The Man With The Gun

The Man with the Gun

“Thanks Miranda. Keep the change.” Sam had been coming to Kelly’s Cafe since it opened five years ago. He stopped every morning on his way to work and on his days off he stopped in anyway just to see her.

They shared pleasantries and occasionally when business was slow they talked about their lives. Sam made sure to leave home early so he would have plenty of time to talk in case it was one of those days.

“I really want to finish my nursing program. I want to be a nurse practitioner. I don't want to run this coffee house for the rest of my life.” She complained.

Miranda had told Sam about her mother, Kelly and how she dropped out of college to come home and take care of her mom when she was diagnosed with breast cancer. There were bad parts to being an only child. She inherited the cafe when Kelly lost her battle. She was pursuing a nursing career and didn't care at all about the cafe. Selling it wasn't an option because it would feel too much like letting her mom down. She knew that's what Kelly wanted. But, she never voiced her own feelings about it.

Sam didn't have the nerve to ask Miranda out on a date. They had become friends, sort of. She told him two months ago that she broke it off with her boyfriend of three years because he was talking marriage and though she loved him, she didn't see him as “the one.”

“Hey Miranda?” He turned back to her as he was leaving. He thought maybe this was the time.

“Yeah, Sam?” She is so beautiful, he thought

“I'll see ya tomorrow.” He smiled and walked away. He lost his nerve.

Sam was a handsome man. Still quite young, out of college only two years, he hadn't lost his boyish looks. Dark hair cropped close and brown eyes. His dark skin made his white teeth look even whiter. He had a smile that wouldn't quit and a very sharp dresser.

It was impossible to know why this young, good looking man had such trouble around Miranda. She made him turn to Jell-O. Could she see his feelings for her? One would think so, but if she did, she didn't let on.

He left quickly afraid she might see his nerves. When he reached the car he realized he'd dropped his keys somewhere. A search around the car turned up nothing.

“Ah man, I have to go back in there.” He whispered to himself.

He bowed his head and started toward the cafe. He heard a commotion when he reached the door so he entered slowly.

“You,” there was a man with a gun. “Get over here,” he yelled at Sam. “Right now, go around to everyone in the room. I want laptops and cell phones, now!!” He held a gun on Sam the entire time he was yelling at him.

“Yes, Sir.” Sam replied in a hurry while taking off for the table area.

“Get a move on it boy. Don't leave a single one and don't forget about yours.”

Sam returned with the electronic devices and put them on the counter by the man with the gun. He, piece by piece, threw the devices on the floor and subsequently began to stomp them.

“Now, I want all of you on the floor face down, hands flat above your head. If you move, you're dead.” He barked his order to the customers.

“You will do as I say lady.” He said to a frightened Miranda.

“I don't have any money. We just opened and I took the money to the bank last night. All I have is about a hundred dollars that I've been making change with today. You can have it.”

As Sam got closer he could see the fear on Miranda's face. Her usual radiant smile, gone. Her alabaster skin was even paler than before. He looked into her blue eyes and couldn't believe how sad she looked.

“I wouldn't take another step if I were you, Mister.” The man warned him. His voice loud and boisterous.

“Listen, Sir I’ll give you all the money I have: cash, credit cards, debit cards, anything you want.” Sam's voice was deep and raspy. It quivered with every word.

“Who's this, your boyfriend?” The man was smiling at her.

“I'm a concerned friend. Please don't hurt her.” Sam was worried the man would see him shaking. But, as the fear welled up in him so did his feelings for Miranda.

“Why don't you shut up boy, before I put a bullet in your head?”

Miranda practically begged, “Please Mister, I’m telling you the truth. I will give you every penny the store has and all that I have. I will show you the safe is empty.”

“I don't care about your safe. Find the money: call the bank or take up a collection. I don't care just get it!” He yelled at her.

Sam didn't know what to do so holding his coffee, he raised both hands and took a step closer to the man with the gun.

“Will you let my customers go?” She asked him sheepishly.

“Uh, no,” the man with the gun had a sarcastic tone. “Why would I do that?”

“Because you're here for money not for them. They are just bystanders. Please let them go.” Sam was looking at her and he could see that she was shaking as badly as he was.

“No. Now shut up and don't ask again. I'm making the rules here. Not you.” Sam noticed for the first time that there was a clock behind the cash register on the wall. He read the time, 8:35 am.

