Page 83 of Every Last One
“What future? Even if I got more treatment and beat the cancer, we can’t afford a roof over our heads.”
“Your higher self, Alaya, knows that you will always be provided for.” Sandra debated whether to further point out that higher-self thinking wasn’t rooted in or concerned with matters in the material world such as money. She decided against pushing it.
“Haven’t you read any of those books on the Law of Attraction and manifestation? You can’t just sit back and wait for things to magically fall into your lap. You mustdosomething, take action. And that’s what I’m trying to do, but they refuse to write off my debt. I tell you what… You get me two hundred and fifty thousand, and I’ll walk away. Surrender peacefully.”
Sandra glanced at Brice, who was looking back at her. That amount just covered her debt, not what the others owed, and there wasn’t an allowance for her future treatment. She either figured the government would cover it while she was in prison, or she planned to die. “Is that all?”
“Yes, and make it quick. One hour from now, and you bring me that money yourself.”
Face-to-face negotiations statistically ended badly. “What about a money transfer? I’m sure there’s a computer in there? You can log on to your banking and see it there?”
“No way. You act like you’re on my side, but you put the money in there, I see it, I surrender, and then you take the money back. The only way I’m coming out is when you hand me cold, hard cash and I give it to these fat cats.”
“Let me see what I can do, Alaya?—”
“Stop calling me that!”
Any leverage Sandra had from the spiritual angle was over. “All right, Mindy. But you will need to do something for me. A sign of good faith. Otherwise I can tell you right now my boss won’t go for it.” One of the first laws in negotiation was there had to be a give and take to balance the scales.
“Okay, what?”
“Two people were shot on the fourth floor and need surgery. You want the money, then you need to work with me.” Sandra left it there, the silence making the earlier implication clear.
“Tell me what to do.”
“Are you still in contact with your team? Maybe through the walkie-talkies?” That would be the only way they could communicate as the others weren’t answering their cell phones or picking up at the nurses’ stations. Tom Sparling couldn’t answer, but Mindy didn’t know that.
“We still have them.”
“Good. You’re going to tell them to surrender, that you’ve worked out a deal.”
Silence for a few beats. “Though you know, don’t you? That the two hundred and fifty thousand is just what I owe. That’s why you asked if I wanted more. I just want Dyl to be okay. They’ll think I’m getting all our debts forgiven.”
“What you tell them is up to you.” Sandra couldn’t condone the fact that Mindy had no intention of following through on the team’s original plan. If she said something likethe others don’t need to know, it would paint her as disingenuous and untrustworthy in Mindy’s eyes. That was the last thing she needed.
“Okay.”
“Now, the elevators and stairs are locked down, so they can’t just see themselves out of the hospital. You need to tell them that officers will be coming to them, and they are to surrender peacefully. You understand all that?”
“Yeah.”
“Okay, great. I’ll need the frequency so I can hear you tell them this, so we know when it’s safe to move in.”
A few seconds and then Mindy shared that frequency. “But what if they want proof the money is also coming through for them?”
“I’m not sure what you expect me to do about that.” Sandra flipped this problem back to Mindy for her to solve. Often it worked for the person requesting something to see their demand wasn’t feasible.
“What do I…? I don’t know.”
“Just tell them you made a deal. They came here with you today, so they obviously trust you.”
“Okay, fine, I’ll do it.”
“Good.”
“One hour from now. I won’t forget or lose track of time.”
“Neither will I.” Sandra set a timer on her phone. “But I’ll call you once I’ve heard the others agree to surrender and have the money. I’ll be calling from my phone.”
