The Cop: The Minister

“She was pulling at the screen to her window; and she asked James to help her remove the screen, which he did. After he pulled the screen off, he laid it on the ground and when he stood up he was facing the barrel of a .38 caliber snub-nose revolver which was touching his forehead.” At that time Amy put her hand to her mouth and blurted out, “Oh, my God!” “James asked her, what she was doing?’ continued Caldwell. “She answered, in a very ‘matter of fact’ voice that she wanted to commit suicide. James has always used humor as a defense mechanism.” Amy nodded in acknowledgement. “He said that she was pointing the gun in the wrong direction,” Caldwell said, with a slight laugh. “She told him that he was funny, and she liked that; but she was serious. She went on to say that she did not have the nerve to kill herself; so, she figured, that if she shot him then the other officers would kill her.” “Suicide by cop,” Amy replied. Jack nodded. “When James pointed out that there were no other cops around, she nodded and told him to push the red button on his radio.” “The red button?” Amy Griner said looking very confused. “It’s this button here,” Jack said, pointing to a small red button on the top of his radio. “It sends a signal to the communications room, alerting the radio operators that an officer is in trouble and needs help right away. It also acknowledges the fact that an officer is being held hostage.” Dr. Griner started to touch the button, but immediately pulled her hand back. “Miss Anders was very impatient, so she pushed the button herself,” continued Jack. “Radio acknowledged the distress call; asked James if he needed help. When Jillian cocked the hammer back on the revolver, James quickly acknowledged yes. Capt. John Schackelford was the first to respond. He then called out for everything we had. Soon after the cavalry arrived; radio called in SWAT. I’m not sure I know why,” continued Caldwell, “but even several trucks from the fire department showed up. The paramedics, of course, were also there. Soon the entire complex looked like a flattened Christmas tree covered in blue, red, and yellow lights.” Jack then drank a long sip of water, easing a suddenly dry throat. He then went on. “The next thing that Miss Anders did was equally surprising. She asked James if he was married. He said he was; that he had a four-year-old son and another baby on the way. She asked if he loved his wife. James, of course, answered that he did love Barbara very much. About that time, I snuck around to the side of the building and could see James standing there with the revolver touching his forehead. I could only see Jillian Anders’ hand, as she held the gun. Every once in a while, I could see that she was holding some kind of bottle in her left hand; and periodically she would raise it and lower it. I later found out, from James, that she was drinking Tequila, while her finger was on the trigger of the already cocked snub nose revolver. I also, later found out from James, that the barrel of the gun was so close that he could actually see a small red bead-like BB in the center of each hollow point bullet in the chamber.” “What was it?” asked Amy. “They were explosive bullets,” answered Jack. “Upon impact the bullet would explode and turn into a small grenade, which would guarantee maximum destruction to whatever it hit; mainly James Banner’s head.” Amy Griner grimaced. “After Miss Anders found out that James was married, she told him that since this is probably the last time that he’ll talk to his wife, he should call her. James, of course, agreed and asked if he could come in and use her telephone. She laughed, continued to drink her tequila and said that she really did love his sense of humor, even in the face of death. Her voice was extremely cold and emotionless. She then reminded him that his radio was also a telephone, which only the detectives and uniformed supervisors possessed. We later were able to determine that her years as an emergency room nurse at Northside Hospital put her in direct contact with the uniformed officers and supervisors, which resulted in her acquiring a wealth of information about police operations.” Dr. Amy Griner was now sitting on the edge of her seat. “Did he call his wife?” she asked. “He sure did,” said Caldwell. “Once he told his wife what was happening, he was extremely surprised as to how calm she was. All she said was that everything was going to be okay. She told him not to worry; because God was still in control; and He would take care of him, and bring him safely home to her, and their son. She also said that she felt their baby’s kick in her womb. Barbara Banner was truly a woman of faith, who totally trusted in Our Lord Jesus Christ. She confidently told her husband that this was God’s battle, and there was a reason as to why this was happening. She then urged him to be patient and wait for God to tell him what he should do. She then told him how much she loved him and hung up.” “Did he, do it?” asked Amy. “Yes, he did. He waited; and he waited. Just as she said.” “Well?” Amy asked in anticipation. “How long did he have to wait?” “Exactly three hours and forty-five minutes!” answered Caldwell. “It was the longest three hours and forty-five minutes of my life.” Jack Caldwell looked down and rubbed his forehead. “There were times, during that wait, when I wanted to jump up and put a bullet through that bitch’s head; but James just put out his hand towards me; letting me know that he had it under control.” “Damn it, Jack, how did it end?” Amy’s voice was loud and strained. “Just like Barbara had told him,” Jack smiled. “To this day he swears that the words which came out of his mouth weren’t his. They came from someone else. He did not realize that he was speaking them. They just blurted out.” Jack swallowed hard. “’TELL ME ABOUT THOSE PICTURES YOU TOOK IN PARIS’ was what he said. I heard him say it. Everyone around us heard him say it. Jillian even heard him say it; because she immediately reacted. She put down the gun, on a nightstand next to her; and she turned towards a fireplace in her bedroom. That’s all it took. James followed by several other officers went through that window and immediately subdued her.” “What was it he said???” asked Amy, incredulously. “He simply said, ‘tell me about those pictures you took in Paris;’ and that was it. I’ll never forget those words. As long as I live, those words will be burned into my mind, forever.” “My God!” Amy said with a look of total disbelief. “She was arrested, wasn’t she?” “Well, yes and no,” Jack answered. “What do you mean?” Amy’s eyes were open wide. “She pointed a gun at a cop and threatened to kill him. Did she have to kill him first, in order to be arrested?” “Calm down,” said Jack, as he touched her hand. “We did arrest her that night; but James met her in court the next morning and asked the judge to dismiss all charges against her. Which the judge, reluctantly, did. The judge said that it was only because Banner was the primary victim that he was agreeing to dismiss the charges. He then told Miss Anders that she needed to get on her knees and thank God that she was not spending the next twenty years in prison.” “Why the hell, did he do such a thing?” asked Amy Griner. “I honestly think that I and Chief Bobby Moore, who was a Captain at that time, are the only two who guessed the real reason,” answered Caldwell. “James Banner wanted to save her.