“They have a routine. Trust, contain, reconcile, resolve. Right now, they’re trying to gain Prudence’s trust and to contain the potential damage. But Prudence keeps hanging up on them. Which probably impedes negotiations.”
“What do you think she wants?”
“I thought I heard the word ‘helicopter.’”
“What, an escape copter to Fiji? That’s never going to happen.”
“I know. But I’m not sure the lady with the gun does.”
“She must realize there’s no escape. She’s sunk.”
“And going to prison. For murder. Which is what worries me.”
“What do you mean?”
“I bet I can answer that.” Jazlyn stood beside them. “Mind if I join you?”
Dan looked up eagerly. “Please do.”
She took the chair beside them. “Prudence killed someone and hacked him to bits. That’s a death penalty offense, no question. So how much worse can it get if she knocks off a few hostages?”
Dan felt a hollow in his chest. “She has nothing more to lose.”
“Exactly. Look at her.”
Prudence was patrolling the room, waving the gun, acting increasingly desperate. She huddled the people in the gallery together, kicking them and shouting at them.
“Maintaining control has to be a strain,” Jazlyn said. “Even for her. How long before she realizes it would be simpler to just kill everyone?”
“Probably not long.” He looked up. “I’m sorry. I—”
“No,” Jazlyn said. “I’m the one who needs to apologize.”
“You don’t—”
“I’ll admit, when I learned you were representing Sweeney, I was appalled. You and I have dreamed about putting him in prison, but when the opportunity finally presented itself, who stood in the way? My friend and colleague. The man who knew better than anyone else how dangerous Sweeney is.”
“I had reasons...”
“Yeah. Like the fact that he wasn’t guilty. So you stuck to your principles. How many people would’ve had the strength of character to do that under those circumstances? Not many.” She turned, a crooked smile on her face. “And you were right. I’m sorry I’ve been giving you the cold shoulder. I’m proud to know you. I’m proud you’re my friend.”
“Likewise,” he replied.
“Can I get in on this lovefest?” Maria asked. “Because I feel the same way.”
“Definitely,” Jazlyn said. “If we get out of here, let’s throw a party. We’ve earned it.”
“No joke,” Dan muttered. “I feel like I could—” His voice broke off. “Oh no.”
He had been watching Prudence while they talked. But now he detected something else. Movement behind the back row of seats.
Someone was creeping around back there.
He did a quick inventory of the hostages.
The marshal was missing.
He was making his move.
Prudence was still screaming. “Did you think you were going to put me away?” She laughed, loud and unnaturally. “Tables are turned now, huh?”
The juror on the other side of her gun stuttered. “W—W—We just want to go home.”
“But you were ready to have me killed.” She pressed her gun into the man’s face. “So why should I treat you any differently?”
“Please don’t hurt me. I—I have a wife. Children.”
“Is that bragging?”
“No.” He held up his hands, as if they might somehow stop a bullet. “No, I—”
“You have everything I wanted but never got. Thanks for the reminder, loser. If they don’t find me an escape route, you’ll be the first hostage I sacrifice.”
He tried to scoot away. “Please, no!”
“In fact, why wait? Why not just do it now? Maybe if I take out a few hostages, they’ll start taking me seriously.”
“Please!” the man cried.
“I’ll tell your kids you died screaming, you pansy.” She raised the gun and aimed it at his face. “I’m looking forward to seeing your brains splattered against—”
Out of nowhere, the marshal threw himself at her. Dan assumed the man thought it couldn’t wait, but he was too far away. He fell short, a few feet away from her.
Prudence whirled and fired.
Everyone screamed. Cried. Shouted. Pushed themselves against the wall, trying to get as far away from her as possible.
Except for the marshal. He lay on the floor. In a pool of his own blood.
Chapter 47
Garrett huddled outside the courtroom door, trying to stay out of the way while getting some idea what the law enforcement plan might be.
He couldn’t help but notice that more armed officers were appearing regularly. But so far, no one had done anything.
They set up a negotiation center in one of the deliberation rooms. He’d seen a woman he knew named Meredith Burnside enter. Back when he was in the prosecutors’ office, she was considered the leading hostage negotiator in the state. If anyone could contain the impending explosion, she could. But that was no guarantee of success.
If this turned into a bloodbath, Prudence could take out many hostages before she went down. Including Dan. And Maria. And Jazlyn.
Dinah had heard the news as soon as she got out of class and came running up the stairs. Garrett suggested that she return to the office but she ignored him. “That’s my brother in there. I’m staying put.” He didn’t like it, but he couldn’t argue with her.
He spotted a senior police officer he’d known for decades, Sam Evans, who passed close enough that Garrett felt justified asking a question. “Can you give me an update?”
Evans glanced over his shoulder. “I’m not supposed to talk to civilians.”
“Our friends are in there.” He tilted his head toward Dinah. “And her brother.”
Evans frowned. “We’re trying to negotiate with the woman. But she’s completely off the rails. Won’t listen to reason. They think she’s had a complete breakdown. Which makes it difficult to arrange any kind of rational compromise.”
“What does she want?”
“Out. Away. Doesn’t want to be executed. Which, you know, who could blame her, but she’s going about it the wrong way.”
