Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye Fan Fiction: "Bank On It" - Part 1

*** What was I thinking? Musings on my foray into fan fiction. Sue Thomas, F.B.Eye was created by Dave Alan Johnson and Gary R. Johnson. ***

"Bank On It," by B.A. Rogers

SCENE 1 - In the conference room.

The team is gathered to watch video on the big screen.

Tara: Here's the first robbery. This is the main bank on Manhattan Street. D.C.

All watch the bank surveillance video on the big screen.

Tara: This is the second hit, from this morning, at a branch office. On Westminster Street.

The robber has longish, blonde hair and is wearing sunglasses. Except for briefly shoving a note toward the teller, he keeps his hands in his pockets the entire time. The tape doesn't reveal much about his appearance.

Jack: Not much to go on. But at first glance, it looks like the same guy. Same M.O.

Sue: Tara, could you replay the first one, please?

Tara nods and puts the first video on-screen. Sue watches it closely. She stands up.

Sue: Could you play them side-by-side, please?

Tara complies.

Sue: Freeze them.

Sue studies the frames.

Sue: Look. This woman was a teller at the main bank the day it got robbed, and she's a teller at this branch office the day it got robbed.

Jack: How unlucky can you get.

THEME SONG [click here] and OPENING CREDITS

SCENE 2 - In the bullpen.

Sue, Lucy, Myles, Bobby, and Tara are present.

Sue is showing a box to Lucy. It is a new crockpot.

Sue: Do you think this one is big enough?

Lucy studies the box.

Lucy: I think so. I've never really cooked this large a batch of anything before in my life.

Jack walks in, sees the crockpot.

Jack: (as he's walking past) Reminds me of home.

Sue: (to Jack at his desk) Really? Did you eat a lot of chili?

Jack: Chili? (laughs) Did I eat a lot of chili?

Myles: Oh, no. Don't get him started with the "Is the penguin an Arctic bird?" jokes. By the way, the punchline is "no."

Bobby: I think next to the trusty dog, chili is man's best friend.

Sue: Good. Then you'll help Lucy and me find a winning recipe for the Chesterfield School Annual Chili Cook-off.

Myles: Somehow I fear this is not going to end well.

Lucy: Come on, Myles. Sue and I can figure out how to make chili. Please.

Tara: These things can be harder than they look.

Jack: Now, remember, there are all different kinds and styles of chili---

Myles: Ha! Jack, the fount of culinary knowledge.

Jack: ---Such as . . . Hot . . . Very hot . . . Very, very hot . . .

Sue: Oh, we're entered in the "hot" category.

Jack: Really.

Bobby cracks up.

Sue: Lucy said that should be the easiest one to win.

Bobby: What?

Lucy: Never mind.

Jack: (Sue) I tell you what. You make it and we will come.

Sue: (to all) See: it's true what they say. Jack really is a brave man.

Dimitrius: (walking in) Everybody ready?

Cut to the bullpen.

Jack, Bobby, Dimitrius, Myles, Sue, Tara and Lucy are present.

Tara: The woman who was at the bank during both robberies is Julie Linden. She's an event coordinator for the bank. She works on charity fundraisers, youth sports leagues and other things the bank sponsors. (reviewing the file) Toys for Tots. Also an equestrian program for disabled kids and the Marine Corps Marathon. Among other things. The bank is pretty active in the community. But she also works as a floater --- a substitute teller. If they're short a teller or someone calls in at the last minute, she fills in for them. That's what she was doing the days the bank got robbed. Oh, and in her free time, she's a champion equine show jumper. She just won the Brindley Equestrian Cup competition down in Middleburg, that's in the heart of Virginia's "horse country." And . . . she also has a Virginia concealed carry license.

Bobby nods, considering this information.

Jack: Two different banks, two different tellers she's filling in for. Same robber.

Myles: Notice that the robber didn't approach her. Linden's there, but he makes a dash to someone else's line.

Sue: Both times, he went to the line as far away from Julie's line as possible. And both times he came in when Julie was busy with customers.

Bobby: So . . . (musing out loud) He wants Julie Linden involved in the robbery, but not directly?

Myles: Some kind of strange thought process going on here with our Blonde Bandit. Either that, or it's all a complete and unfortunate coincidence for Ms. Linden.

Jack: Or Ms. Linden is in on it.

Sue looks at Jack, wondering.

Jack: (to Sue) You with me on the interview?

Sue nods "yes."

Cut to Randy's office.

Lucy is sitting in front of Randy's desk. She has her face in her hand and looks miserable. In the other hand, she has a cup of coffee.

Randy: Need I tell you that your display of emotion is really getting tiring.

Lucy: Randy, it's not emotion. It's pain.

Randy: I'm sorry that following FBI procedures is so "painful" for you.

Myles appears in Randy's doorway. He's hurried. He has some paperwork in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other.

