I managed to convince Tom to tell me his story, hey we got at least 9 more minutes on the clock, I think we got enough time.

I pulled out a mini tape recorder/transmitter and hooked it behind my ear, I clicked on a tiny switch that sends the whole conversation back to the police a distance away.

"My girlfriend Carmella, what am I saying, my future wife Carmella" he corrected with a laugh as if he'd just made the most stupid mistake. "and I have been dating for the past 7 years. We were high school sweethearts, when went to the same college, we met each other's parents." He stresses it, as if he was trying to convince us of his position, of his opinion.

"But starting this year she changed, s-she started going out more, staying out late. She was more moody, ruder, my Carmella was changing...before my eyes and I couldn't stop it" the hysteria rose in his voice. "My beloved wife-to-be...she...s-s-she...." He couldn't say it.

"Take your time," I cooed.

I feel a kick on my leg, "Awh!" I look down to see the middle male hostage had laid down flat sideways to stretch far enough to kick me. He seems to be the most stressed of them all. Calm down, I mouth to him for encouragement. He shot daggers at me.

Tom hadn't seen what went down, Thank God, he takes in deep breathes and gulps dangerously, dangerous because it made me think like when he breathes out his heart would fall out. He just looked so frail I wanted to pull him tight into a hug, cradle him against my boobs and spoon feed him mashed carrots. Too weird?

"S-s-she..." he finally managed to spit it out. "she found another man-men!." He said at last, I could see the veins in his neck.

Another male hostage with honey gold hair mumbled something close to "So?"

Tom answered, "It wasn't normal men she was seeing. She was involved with married men."

That gave me pause, but I still sided with the honey haired man who mumbled again, "So?"

"We were never the richest couple, hell, after highschool she dragged me half way across the country to 'live far away from our families'. We almost starved to death, dropped out of college at a point" he was shouting now, I had to adjust my earpiece to make sure it was working but made it look like I was rubbing my ear.

"Then all of a sudden money started rolling in, we could go to school again, go out for brunch, we bought a damn house!" he flung his arms out in my direction, I don't flinch. "Several months later I find unfinished bottles of water in the trash, I was always a stickler for recycling so I picked them up, just to notice 3 pregnancy tests in the trash"

I gasp. What? The story is really cool and I hope it's not heading to where I think it was.

"I was ecstatic to be staring a family with the love of my life, after that I started saving. I had sold every miniscule thing I had, everything I owned to be able to afford and care for the baby" he gulps and begins to wobble in place, one look at him and it there was no question about he's mental sanity.

Tick tick tick tick...

4:23...4:22....4:21...4:20

Urgh! I keep forgetting about the damn timer! I wanted to inform Tom to hurry up his story but I didn't want him to react negatively and hit the detonator button too quickly. What to do, what to do, think girl think!

"Yo! We just about done over here. Everything good with you?" a beefy guy comes out of from inside the bank. He was big, hairy, and dark skinned, he has one of those sock masks over his head as he walked out.

He gave the scene before him a confused look, I can only imagine what he was seeing. 5 hostages and an unknown girl sitting around the guy who was supposed to be out on look out like he was a damn campfire, listening to his story.

"HEY, WHAT'S GOING ON!?" the guy yells.

Oh no.

"Fella's! We've been had!" the beefy guy yells back at his accomplices.

All the hostages begin to panic, then the guy looks back at Tom, "You two timing double-crosser!" he guy begins to hyperventilate, "You are in cahoots with the cops!"

"Waw, someone's mom raised them to never curse." I comment. "Like, your language is legit clean. Who'd have guessed?"

Everyone gives me a look that is clearly saying for me to shut up, but hey, I just had to say my mind.

"You," the guy points at Tom. "We were just gonna screw you over and ditch you. But the boss had a change of heart and sent me out here, but after what I've seen, good luck getting this"

The guy pulls out a diamond from only God knows where, it was clean, pristine and elegant. In that moment I saw what was left of Tom's sanity snap.
Without even saying a single word Tom lifts up his hand and brings it flying down onto the big red button of the detonator. Times slows down as everything focused on that one...single...action...