“Is there any chance she could actually escape?”
He craned his neck. “She’s asking for a copter.”
“To do what? Land on the courthouse lawn?”
“Basically, yeah. One pilot. She’ll reveal her destination when she’s safely in the bird.”
“Any chance of success?”
“Not that I can see. We’ve posted snipers all around the building. Even if she surrounds herself with hostages, I doubt she could make it to the copter. Even if she did, they’d track it. It can’t fly forever. Eventually she’ll have to land. And as soon as she steps out—” He pointed a finger like a gun. “Blam.”
“So she’s dead already.”
“If she doesn’t surrender. The problem is...” He glanced at Dinah, then lowered his voice. “How many innocents could she kill before we kill her?”
* * *
Dan glanced at his watch. Four hours had passed since Prudence took hostages. Everyone was tired and dripping with sweat. She’d spent the whole time pacing, alternately shouting on her phone and shouting at hostages. The courtroom was a powder keg. One he very much feared was about to blow.
Jazlyn’s hands were covered with blood. She’d been attending to the wounded marshal, trying to prevent him from bleeding out. He’d heard Prudence shouting about the wounded man to the negotiator, but so far, she hadn’t allowed a medical team inside.
Jazlyn wiped her hands on her jacket. “The judge told me there was a first aid kit behind the bench. That was a godsend. I put pressure, then a bandage on the wound. I don’t think the bullet hit any major organs. I’ve slowed the bleeding...but still.”
Dan nodded. “He can’t last forever. Not without medical attention.”
“He’s in pain. I th
ink he’s gone into shock. Eventually, the pain and the blood loss will cause him to lose consciousness. And after that...”
“Right.”
“I’m returning to my patient,” Jazlyn said.
“I’ll go with,” Maria said. “I probably can’t help. But at least I can be moral support.”
“Much appreciated.”
The last thing Dan wanted was Maria in the gallery, where Prudence spent most of her time. But she wasn’t any safer with him. Prudence had constantly taunted him, threatened him. If she decided to take out a hostage, he would be at the top of the list.
To his surprise, Sweeney plopped into the vacated seat beside him. “Got any thoughts?”
“On how we get out alive? No. You knew how upset Prudence was. Didn’t you see this coming?”
“Did I foresee that Prudence would lose her mind and take the courtroom hostage? No, sorry, I didn’t.”
“She’s a proactive woman. Not one to take anything lying down. She won’t go out without a fight.” He turned. “You must’ve suspected Prudence was the killer. That’s why you were holding back when Jazlyn crossed you. Why didn’t you say something?”
Sweeney sighed heavily. “Prudence has been with me for many years. She knows about...my operations. She’s seen the books. The real books, not the ones we send to lawyers and auditors.”
“She can prove you worked with the cartel. She could put you away for life.”
Sweeney gave a small nod. “I never thought she would. I was...aware of her attachment to me. Used that to keep myself safe. But you seem to have blown that. Just like you’ve blown so many other things in my life.”
“If you’re waiting for an apology...it will be a long wait.”
Sweeney almost chuckled. “That was a bluff, right? In court, I mean. With Prudence. You didn’t really have any doorbell-cam footage.”
“Garrett was working on it. But he hadn’t had enough time. And I would’ve had a hard time getting hacked security footage admitted into evidence. And I didn’t know for certain she killed Andrus at her home. I’m surprised Prudence didn’t see through me.”
“Clearly she is not at her best at the moment.”
A long silence fell between them. Dan watched Prudence pace back and forth. She seemed to become more agitated with each step. How long before she started killing people?
This was probably not the time, but he decided to go there anyway. “So your former flame’s name was Alice?”
“I’m surprised you haven’t figured it out. You got everything else, eventually. But you’ve always had a blind spot when it comes to your mother, haven’t you?” Sweeney drew in another deep breath and, for once, Dan thought he detected a tiny ounce of regret. “Yes, I knew your mother. Long before she knew your father. Or Fisher. She threw me over. Said I would never amount to anything.”
Dan felt a catch in his throat. “Guess you showed her.”
“Depends on how you look at it. Your father ended up in prison because he killed Fisher to protect your mother. And I’m...” His head fell. “Dying. In more ways than one.”
“I was right, though. You were the other person in the cop car. With Fisher. During the gang shootout. When Fisher was killed.”
Sweeney sighed. “I did promise you answers if you won my case. Which you kinda sorta did.” He stretched his legs out, propping them up on the rail. “I was going to kill the bastard myself. I knew he’d threatened Alice. Sure, she didn’t want me. But I still loved her and I wanted to protect her. Your father beat me to it.” He looked up reflectively. “He was a good man, Ethan. And you, Daniel Pike, are just like him. Too damn much like him, in fact.”
Down in the gallery, Dan heard Maria speak. “This man has lost consciousness.” She was talking about the marshal. “He’s dying.”
Prudence spun on her. “He brought it on himself. That’s what happens to people who get in my way.” She waved the gun back and forth, so wildly she could potentially hit anyone or anything. “That’s what will happen to all of you if you try anything.”