“Please Sir, I can get you money.” Sam made a promise he didn't know if he could keep. But, the man looked intrigued.

“Get over here with your girlfriend, idiot. How are you going to get me money?” The man with the gun was officious

Sam tried to pay attention to details of the man but it was hard to do. He was wearing a mask, showing only his lips, nose, and eyes. The rest of him was covered with clothes except his neck. Sam did notice a small tattoo on the right side of his neck. It looked like the name, Janie.
His clothes were insignificant. Jeans, black t-shirt, black jacket, and black gloves. Nothing to identify him other than the tattoo.

Sam walked slowly behind the counter next to Miranda. Still holding his coffee up along with his other hand. He felt so much better standing next to her. He didn't know how to protect her. He just knew he would do whatever it took to keep her safe. He realized in that moment that she could very well be the one for him. It didn't matter that they had never been on a date or kissed. All the touching done was hands exchanging money. He made sure to make that happen.

“What can I do?” Sam asked the man with the gun. The man switched hands with the gun. Sam noticed he was wearing a wedding band. He wondered who Janie was.

“You said you could get me money. So that's what I want you to do.”

“Okay, but I need to use the phone.” Sam replied unsure of who he was going to call. He had a little money saved but didn't have a lot.

“Who are you going to call?” The man barked at him. Clearly he was an impatient man.

“My father.” He had to have an answer. But, he didn't know how his father would react to this. Sam moved away from his family when he took a position with a law firm in the city. He was born in a small town in New York but always dreamed of living in the city. That was a concept his father had disagreed with. Sam was his only child since his sister was killed in a car accident seven years ago. Randy had a difficult time letting Sam go. They had ironed out their differences in the past year but Sam hadn't seen his father in six months.

“Aww he's going to call his daddy.” The man with the gun mocked him. “Make the call boy, but move slowly.”

He took the Cafe's phone from the counter but was worried his shaky hands would drop it. He did not want to demonstrate such fear in front of the man. But, as he started to dial he almost dropped it.

He looked at the man to see if the fumble angered him: his eyes were narrowed and cold as ice peering at Sam. The gun placed firmly in the man's hand and pointed right at Sam's face.

Before Sam could make the call, a young lady called out from the floor, “Sir, I'm going to be sick. Can I please have something to throw up in?” She was a pretty girl with dark red hair and freckles.

He looked sideways but could still see Sam, “No and if you mess in that floor, you'll regret it.” The gunman turned back to Sam and Miranda.

The phone rang several times and Sam began to worry that his father wouldn't answer. Just when he was about to hang up he heard his dad's voice.

“Hello Sam, nice to hear from you. I was beginning to wonder if you fell off the face of the earth. Or maybe you forgot about me.” Randy said in his usual jovial tone. Sam was somewhat surprised at Randy's tone giving the amount of time since they had spoken last.

“Hi Dad, can you do me a favor?”

“Watch what you say boy.” The man with the gun whispered, paying close attention to every word Sam said to his father.

“What's going on son? You don't sound right.” Randy worried a great deal over his son.

“I need money, Dad. Do you think you could wire me some?” He was certain his dad would notice the trepidation in his voice.

“Are you in trouble Sam?” If his father could see him shift from foot to foot he would know the answer was yes.

“Kind of.” Sam thought he could be just elusive enough that his dad would catch on that something was happening.

“Put it on speaker phone.” The man whispered trying hard to keep Randy from hearing. Sam thought maybe he was the one that was catching on.

A man from across the room rose to a kneeling position. But, before he could speak, the man saw him.

“You had better sit down man, or I'll shoot you where you are.” The gunman told him. Sam could see the fear in the man's eyes and he quickly laid back down.

The cafe was small. It only had ten small tables and was decorated in a contemporary style. The walls were bricked all the way around with an arch that separated the shop from the bathrooms and emergency exit. The walls were relatively blank except a photo of Miranda and Kelly on the wall behind the counter and other photos of Miranda and Kelly on vacation, Miranda's high school graduation, and other photos that were just mother and daughter. Sam often wondered where her dad was.

“What do you need it for?” Randy asked. His phone was really loud and Sam knew all the people in the cafe could hear it.

“Just some bills. I was off work sick for a week last month and I got behind.” He didn't know where that lie came from or if his dad would buy it.

“Sick?” Are you okay?” Sam could hear the worry in his father's voice. He knew how things like that scared him.

