Snippet #1997337

It was Mickey's last day. As soon as the minute hand finished making its 4 o'clock revolution, his retirement would begin. The big clock on the front face of Atlas City Bank would ring out five times, millions of people would gather their coats and hats, their briefcases and purses, and they would find their vehicles to begin the weekend. But not Mickey; he would gather his coat and hat, his briefcase, and he would find his vehicle to begin the rest of his life. A bank manager for the past twelve years, he would be retiring to a cushy lifestyle filled with RVs and cruises. Brenda was already looking into cruises.

The minute hand ticked to land on the Roman numeral IX, and one of the new young women stepped into Mickey's office with a tray of neatly organized bills in her hand. If they were already counting down the cash drawers, that meant business wasn't too bad, despite its being a Friday. He might even get a chance to leave early. Mickey loosened his tie, eyeing the last minute bank crowd from his big mahogany desk situated distantly behind the tellers. He would miss that desk--O'Connor was already eying it--but it was worth the retirement. No need for a desk where he was going. The old man smiled to himself a contented smile of satisfaction.

Mickey died with that smile on his face.

The explosion rang from the safe door not five feet from the old man's chair, causing the heavy leaded door to flatten the bank manager in its flight trajectory. A hole was simultaneously blasted in the side of the office as half a dozen men in the bank lobby drew weapons from under raincoats. A tall dark man, swarthy, with twinkling blue eyes, stepped through the ragged rubble and immediately began scooping loose bills into a heavy canvas sack. A shrill scream sounded from the bank lobby, followed by gunfire and a number of whimpers and low, terrified voices. From there, the holdup progressed fairly smoothly--no alarms (silent or otherwise) were triggered, and none of the bank customers made any heroic effort--until the Supers arrived.

And arrive they did...