Chapter - 05
The next two days passed in a blur of routine chores and stolen moments with his cousins, especially little Lily. Jacob cherished every second with her, knowing that he might soon be leaving everything behind. He played games with her, read her stories, and held her close whenever he could.
On the morning of the third day, Jacob woke early, his heart pounding with a mix of anxiety and anticipation. He dressed quietly, glancing around his room one last time. It held few possessions, but it had been his only refuge for so many years. He packed a small bag with his most essential belongings, then went downstairs to say his goodbyes, hoping they wouldn't suspect anything.
His cousins were just finishing breakfast, getting ready to leave for school. Jacob hugged each of them tightly, saving Lily for last. He knelt down to her level, holding her small hands in his.
"Be a good girl, Lily," he said softly, his voice thick with emotion. "Always be good, no matter what."
Lily looked up at him with wide, innocent eyes. "I will, Jacob. I promise."
He kissed her forehead and held her for a long moment. Then he stood up and turned to his aunt. She was surprised when he embraced her, and she pulled back slightly to look at him.
"What's this all about, Jacob?" she asked, her tone both curious and concerned.
"It's nothing," Jacob replied, forcing a smile. "I just wanted to show you my appreciation for everything. Thank you for taking care of me and being kind."
His aunt nodded, still looking puzzled, but she patted his back gently. "Take care of yourself, Jacob."
Finally, Jacob approached his uncle, who was busy reading the morning newspaper. "Goodbye, Uncle," he said, his voice steady.
His uncle barely looked up, waving a hand dismissively. "Yeah, yeah. Go on, then."
With a final glance around the house, Jacob stepped outside. The morning air was crisp, and the sky was a clear, brilliant blue. He took a deep breath, feeling a strange mix of fear and hope. Today was the day. He was going to meet Richard by the town bank at noon, and whatever happened next, he was ready to take that leap of faith.
--
Jacob stood by the bank for an hour, scanning the street for any sign of Richard. As time dragged on, doubt started to creep in. Maybe Richard wasn't going to come. Just as he was about to give up, he felt a firm hand on his shoulder.
"I knew you would be here, young man," Richard said in a cheerful voice. He had been uncertain if Jacob would show up, but seeing him there made things easier for the plan he and his friends were about to execute.
"Mr. Richard, it's nice to meet you, sir," Jacob began, but Richard quickly cut him off.
"We'll talk later, young man. For now, I have something of great importance for you to do." Richard pointed discreetly at two security guards standing at the front of the bank, rifles in hand. "See those two men over there? I had a little beef with them before, and I don't want them to see me. What I want you to do is go up there and get them talking. If possible, make them go inside the bank. Think you can do that for me?"
Jacob's mind swirled with a plethora of questions, but Richard's commanding presence left him with little room to voice them. He could only nod in agreement.
"Good lad," Richard said, giving Jacob an encouraging pat on the back. "Now, off you go."
Jacob took a deep breath and approached the two guards. "Excuse me, sirs," he said, trying to sound casual. "I think I saw some kids messing around with the bank's rear entrance. Thought you might want to check it out."
The guards exchanged skeptical looks. "What's your name, son?" one of them asked.
"Jacob. I work at the newspaper office," Jacob replied, trying to keep his voice steady.
"The Daily Tin, huh?" the guard remarked, narrowing his eyes. "My cousin Jeremy's over there too."
Jacob seized the opportunity. "Yeah, he's one of my supervisors. Tough guy—runs a tight ship."
The guard chuckled. "That sounds like Jeremy, alright. Next time you see him, tell him Paul says hello."
"I will, sir," Jacob nodded.
The second guard, quieter until now, gave a short nod. "Alright, then. Let's check the back. You'll come with us," he said, motioning for Jacob to follow them to the back, through the bank.
As soon as Jacob managed to get the guards through the door and a bit further inside, the entrance burst open behind them. Three men, their faces obscured by hoods, stormed in. The guards barely had time to react before two of the hooded men trained their revolvers on them.
"Drop your weapons or be killed!" one of the robbers barked. "This is a bank robbery! Stay calm, and no one gets hurt."
The guards, caught off guard, reluctantly let their rifles fall to the floor. One of the hooded men swiftly knocked them out with the butt of his revolver, leaving them unconscious on the floor.
Jacob stood frozen, his mind a whirlwind of panic and disbelief. His eyes locked onto the man who had spoken. There was something unmistakable about that voice. Despite the hood obscuring his face, Jacob knew with a chilling certainty who it was.
The robber removed his hood for a second and gave Jacob a conspiratorial smile. "Well done, Jacob. I knew you could do it."
Jacob felt his world spinning. The man he had looked up to, the one who had offered him a glimmer of hope, was now revealed as a criminal. "Mr. Richard... what is this?"
The other two men had taken the bank manager with them, forcing him to open the vault at the back. The heavy door swung open with a metallic groan, revealing stacks of cash and valuables inside. They quickly filled their bags, moving with practiced efficiency. When they returned to the main room, their sacks bulging with money, Richard's eyes lit up with satisfaction. The plan had been executed flawlessly.