Page 45 of Every Last One
“Yeah, right.”
Jordon hadn’t expected such a lukewarm reaction to his proposal. He might have to try another tack. “You told your partner I’m insurance. But what if…” Jordon slowly got up and walked to the utensil drawer. There, he pulled out a knife.
The man lunged across the room, while holding the gun on him. But he wouldn’t shoot.I’m insurance.
The only way he could think of to gain control here was to threaten harm against himself. This stranger would have to know the police would blame him, not Jordon. He held the blade over his wrist.
“Get that blade away from your arm,” the gunman hissed.
“Why should I?” Jordon got the steel closer to his flesh.
“Put the knife down. Now!”
Jordon said nothing as he poked the tip into his skin.
“Stop right now otherwise I’ll kill your girlfriend.”
Jordon’s world became still and spun.
“That’s right. I saw the pictures of you two. I even know who she is, and I’m quite sure I know where to find her.” The stranger held eye contact. Seconds passed, stretching into what felt like minutes. “Put the knife down or I will leave this room, track her down, and put a bullet in her head.”
Jordon set the knife down. “Please, leave her out of this.”
“Hmm. I’m not so sure I can anymore.” With that, the man rushed from the break room with Jordon on his heels.
What have I done?
TWENTY-FOUR
2:05 PM
Sandra had enough to balance without stressing about Ilene Maddox. Though her enclosed threat was hard to miss.I remember people who don’t keep their word.It only stamped in how long they’d been on scene and how little progress they’d made. The silence was torturous when it came to the negotiations, just as it was with her mother’s health. Sandra had her cell phone out, and Dana hadn’t called again. No news, good news? It was hard to say, but she had to believe that to keep her focus.
In hostage situations, silence was double-edged. While it could lead hostage takers to impulsive action, it could also make them uncomfortable enough to surrender. That didn’t make waiting any easier.
And in her position, every passing second was like barbed wire slicing into her flesh. Each stab was a reminder of how hundreds of people inside needed medical attention. Adding to the pain was the irony they were in the right place for that, just at the wrong time. And the clock was ticking for little Phoebe Chapman.
Brice, Monica, and Gibson were back to pulling more backgrounds on vehicle registrations. But the wisest thing shecould do right now was get back on the phone with the woman in the boardroom. But as she went to tuck her phone away, the screen lit up.
“Dana,” she answered, and everyone looked her way. “Just a personal call I need to take,” she told them and left the vehicle.
“Dana, tell me there’s some good news.” As if the request could affect reality, bend it to her will. If only a wish made a dream come true.
“I just saw that you called a couple of hours ago. I’m sorry that I didn’t see this until now. I’ve been by your mother’s side and talking with her doctors.”
“What are they saying?”
“Your mother’s bloodwork has come back, but doctors are concerned because her iron levels are very low. She’s anemic, actually. They believe that’s what caused her to faint. A transfusion is being considered, but they haven’t done that yet. There are more tests they’d like to run and can’t have new blood providing false readings.”
“Can’t they just give her an iron pill?”
“If only it was that easy. But supplements take weeks to absorb into the body. Apparently, a transfusion is the fastest way to spike her levels. Please know, though, that she is stabilized and resting peacefully.”
Hot tears flooded Sandra’s eyes. Resting peacefully was also what dead people did. “Okay, well, that’s good at least,” she said, her throat tight.
“Please be assured, she’s receiving the best care.”
“Do the doctors have any idea why her iron is low?”
