CHAPTER 13

Title: My First Trading Partner is An Awaken

Disclaimer: This is a work of fiction. Unless otherwise indicated, all the names, characters, businesses, places, events and incidents in this book are either the product of the author's imagination or used in a fictitious manner. Any resemblance to actual persons, living or dead, or actual events is purely coincidental.

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Outside, it was utter chaos. The police were informed that there is an ongoing robbery in the DSH bank, a big bank that is only 1.2 kilometers away from the main police headquarters in the city.

"Those robbers are slapping me in my face right now! The heck with them!" The commanding officer of the National Police stationed in the city exclaimed but still calm himself down.

"Sir, we had managed to secure the perimeter; out colleagues are now in place even the snipers. The ambulance are also on standby." One of his adjutants reported.

"Alright, where is Inspector Santos?" the commanding officer said.

"I'm here, Sir. I would like to know the situation sir." The newcomer officer speaks directly focusing on the work at hand.

"I too need some more information, Inspector Santos. What we have already established is that there are six armed robbers inside the bank, nothing else." Said by the commanding officer.

"We need to established a contact, atleast we need too." The negotiator requested.

"The rest of you, satisfy the need of Inspector Santos. Are there no need updates with regards to what is going on inside? How many people are still there?" The urgency in his face is too apparent and observable.

"There's none, sir." The other officer said.

"Then, control those damn press first. We can't just say words to the public without knowing facts." The commanding officer said.

"These robbers, there action is too calm. I think their boss or whatever there leader was is discipline and yes, calm again, someone from the military or any uniform services." Inspector Santos theorize.

"It seems so, it has been 30 minutes and the robbers are still not contacted. They might heard the radio but no one is responding." The commanding officer stated.

The people outside wanted to know what is going on inside the bank, however, the robbers were instructed by their boss that no one should respond.

"The police are here. Now let's do plan B!" The leader said. What was clever to them is they had used voice distortion to confuse the bank customers.

They didn't take the police seriously, as they planned it meticulously even for minor details. "Change everyone to these clothes, fast!"

And all the 48 people including the clerks changed to a new set of clothes for everyone. This is to trick the police. One of the robbers went to the monitoring area to disable the CCTV monitoring system.

"Manager, join them in the recieving hall!" The boss said after they filled the bags with a lot of money. Manager Felix also went to the crowd of hostages as he was also instructed change his clothes.

The boss and the others drags the bags to the hole they had miticulously found near the bathroom and asked his three colleagues to secure the cash as fast as they can.

Unbeknownst to the police, the cash was already secured as the bank underground is connected to a sewer system that was studied by the robbers before they took action.

Manager Felix is also not aware of this blueprint.

The police is still trying to call the attention of the robbers using megaphones but there are still no response.

"This is the police! I am Inspector Santos, I'm here to listed to your demands. I would like to have a conversation with you or any of your representatives." Inspector Santos used the megaphone to initiate the negotiation.

However, he was meet with silence. No response whatsoever.

Inside the bank, the leader of the robbers remained eerily calm, his demeanor betraying none of the tension that gripped the hostages.

With a calculated air of confidence, he signaled to his accomplices to proceed with the plan they had devised.

"Boss, the cash is secured," came the voice over the radio, a subtle reassurance that their escape route was clear and their objective achieved.

"It's time," the robber declared, his voice carrying a hint of finality as they prepared to execute their next move.

They had waited ten minutes, allowing their colleagues to navigate the labyrinthine sewage system and reach their predetermined hideout.

"Shut up! No crying as we don't want to escalate these further," said by the boss using his voice distortion devise.

The ladies who are crying and as if overreacting to this kind of situation listens and try to control their cries.

Outside, the police negotiator's furrowed brow betrayed his growing unease as the silence from within the bank persisted.

This eerie absence of communication cast a pall of uncertainty over the entire operation, leaving Inspector Santos grappling with the ominous implications of the situation at hand.