Myles: (handing the paperwork to Randy) Alright, Randy. Here's your small-minded, ill-gotten gain--- (noticing Lucy) Luce! (looking at her more closely) Well, I know you're in Randy's office, and I know what that means, believe me, but I have to say, you look especially terrible.

Lucy: (holding the side of her face) Thanks, Myles.

Myles: No, I mean it.

Lucy: It's my tooth. I'm in agony.

Myles: Oh. . . .(concerned) Well, can I . . .

Lucy: I already called the dentist, so ---

Bobby appears in the doorway with some paperwork for Randy in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He barges in, hurried.

Bobby: (handing the paperwork to Randy) Right on time, Randy. And it'll pay you to remember that --- (noticing Myles and Lucy) Oh. Hello.

Lucy: (groaning) Hello, Bobby.

Bobby: (to Myles) That's not good.

Myles: Lucy's tooth is killing her---

Dimitrius appears in Randy's doorway, with some paperwork in one hand and a cup of coffee in the other. He crowds into the office. Randy is starting to back up his chair from his desk, as if he feels he is going to be squashed.

Dimitrius: (matter-of-factly) Oh, hi, everybody.

Bobby: Well, not everybody.

Myles: (looking around) Tara, Jack, Sue . . . (reacting with horror when his eyes light upon Randy) And Randy?!

Randy: (standing up suddenly) Everybody, enough! Can't you people hold your coffee klatches elsewhere?

Dimitrius: (to Randy) Don't get snippy about it.

Lucy groans in pain, holding her face.

Cut to Jack's apartment.

It's early evening, just getting dark. Jack is unlocking his front door with one hand and holding a plastic bag of groceries in the other. He is in casual clothes. His phone rings. He checks the number, then hurries to get inside as he's talking. He puts the groceries down on a table right inside the door.

Jack: (into the phone)Hudson. . . . Yes. . . . (closing his front door) She's not a suspect, yet. We listed her as a person of interest. . . . We spoke to her briefly today and she didn't know any more than she knew after the first robbery. She basically didn't see it go down . . . (listening, a little shocked) . . . Okay, we'll be there.

Jack hangs up and dials a number.

Jack: (into the phone) D, I just got a call from the Faulkner County P.D., Virginia. Apparently, Julie Linden has barricaded herself in her home and she's demanding to talk to the FBI.

SCENE 3 - At Julie Linden's home in Virginia.

There are several local police cruisers and officers outside Julie's home. The FBI van is there. Jack and the rest of the team are in their FBI jackets. Jack and Dimitrius are talking with the local P.D. Officer-in-Charge.

Officer: She's known around here for being, I guess you'd say, spunky. But not crazy. Came down to the station earlier to report a stolen handgun. Seemed to be about a whacked-out boyfriend, I'm not sure. Desk sergeant tried to take her through the report procedure, but she wanted us to get the FBI involved immediately. Which we were more than willing to do after we followed our procedures. But, that wasn't working for her. I've known her family thirty years and she can be very direct, know what I mean?

Jack nods. He surveys the home and situation.

Officer: Look, I know her father's bank was robbed twice this week and she's probably a little on edge, out here on the farm by herself. But we sure weren't expecting this (indicating the barricade situation).

Cut between Jack outside Julie's house, standing at one of the police cars, and a close-up of Julie inside her living room. We don't see much of what Julie looks like or of the background. Bobby and Sue are nearby Jack.

Jack: (on the phone with Julie) I'll talk with you in person, but I want you to come outside.

Julie: I can't do that. (hanging up abruptly)

Jack: (shaking his head when the line goes dead) (to Bobby and Sue) She won't come out and she's insisting that I go in.

Jack looks around and motions to Dimitrius and Myles to come over.

Jack: (to Sue) You get with Tara in the van. We'll need the usual comms.

Cut to Jack, Bobby, Dimitrius and Myles about to enter Julie's home.

They try the front door carefully, quietly. It is unlocked. They enter the house carefully, quickly, with guns drawn. The first room they see into is the living room.

Julie Linden is curled up on an overstuffed sofa with a cat lazing on her lap. She is barefoot and is drinking a cup of tea, holding the cup in one hand and the saucer in the other. Julie is a very pretty young woman, with long hair in a pony tail. Her living room is in Virginia's old "hunt country" style and has in it many things that evidence Julie's love of horses and equestrian sports.

The team quickly perceives that Julie probably is not a threat. Nevertheless, she sits completely still as they come in and evaluate her and the situation. Myles guards her as the others check the rooms.

Myles: (to Julie) Stand up. Slowly.

Julie complies, showing complete understanding of what is occurring. Myles checks the sofa and then indicates to Julie that she can sit down again. The other agents each call out "clear" as they see that no other persons, and no obvious dangers, are in the other rooms.

The team reassembles in the living room around Julie. She looks at them sheepishly as they look at her.

Julie: (sheepishly) (to all) Sorry.

Myles: Sorry?