“But he’s dying,” Maria said, her eyes wide and pleading.
Prudence swung the gun around. “And you will too if you don’t shut the hell up.”
Without even thinking about it, Dan rose from his chair.
“Pike,” Sweeney said. “What are you doing?”
Slowly, Dan walked out of the jury box and started toward the gallery.
“Pike. Don’t be a fool.”
Dan kept walking.
He’d waited long enough. These people had suffered long enough. Hostage negotiation was not working. And Prudence had directly threatened Maria.
He’d caused this mess. And now, by God, he was going to end it, one way or another.
“Prudence,” he said, softly, evenly, not insistently. “Give it up.”
She laughed in his face. “Just like that? Because the great almighty Dan Pike says so?”
“You can’t get away. You know that as well as I do.”
“Just watch me.”
“There is no realistic scenario that allows you to escape. They’re not going to give you a copter. And even if they did, you wouldn’t get far. They’d track you. You’d have to come out eventually.”
“If they try that, I’ll take everyone in sight down with me.”
“Which will not improve your situation in the slightest.” He took another tentative step forward. “Give it up.”
“You must be joking.”
“I’m not.” He held out his hands. “This game is over. Give me the gun and let these people go home.”
“Stay back.” She raised the gun to eye level. “Do you think I won’t shoot you? I’d rather see you go down than anyone here.”
“Really? Are you angry at me?”
“Yes! And him.” She swung round toward Sweeney. “That fat bastard who led me on all these years. Let me be his devoted slave while he took advantage of me year after year.”
Dan shook his head. “It’s not him, either. That’s not who you’re mad at.” He paused. “You’re mad at yourself.”
Prudence made a dismissive sputtering noise. “Spare me your amateur psychiatry.”
“You’ve wasted years serving someone who didn’t deserve you. But you don’t have to throw good years after bad. Make a fresh start. Build a better life.”
“Where? Behind bars?”
“It’s been done before. Gandhi. Mandela—”
“Maybe you haven’t noticed, Pike, but I don’t give a damn about world peace.”
“I was thinking more of your inner peace.” He took another tentative step forward. “Please. Give it up, Prudence.”
“I will shoot you, Pike.” She stiffened her outstretched arm, but that only made it wobble more. “I will.”
“You won’t.” He kept walking. “You’ve got the goods on Sweeney. You can put him behind bars—for a crime he actually committed. Justice will be done.” He looked at her with his most earnest expression. “No one needs to die.”
“Except me.” Prudence appeared to be losing some of her steel. “They’ll give me the death penalty.”
“Turn state’s evidence. Tell them what you know. Lead them to the documents, the offshore bank accounts. If you can give the cops the goods on your boss and the cartel—”
“And I can,” she interrupted.
“Perfect. Then you can make a deal. They won’t let you walk, but you can get the death penalty off the table.”
“I’ll be in prison for the rest of my life.”
“Maybe.” He allowed himself a small smile. “Depends on how good your lawyer is.”
Her left eye twitched. “Is that an offer?”
“Yes. The case against Sweeney ended the instant you confessed, so I no longer represent him. I can represent you. If that’s what you want.”
Her arms slowly lowered. “And...And you would do that?”
“I would.”
“That’s a real offer?”
�
�That’s a promise.”
“And you could get me off?”
“No. But I can get you the best deal you could ever possibly get. And this ordeal will be over.” He took another step. They were barely two feet apart. “Let this end, Prudence. Let this marshal get the attention he needs before you have another death on your hands.”
Her arm dropped. “All I ever wanted was to be loved.” The ice had broken. The anger was gone. Tears streamed from her eyes. “Is that so much to ask? I just wanted someone to love me.”
“You’re not the first person to let their heart get in the way of their head.” He stepped forward and took the gun from her. “And sadly, you won’t be the last.”
Chapter 48
Detective Kakazu stormed into Beachcombers. He didn’t normally like to attract a lot of attention when he did his work. But just this once, he didn’t care. Sergeant Pemberton trailed behind him.
“You got the warrant?” Kakazu asked.
“Ready to serve.” Pemberton smiled. “This will be a pleasure. You think we should do it in here? He may have...friends.”
Kakazu passed through the bar, scanning for his quarry. “I’m not letting this slimy fish slip through my fingers. He knows how to disappear. If he leaves the country, he’ll be out of my reach.”
Kakazu arrived at a booth near the rear. “Alejandro Hernandez?”
The elderly man looked up. He sat opposite a much younger man. “Who wishes to know?”
“I’ll take that as a yes. You’re under arrest.”
Hernandez laughed. “You have nothing on me.”
Kakazu yanked the man up by the collar. His younger associate started to rise, but Hernandez waved him down. “That may have been true yesterday. But not today. Prudence Hancock has delivered a treasure trove of fascinating information. And your former underling, Santiago, has turned state’s evidence. He’s testifying against you. And what he has to say will put you away permanently.”
“Then he is a dead man.”
“Don’t think so. We’ll hide him. Protect him.”
“We will find him.”
“You will not do anything, because you will be behind bars. And if you think you’ll run your cartel from prison, forget it. Santiago has named names. Your cartel is finished.”
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