…!” Charlie cries.

Gallo doesn’t flinch. He just pulls the trigger.