Page 97 of Every Last One

“She deserved better.” Grief strangled his voice.

Sandra assumed he was back to talking about his late wife’s misfortune. “I’m sure she did. Tell me about her.”

“She was a loving woman. She balanced me out, grounded me.” A rough edge to his voice told her he was crying. “She saw the good in people.”

“I’m very sorry for your loss, Tom.” She wasn’t just saying that to move things along. Her heart went out to anyone who had to say goodbye to loved ones.

“And…AndI shot two people. There’s no hope for me.”

“Both men are alive, Tom. They’re going to be just fine.” A stretch of the truth as that wasn’t a guarantee. Last Sandra knew they were stable, but that could have changed.

“That’s good.”

Sandra glanced over at the ERT officer next to her, who nodded. This was a good turn of events. Tom Sparling’s conscience was making a comeback.

“The others have surrendered peacefully, Tom. They’re all safe. You can put all this behind you too. Did you want to come out and join them?”

Seconds passed without a word.

“Tom?”

“No, I’m not going anywhere.”

“What would it take for you to come out peacefully?”

There was silence, and it didn’t feel good. Tom Sparling had nothing to lose. “Would you be willing to let Phoebe go so she can have her surgery?”

“And what do I get?”

Sandra racked her brain for what he might want, what might motivate him. He had done all this for family, for the love of his deceased wife. That told her he had family values. But this was also about making the hospital pay. He owed them one hundred and seventy-five K. There was two hundred and fifty K sitting upstairs that they could repurpose. But last Tom knew his medical debt was written off. “You should know something before we continue talking. Things didn’t work out for your friend Alaya Princess.” She went with Mindy’s handle in case he didn’t know her given name.

“Uh, what do you mean?”

“She’s dead.”

“You’re lying.”

“I wouldn’t do that.”

“Sure you would.”

“I’m not, but if you want to take the chance I am, that’s up to you. Did you know that if you die or go to prison, Tom, your wife’s medical debt will pass to her daughter, Trudy Hall?” It was a bluff that Sandra hoped he’d believe given the heightened emotion of the moment.

“It would?”

“You basically just said Founders Hospital is unscrupulous. If so, they will get their money one way or the other. Trudy is your wife’s flesh and blood. The hospital has powerful lawyers.”

“What do you want from me?”

“I told you. Let Phoebe Chapman go. Once you do that, I’ll get the cash to Trudy.”

“You can say whatever you want. But no, I won’t let the girl go, but I will release her mother.Ifyou get the money to Trudy, and I want to see it.”

“We have a deal.” Sandra turned to the closest ERT officer. “Have someone bring in Trudy Hall ASAP.”

The ERT officer nodded and got on the job.

Sandra ran for the stairwell and headed back up to the eighth floor.