The Triangle

The Demetrios brothers were crazy. Violent, crazy, murderous... all those adjectives applied. Petros and Silas spent the last several weeks robbing a chain of small town banks up and down the Pacific coast. They selected banks in small towns without a lot of law enforcement, hitting them hard and fast, getting away before any kind of substantive reinforcements could be called in to capture them. They always had a hideout planned in advance, and always used an inside man.

The brothers made national news and had a reward out for their capture by the time they were through Washington state and halfway down the Oregon coast. They had to be more selective about their inside man, now.

At the bank in Lakeside, Oregon, Jack was their man.

Jack had been a teller with the bank for more than ten years, and knew all of the branch's ins and outs. As an added bonus, he wasn't particularly enthusiastic about his job, which appealed to the Demetrios brothers. A disgruntled employee was an easily swayed employee. They initially contacted him by phone.

Their hunch was correct; Jack was very interested in making some quick cash. He even told them the best time to hit the place, when the bank transferred the most money into the branch to cover townspeople coming in to cash their paychecks. These preparatory conversations were all done by disposable phone, ensuring the Demetrios brothers' anonymity.


As they planned, on the chosen day, Jack arranged his schedule so that he closed. He pretended to fumble with his keys as he watched the last employee head out of the parking lot. That's when the Demetrios brothers grabbed him and forced him inside. They were unidentifiable with their ski masks. To the surveillance camera mounted over the entrance, it legitimately looked as if Jack had been surprised and forced into the bank. They even hammed it up for the camera, throwing Jack into a desk, then grabbing him and dragging him back to his feet. The police would review the tapes and see that he had been forced to comply. He'd be questioned and released and would then find an envelope full of money taped inside the wheel well of his car.

Exactly as planned.

Once inside, Petros "forced" Jack over to open the vault while Silas watched intently.

Per their arrangement, Jack went into the vault to load up the money. He knew which bills would be marked, and where all the dye-packs were. He spread the money evenly between the two bags, while Petros and Silas watched the front door and Jack, respectively. Jack finished loading up the money and lugged the two bags out of the vault, setting them down in front of the Demetrios brothers.

Exactly as planned.

Once each brother had possession of a bag, they turned their guns on Jack.

"This is where partnership ends, friend." Petros sneered.

"Get in the vault," his brother added, ushering Jack along with the gun.

Jack reluctantly entered the vault as Silas slammed the bars shut, locking Jack inside.

"Key," Silas demanded.

Jack handed over his keys and watched them tossed to the far side of the room, where he would certainly be unable to reach them.

"By the way," Petros sneered. "Don't hold breath for the money. Not likely to be there."

The brothers were free to escape with all the money themselves.

Exactly as they planned.

Then, red and blue lights flashed across the walls. Sirens blared as a dozen cop cars screeched into the parking lot and surrounded the only entrance to the bank.

"You!" Petros screamed, turning to the vault. But Jack had already ducked out of sight, safely pressed against the wall of the vault that shared the door. And there was no way they'd be able to find the keys and open the vault in time to use him as a hostage before the police charged in.

The police stormed the bank and the brothers, forced to choose between a shootout and surrender, dropped their guns.

Once the Demetrios brothers were safely in custody, the police captain retrieved Jack's keys and released him from the vault.

"Good thing you tripped the silent alarm," the captain said. "It saved your life."

"Thank you, Captain. It certainly did. Now, about that reward..."


Three days later, Jack smiled to himself as he looked at the fifty thousand dollar check in his hands. All it had taken was a chance phone call, some careful strategy... and a few hours' worth of giving statements once the security video cleared his involvement.

Exactly as he planned.


(764 words)