Right then came a voice from the floor. “Excuse me, Sir?” It was a young woman with dark red hair.

“What do you want?” Sam could see his eyes squint together as he spoke.

“Can I please go to the bathroom?” She asked, her chin quivered when she spoke.

“No you can't Woman. Now sit!” He didn't hold back his disgust.

The young woman sank back to the floor with tears running down her face. She was shaking so bad Sam could see it.

“Yeah Dad, I’m okay. I just need to catch up on my rent.”

“How much do you need?”

“As much as you can spare.” Sam knew his dad would know something was up after saying that. His dad, an investment banker, had taught him how to save money and he put money in a savings account that Sam couldn't touch until he married.

“Okay, Sam Where should I send it?” His dad offered without another question.

“Where should I tell him to send it?” Sam whispered to the man with the gun.

“Tell him to transfer it to this account.” He said reaching for a piece of paper.

Sam read off the account number to Randy and hoped he would notice it wasn't his bank. After all Randy set that account up for him. He wanted to make sure Sam had all that he needed when he graduated college.

“Sir? Will you please let these people go?” Miranda asked again with fear in her voice.

“Now why would I do that?”

“They aren't useful to you.” Her voice was so quiet.

“I'll tell you what, if I don't get my money I'm going to kill one of these people every fifteen minutes. How's that? I'll make them useful to me.” It was clear to Sam that Miranda had angered the man with the gun by the way he spoke. It was hard to see his expressions because of his mask so Sam had to depend on his tone of voice.

A collective gasp arose from the floor. There were cries that came from the floor.

Sam noticed a man keep raising his head and watching the gunman. While the man wasn't watching he inched his way forward using his forearms.

“I'll call my father again. You don't have to hurt these people.”

“Please Sir, don't hurt them.” Miranda begged for the lives of the people in the table area.

“Why do you care about these maggots?”

“They are people Sir. We are all God's creatures. These people didn't do anything to any of us.”

While the man was occupied with Miranda's lecture, the man from the floor rose to his knees. He still had his hands on the floor to keep his balance.

Just as he got to his knees the gunman turned around and pointed his gun at him.

“What do you think you're doing?” The man on the floor didn't respond. “I said what are you doing?” The gunman yelled.

The man on the floor didn't answer. “You have five seconds to answer me or I will kill you. “Now for the last time what are you doing?” He was pointing the gun at him. The man still didn't answer. He just hung his head.

Suddenly the gun fired and the man collapsed on the floor. He was writhing in pain from the gunshot that struck his upper thigh.

“God's creatures?” He scoffed. “Are you kidding me? Who is this God? Huh? Is he the same God that took my job, the same one that gave my five year old daughter cancer? The same one that took her from me last year? Are we talking about the same God here?” He was getting louder with each word. “That, little girl is what I think of God's creatures.” He said with much disdain while pointing at the man who he just shot.

Just then Sam began to understand why the man was here doing this and he needed to figure out how to handle the situation, to come up with a way to appeal to his soft side. It was obvious he had one after what he said about his little girl. But, this situation seemed to be insurmountable.

“Can I call my father now?” Sam asked cautiously.

“Speaker phone.” Even though the man wore a mask, Sam could see the growing rage in his eyes.

The phone rang four times before Randy picked it up. Sam was getting nervous again.

“Hey Dad, I have to meet my landlord and I haven't received the money yet.”

“I know. Large transfers have to be done in person. I'm pulling into the bank right now.”

“Okay, I need it in fifteen minutes.” Sam hoped with everything in him that his dad would see the holes in his story.

While the time passed Sam knew he had to get the man to talk.

“Sir, if you don't mind me asking, does that lettering on your neck refer to someone named Janie?”

“What's it to you,” the gunman scoffed. “You can't ask me questions.”

“I'm sorry, I didn't mean to pry. I thought it may be someone special.” Sam was trying to sound normal but his voice was shaking something awful.

Ten minutes went by and nothing.

“Come up here Red. The man ordered the young woman with the red hair, while pointing the gun at her.

“Please Sir, don't hurt me.” She whispered, her silent tears turned to sobbing.

“Get up!” He yelled at her.

“No! Please don't do that, Sir,” Miranda begged. “Please don't hurt her.”

“You don't have to do this,” Sam tried to reason with him. “What about Janie? What would she want you to do?” Sam took a huge shot in the dark.