In another ten minutes of woeing the robbers, movement occurs. As if on cue, the door swung open, and a wave of individuals flooded out, their movements synchronized, their attire identical. The sight left the onlookers and authorities alike reeling with bewilderment and disbelief.

"What's going on? Give me an update, damn it!" The police commander's voice crackled with urgency over the radio, his frustration palpable as he struggled to make sense of the chaotic turn of events unfolding before him.

"I don't know, it seems the hostages are out and in the same clothings!" One of the police responded.

The unlookers also were stunned and even the media, they find that it was like a movie!

In response to the commander's directive, the tactical team sprang into action, swiftly creating an isolation area to contain the bewildering spectacle.

"Genius!" One of the bystanders truthfully exclaimed knowing that such plan might really confused the police.

"Yeah! It was truly planned miticulously!"

"How the heck they managed to gather those clothes… and hell yeah, it's ingenious!" Another commented.

Reporters, sensing the opportunity for a headline-grabbing story, hurriedly set up their cameras, eager to capture every moment of the unfolding saga.

Their lenses trained on the scene, they relayed real-time updates to audiences across the city, their voices trembling with excitement and anticipation.

The commanding officer was also stunned by what had transpired within his sight. "Isolate them and interrogate them one by one!"

It's the only instruction he can give as of the moment.

With the robbers cunningly disguised among the hostages, the task ahead seemed daunting, compounded by the unexpected deployment of stun that momentarily incapacitated the police.

"Fuck! My off was gone!" One of the police exclaimed.

"Yeah! My leave was revoked because of this shitty robbery! They even tried to copy the stunns in the 1990's movie!" Another police commented.

"True. This will make our work more difficult that ever! Come on boss, we need more rooms for isolation and interview. There are 51 people in that room!" The police exclaimed as he shouted out his frustrations.

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Ryan, a seasoned private investigator renowned for his astute investigative skills, sat across from Jessica in one of the make shift interrogation room..

The weight of exhaustion bore heavily on his shoulders as he embarked on his fifth interview of the day. Despite his weariness, he wanted the case to be solved.

As Jessica recounted the harrowing events of the robbery, Ryan listened intently, his keen gaze fixed on her. The fluorescent lights cast stark shadows across the room, heightening the gravity of their conversation.

"It all happened so fast," Jessica whispered, her voice trembling with residual fear. "The robbers burst in, shouting and waving their guns. They forced us to the ground, and... I thought I was going to die."

Ryan's sympathy for Jessica's ordeal was palpable, yet his focus remained unwavering. "I can only imagine how terrifying that must have been," he murmured softly, his voice laced with empathy.

"But I need you to try and remember everything you can. Every detail could be crucial in helping us catch these criminals."

As Jessica struggled to recall the events with clarity, Ryan's mind raced with the urgency of their task. Despite the meticulous planning of the robbers, he remained determined to unearth any shred of evidence that could lead to their apprehension.

With a glimmer of hope, Jessica hesitated before sharing a crucial detail. "I heard the leader receive a radio call," she revealed, her voice tinged with uncertainty. "They said the cash was secured, and then... he said, 'it's time.'"

Ryan's pulse quickened at the revelation, his mind whirring with newfound possibilities.

"So they let you change clothes," he mused aloud, piecing together the puzzle with renewed vigor. With this newfound information, he delved deeper into his analysis, searching for patterns and connections that could shed light on the elusive truth.

"Thank you Jessica! What you heard might be the crucial link to the robbery and we might be able to know the robbers among you." Ryan said.

Ryan hurried towards Chief Thomas Delgado's office, his mind racing with the urgency of the situation. As he entered, he found Chief Delgado already on the phone, his brow furrowed in concentration.

"Chief," Ryan began, his voice urgent, "I have some crucial information about the bank robbery. We need to act fast."

Chief Delgado motioned for Ryan to take a seat with Manager Felix, the manager of the robbed bank. Once the call ended, Chief Delgado turned his attention to Ryan.

