The negotiator — an old lemur who had seen much in his life, a true master of words, a brilliant psychologist.
A legend.
In his paws, as always, was a modest, worn-out notebook, into which he recorded the criminal’s psychological traits.
Then, using his knowledge, he identified his weak and strong points, his true motivation.
Just a few words from the criminal, their intonation, his movements — and the negotiator knew his character.
He moved slowly but confidently, despite his advanced age.
Chief Bogo watched him go with great hope.
The negotiator passed the outer perimeter and stopped exactly halfway between the entrance door of the Lemur Bank and the cordon of police cars behind him.
The police froze in anticipation.
Behind the second cordon, which separated the civilians, those few who could find an angle for filming fell silent and listened.
The negotiator held a megaphone in his paws and raised it to his mouth.
“A-a-a-a…” The confident voice quickly dropped to a quiet wheeze; the lemur took a heavy breath and, letting out a death rattle, fell face-first onto the asphalt.
The police chief’s eyes widened, and before anyone could understand what had happened, panic set in.
“They killed him, they killed him!” came from the onlookers, who, from their incomplete view of the scene, thought the negotiator had been attacked.
“It’s the bandits, there are two of them!” someone shouted from the very back of the crowd.
“No, it’s a whole gang of at least ten,” came the reply from the other side.
“With poisoned darts!” cried one of the small mice standing in front.
“And the police only have tranquilizers!” “They’re outnumbered!” “I heard about bombs at city hall…” “Yeah, I heard that too, they say the mayor himself was kidnapped…” By the time Chief Bogo ran to the first line of defense, where two officers had already brought the negotiator’s body, real panic had set in.
“What’s wrong with him?” was the police chief’s first question.
“He just fell, boss.” “Get a doctor, now!” “Maybe it’s his heart.” “Did anyone see who shot?” “Boss, there were no shots, he just fell.” By then, the officers guarding the second perimeter had also succumbed to panic.
“Sir, shall I order fire?” came through Bogo’s earpiece.
“No, stand down.” “Sir, prepare the dynamite?” “No, nothing needs to be blown up yet!” “Snipers can’t see the target…
sir, switch to poison darts?” “Right, everyone calm down!” Bogo had the negotiator’s megaphone in his hooves.
“Everyone return to your positions and wait for orders, disperse the crowd of civilians!
I’ll handle the negotiations myself!” Credit where it was due — he knew how to give orders and manage subordinates.
The police returned to their positions, and the unfortunate negotiator was carried away on a stretcher.
The crowd, which had been panicking so badly a minute ago, fell silent again and waited for developments.
Holding the megaphone in his hooves, Chief Bogo addressed the Lemur Bank in a strong voice: “Crocodile, surrender!” A huge crocodile eye flickered behind the curtains.
“Snipers, right window from the door, behind the curtain,” Bogo whispered into his microphone.
“Special forces, stand by.
Begin the assault on my command.” “The curtains are in the way, sir, I can’t see him.” “Special forces ready, awaiting orders, sir.” But Bogo didn’t have time to continue commanding the assault, when suddenly all the doors and windows of the Lemur Bank, as if on command, slammed shut with heavy armored bolts.
Metal shutters struck the window ledges with a dull thud, securely blocking the window openings.
The main entrance, along with the windows, was also blocked by huge metal shutters that had emerged from the ceiling and floor.
They gleamed brightly in the sun.
The entire bank, as if on command, was locked down and turned into a fortress.
“Crocodiles don’t surrender!” came the muffled cry of the crocodile from behind the bank’s armored doors.
Chief Bogo stood in a stupor, while questions about what to do came through his speaker.
His brows moved from side to side; it was clear he was thinking about something.
“Sir, your orders?
Sir…” came through his microphone.
“Prepare the dynamite and connect me with the head of security at the Lemur Bank.
And send our technicians to me,” the ZPD police chief said dryly.