“Please, please don't do this.” The young girl begged. She stood, but didn't take a step.

Right then Sam heard the gun fire and the people on the floor screamed. Miranda cupped her hands over her face and screamed too. She almost fell.

“Oh my God!” Sam cried. Looking at the woman collapsed on the floor. Blood was pooling under her from the wound in her chest. He could hear sounds coming from her. It sounded like she was gargling liquid. After just about a minute the sound went away. He knew then that the young woman with the red hair was gone.

The man who was lying next to her crawled over to check on her.

“Get away from her. Now!” He yelled at the man, and he scurried back to his spot on the floor.

“Don't mention God one more time. Do you understand me?” He waved the gun around pointing it at random people before settling on Miranda's face. “And, to answer you boy, Janie would want me to avenge her.” Sam could hear the emotion in his voice.

“Yes Sir.” Sam had tears in his eyes and was about to let them flow. He wanted to be strong for Miranda and the others but he could feel his strength leaving him.

“Now call Daddy and tell him to transfer my money!” He yelled.

Sam could see the cars passing by through the glass entrance. He wanted so much to scream for one of them to stop.

“Hello.” Came Randy’s voice again.

“Dad? What's going on at the bank? It's been fifteen minutes and I don't have the money.” It was all he could do to not say the words 'help me' into the phone as fast as he could.

“There's been a little glitch but don't worry, it's coming.”

“Dad, I have fifteen more minutes until my landlord shows up.”

“You'll have it in time. Don't worry.”

“Sir Can you please let these people leave?” Miranda asked for the third time. Sam wanted to take her in his arms and hold her until the man left. He needed to make her feel safe. But, would she be or feel safe in his arms?

“If you ask me that one more time, I’ll shoot them all while you watch, then I’ll shoot you. Do you hear the words coming out of my mouth?” Now he was pointing the gun at Miranda. Sam took a step closer to her but didn't know what to do after that.

“Yes, Sir.” She whispered. Sam could tell she felt defeated.

It had been forty-five minutes since the man with the gun walked into the cafe. He was five minutes away from shooting the next customer.

“You get up here boy.” He chose a young man this time. He looked like a teenager. Brown hair and freckles.

“Sir, Sir, please don't take another life.” Sam had never begged this hard for anything in his life.

“You don't need to do this. Janie wouldn't want you to do this.” Sam knew the risk he was taking bringer her up again.

“Janie is dead!” The man screamed at Sam.

“Please, oh my God, please don't do this.” The young man cried. Sam knew he had to stop him from shooting the boy. But, right then the gun went off again. He turned back to Miranda and Sam.

Sam watched the young man. He laid on the floor twitching and bleeding from the head. He could hear the same gargling that came from the red head. After about thirty seconds he was still. Just a baby, Sam thought.

“I said God was not to be mentioned one more time!” He was angrier now than before.

“Now I’m going to check my account and if there isn't money in it I will kill the rest of them and then you. Then I will hunt down daddy and blow his head off.

Sam didn't know if it was fear for his own life, fear for Miranda's, fear for his dad, or all the above but he made a split second decision to reach over the counter for the gun.

Just as his hands wrapped around it the man pulled him over the counter. The weight of Sam's body pulled the man down. They were tussling on the floor for the gun and Sam knew this was a fight he could not win. Both had their hands on the gun when it went off. The sound shocked Sam and for a second he was stunned before the man went limp. He laid there in the floor for a minute with the man on top of him. He could feel the warm blood begin to soak through his shirt. Sam rolled him off and looked over at him. His lips were blue and his mouth was open and his eyes were still open. He scooted away from him to put some distance between them. He sat up looking at his hands. The same hands that had been holding that coffee just took a man's life. He put his head in those hands and began to cry. Before he knew it Miranda's arms were around him. He had never felt as safe as he did in her arms. She was warm and soft. As he sat there in her arms he could hear the customers running out.

Miranda pulled away looked him in the eyes, brushed his hair over to one side and whispered, “It's going to be okay.” Sam heard sirens outside. He looked into Miranda's eyes. Her black hair lay perfectly around her face. She leaned down and gently kissed his lips.

He looked up and saw his father standing in the door with a gun in his hand.

“Dad?”

“Yeah Son?”

“Did you?” Sam didn’t finish that sentence.

“It's okay Sam.”