"What have you found, Ryan?" Chief Delgado asked, his tone serious.

Ryan wasted no time in getting to the point. "Do you have a blueprint of the bank?" he inquired, his eyes fixed on Chief Delgado.

Chief Delgado nodded. "Yes, we do," he replied. "I'll have it sent over to you for inspection."

As Chief Delgado made the necessary arrangements, Ryan turned his attention to Manager Felix's earlier statement. "Have you counted how much money is missing?" he asked, his voice tense with anticipation.

Manager Felix's response confirmed their worst fears. "It's 60.6 million pesos," he stated grimly. "A substantial amount."

Ryan exchanged a worried glance with Chief Delgado. The magnitude of the robbery was staggering, and they knew they had to act swiftly to apprehend the perpetrators before they could disappear with the stolen funds.

With the blueprint of the bank on its way to confirmed what he had in mind as he introduced it to Chief Delgado, the sudden commotion inside the seemingly empty bank sent shockwaves through the assembled police officers and investigators.

"Who's there? Don't we have no more people inside?" The chief asked.

"Yes sir, I believe so," one of the deputy affirms yet they still heard some movement inside the bank. They had meticulously combed through the building, ensuring it was empty, yet now, there was undeniable evidence of activity within.

Chief Delgado wasted no time in issuing orders, his authoritative voice cutting through the confusion.

"Check it out!" he commanded, his tone firm as his team sprang into action, surrounding the door of the bank with a sense of urgency.

As they cautiously entered the building, their eyes widened in disbelief at the scene before them. A young man, covered in filth from the sewage, stood alongside three individuals clad in the same filth, dragging bags that undoubtedly contained the stolen loot.

"Mister Ramirez?!" Manager Felix exclaimed, his voice thick with confusion. He stood beside Chief Delgado and Ryan, his expression a mixture of shock and disbelief.

They had re-entered the yellow lane and to the bank.Ryan turned to Manager Felix, his brow furrowed in concern.

"Who is he?" he asked, nodding towards the young man in sewage-stained clothes.

Manager Felix sighed heavily, his shoulders sagging under the weight of the unfolding chaos. "He's one of our valued customers," he explained wearily. "I thought he had left the bank before the robbery occurred."

Henry Ramirez, the young man in question, interjected with a sense of urgency. "These are the robbers, and there are still three more out there," he declared.

The revelation sent a chill down Ryan's spine, his mind reeling with the sudden turn of events. "Robbers?" he echoed, his voice barely above a whisper. "What's going on?"

Henry's request for a more private conversation was met with a silent agreement from Chief Delgado and the rest of the team.

"Get the ambulance! Bravo team, escort them and handcuff them," Chief Delgado commanded, his voice resonating with authority. "If this young man is telling the truth, then these three robbers were our prime suspects."

Thomas Delgado, the commanding officer of the operation, expressed concern as he regarded Henry Ramirez, seeking clarification. He wanted this operation to be done and resolved once and for all. So, he placed his hope on the young man.

"What actions did you take?" he inquired, his tone measured yet probing, mindful of the delicate situation at hand.

Henry met the chief's gaze with a solemn nod, his features reflecting the weight of his decision.

"In order to prevent their escape," he explained carefully.

"I had to immobilize them by breaking their legs. I did break their arm as they use it for bad things." His words hung heavy in the air, conveying the gravity of the situation without embellishment.

A sense of unease settled over the room as the implications of Henry's actions sank in. The robbers lay on the ground, unconscious.

Despite the necessity of Henry's intervention, the scene served as a sobering reminder of the violence and chaos that had unfolded within the bank walls.

The chief considered Henry's explanation carefully, weighing the moral and ethical implications of his decision. While it was clear that Henry had acted with the intention of maintaining order and preventing further harm, the severity of his actions could not be ignored.

"Did he just say that he broke the legs of those three?" One of the police inquiries.

"That's what I hear," another police said.