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“There’s a future for both of you. People who love you don’t cut you out of their lives. Prison won’t stop her love. She’ll be there for you, every step of the way.” Sandra paused, but Tom didn’t respond. “She’s taken care of with the cash. Will you let that little girl go now?” Sandra’s chest tightened as seconds ticked off.

“Yes, I’ll surrender,” Tom eventually said. “Tell me what to do. I don’t really have a death wish.”

Sandra let out a deep breath. “That’s great to hear. Okay, well, I’m right here, outside the door.” She didn’t move from where she was. “You just need to open the door, and kick the gun across the floor into the hallway and then come out with your arms in the air. Can you do that, Tom?”

“Yeah, I’m… I’m doing it right now. Don’t shoot me.”

“No one will shoot you.”

The door slowly opened. The gun came out first, followed by Tom Sparling. He looked at her while ERT officers moved in and apprehended him. Another went in for Maria Torres.

Shortly after, the nurse came out and walked right up to Sandra. “How is Jordon?”

“In surgery.”

Maria threw her arms around her. “Thank you!”

Sandra hugged her back, taking a moment’s comfort in the embrace, the human contact. Maria hadn’t seemed put off by the blood. Though, as a nurse, she’d be used to seeing it.

“I never should have gone back to get that man’s phone. If I hadn’t…”

Sandra put a reassuring hand on Maria’s shoulder. “We can’t know the future.”

“Though maybe we can?” Maria lifted her hand and showed Sandra her ring finger. She grinned broadly. “He proposed, and I accepted. We’ve already started our family.” Maria touched her belly.

“You’re expecting too? Congratulations,” Sandra told her, grateful she hadn’t known before and had the added pressure.

“Thank you. Can I go check on Jordon?”

“I don’t see why not.”

Just then the regular lights came on with an announcement that the lockdown was lifted. It wasn’t long before the hallways became busy.

Gail hurried down the hallway to her daughter’s room.

That’s my cue…

This time, Sandra took the elevator to the eighth floor. Hopefully, Dr. Cowan could pull off a miracle.

FIFTY-FOUR

9:15 PM

Sandra swung past the command vehicle to fill everyone in and to let them know she was off. They were all wrapping things up to head out themselves. Neal promised to update her on Jordon Maddox and Nurse Mahoney. She handed the keys for the Bureau car to Brice, telling him she was going to order a car service. There was somewhere she’d wanted to be since that morning and couldn’t get there fast enough.

Sandra had updated Elwood, and he said, “Let’s hope Maddox and that nurse pull through. I’ll call the director and let him call Ilene Maddox.”

Amen to that!

She ordered a ride on her phone and set out to the meeting spot, but her phone rang, stopping her in her tracks. “Special Agent Vos,” she answered.

“Dr. Cowan. I wanted to let you know the good news. Phoebe Chapman is getting her heart. She’s being prepped for surgery as we speak.”

Sandra put a hand over her heart, sending out gratitude to the universe. “That’s wonderful news. Thank you for letting me know.”

“Thank you for getting that little girl safely through the day.”

“Nurse Torres had a lot to do with that too.”