Julie: I needed to talk to the FBI. It couldn't wait.

Myles: Have you ever heard of the tip line?

Bobby: Myles . . . (motioning to Myles to back off)

Julie: (brightly, to Myles) I'm sure they would have connected me to your direct number right away . . .

Dimitrius: (calmly) (to Julie) You told the police that you were armed.

Julie: I am.

Jack: Where?

Julie: In the walk-in closet in the room behind you.

Jack signals to Bobby to go look. Bobby goes and comes back out quickly.

Bobby: (to Jack) The armoir is a gun cabinet. With an extensive collection of sport rifles and sidearms. (to Julie) Very nice.

Julie: (sincerely) Thank you. They belonged to my father.

Jack shakes his head and goes about looking a little more thoroughly around the living room.

Myles: (to Julie) According to the police, you also threatened to blow this place up.

Julie: I said I would blow a hole in the roof. If that's what it took.

Myles (less angry) Well, I hope you realize that there are serious consequences for making a false report to a federal law enforcement agency.

Julie: I didn't make a false report. Besides, whatever those consequences are, I prefer them to being dead. And to having anyone else at the bank end up dead. . . . (to all) Look, this chitchat is a waste of time. The reason I had to get you guys out here tonight is that I know who robbed Midline Bank and I know he's going to do it again. Soon.

Cut to Jack, Sue and Myles talking with Julie at her kitchen table, the same evening.

Julie: I finished loading my horses in the trailer and there he was again. I told him, again, thanks, but no thanks. But it wasn't a confrontation. Then he must have followed me from the Brindley Cup main tent to my barn. I was not happy when I opened the door to leave my barn and Trey Maddox is standing there.

Jack: Had you had any kind of relationship with Maddox in the past?

Julie: No. Friendly. A few years ago, he worked in the stables at one of the centers where I used to train. A lot. When I won my first big championship --- the Junior Nationals --- he sent me a huge box of roses. It was nice, but . . . A little weird. On the other hand, we were both teenagers then, so . . . Awkward.

Myles: Any contact with him between then and this week?

Julie: I'd hear from him occasionally. As I won events, or there were articles about me in the horse magazines, or wherever, I'd often get an email from him. Just a congratulatory thing. To be honest, I . . . didn't know what to make of it. I ignored it.

Bobby and Dimitrius come into the kitchen from the back door.

Bobby: Preliminary check of the barn area. One of the lamp posts has been shot out recently and---

Julie: I did that.

Jack looks at her.

Julie: (to Jack) I was getting there. In the story.

SCENE 4 - In the bullpen.

It's morning, the day after the team went to Julie Linden's house. Jack, Bobby, Myles, Dimitrius, Tara, Sue and Lucy are present.

Jack: So, Julie again asks Maddox to leave and this time Maddox suddenly gets wild and moves to push his way into the barn. Julie grabs a Glock from a drawer near the door, points it at Maddox and says she'll shoot if he doesn't go.

Myles: Maddox apparently thinks this is funny --- or something --- and says, interestingly, and I quote, "Rich girls only think they're tough."

Tara and Lucy look at each other, finding Maddox' words very strange and oddly repulsive.

Myles: Then Maddox recklessly adds the usual taunts, "You don't know how to use that thing," et cetera.

Jack: Bad decision. Julie shoots out the lamp post behind him.

Myles: Which, from the barn door, was an excellent shot, by the way.

Dimitrius: Not to mention that that round probably singed his ear hairs.

Bobby: Well, Maddox certainly got the pajamas scared off him. He must have took off running --- in addition to some nice prints, he left this behind in the mud. (holding up an iPOD-type device)

Dimitrius: Been in it yet?

Bobby: Oh, yeah. It's almost 100% a shrine to Ms. Julie Linden and her exploits as a champion equestrian and exemplary humanitarian.

Jack: After the second bank robbery, it occurs to Julie to check the gun drawer in the barn. She says that, except for having pulled it on Maddox, she rarely ever even thought about that gun. She checks. It's missing.

Myles: No signs of forced entry, but Julie reports --- or tries to report --- it to the police as stolen.

Bobby: And we all know the rest of that story.

Tara: So, she thinks Maddox stole her gun, used it in the bank robberies, and that he will rob the bank again on Friday, the next time she's scheduled to work.

Sue: . . . Why?

Myles: Let's understand the criminal mind here. According to Maddox' rants, the reason Julie doesn't melt at the thought of his advances is that she's a "rich girl." So, to him, the problem, the obstacle to his happiness and fulfillment with her is her money. Her family's wealth.

Sue: Her father's bank.

Cut to the bullpen.

Jack and Sue walk out into the hallway.

Jack: Don't forget we have that appointment this afternoon with Ms. Lancaster's attorney. You, me, star witnesses.

Sue rolls her eyes and nods. She and Jack head in opposite directions.

Continue reading at Part 2 . . .