Andy Warhol once said that everyone was entitled to 15 minutes of fame...or he said something close to that. I don't remember the words exactly and I'm not feeling inclined to look it up, so that's what you're going to have to be ok with right now.
Well on Tuesday I got my 15 minutes of fame. Ok, well it wasn't exactly 15 minutes. And I don't think it qualifies as 'fame' but whatever, I'm totally counting it!
Tuesday night I was working up at Jakes, at that my friends, is how it all began. At around 5:40 I was chatting to a friend through the drive window when I noticed some guy literally tearing across the Jakes parking lot. I mean he was flying through, I haven't seen anyone run that fast in a long time. I thought to myself "Huh, he's certainly in a hurry" and then dismissed it from my mind.
I finished my conversation with my friend and just as I was pulling my head back through the window my co-worker asked me if I'd seen those two guys running through the parking lot. I replied that I'd only seen one and she told me that once they reached the entrance to the parking lot they split ways, one running across and one running down the hill. We commented again on how odd it was and then dismissed it out of hand.
About 10 minutes later we saw all of these police cars driving down the hill. About the time we saw the 3rd one we thought it was getting a little unusual and started joking about how they were probably there for a drug bust because it was Ogden (at this point we hadn't connected incident A [the running men] with incident B [the police cars]).
Maybe 5 minutes after that this nice looking guy came into Jakes. He looked completely normal and I didn't want to deal with customers so I passed him off to Amber and told her to take his order. As she walked up to the front this guy casually reached into his jacket pocket and whipped out a badge. But not just any badge, he whipped out an FBI badge!!! Amber took one startled look and then dragged me up the front, told me to deal with him and faded into the background (when later questioned about her actions she could only say that she'd seen too many criminal justice movies lately).
Alright, so this guy was FBI! He gently pulled me aside and quietly told me that there had been a robbery across the street at the Educators Mutual Credit Union and asked me if I'd seen anything odd or suspicious that night. After I quickly decided that I didn't need to mention the police cars because they were probably already 'in the know' I mentioned that at about 5:40 Emily and I had seen 2 guys running through the parking lot, splitting directions. We described what they looked like and told him what direction they had each respectively gone. My descriptions and time frame matched up perfectly with the FBI and what they needed to know! Or at least it corresponded with what they already knew.
The man very seriously wrote down my remarks, had me sign my 'issued statement' (I know! I felt so formal and important!!!) then took down my name, phone number, and told me that he would keep them on file in case I was needed in court later. (I've got to be honest, I really hope it doesn't come to that....) In a daze I told him to have a good night and if he needed anything else let me know. He jokingly asked for some fries but I was in some sort of weird, FBI induced shock and I didn't respond nearly as wittily as I would have liked (in fact I believe my exact response was "What?" I know, KILLER right?)
And that was my Tuesday night! How CRAZY is that? I know it wasn't 15 minutes...well, actually it might have been about 15 minutes. And it was 'famous' or anything. No quote in the paper, no picture for paparazzi, but I think this should qualify! It was amazing! Now to only hope and pray that they catch the robbers, and don't need me again!
4 comments:
That definitely qualifies as "15 minutes of Fame" and it reminds me of an incident in Alabama about 20 years ago.
Forrest ALWAYS deposited his work check at the same branch every week. This particular day I stayed in the car with the children while he ran into the bank. I saw a police car drive by and had the odd thought, "What would I do if there was a bank robbery while Forrest was in the bank?" Little did I know that something of that sort was happening, but that the teller thought FORREST was the robber!
Now if I was following Stephanie's example of late I would leave you hanging right there.
However, I will have mercy upon your nerves and finish the story.
Forrest had written his information on a deposit slip and taken it to a teller. Somehow the first thing she saw was the back side of the slip where some prankster had written "This is a hold up!"
Forrest noticed the teller's face go white and asked if something was wrong. Luckily she had seen him numerous times so she asked him if he was serious and showed him the back of the deposit slip. Then she saw HIS face go white when he realized how close he had come to being on the floor with a gun to his head.
Anyway, they worked it all out and he left the bank just a little shaky from the unusual incident.
Finally a SuZan story I've actually heard! ;) Bonnie that is quite the experience - I'm waiting for you to get called up to identify him in the trial. I can't believe somebody robbed the CU! What time was it? Were there people there or was it after hours? That is so crazy. Totally with you on the whole drug bust thought though - isn't that what we all think when we see more than one cop car?
By the by I didn't know that Andy Warhol was responsible for that idea - learn something new everyday. (Today two things - the second being to always pay attention to what people fleeing the scene look like because you just might be the best witness...) :D
Wow!!! What a suspensful night! :O I've always wanted to talk to an actual legit FBI agent, just to say that I have! That must have proved a very interesting night at work.
I am going to enjoy reading your blog again! I love how you retell stories! You are a great writer! :) Thanks for sharing!!
P.S. I MIIIISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS YOUUUUUUU!!!!!!!!!
Let's get together....SOON....like RIGHT NOW!!!
Crazy! Maybe someday they will start doing robbery training for all the locations AROUND financial institutions! Good thing you are naturally perceptive and pay attention to detail; whereas I've had loads of robbery training, and never once needed to use it yet. Funny.
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