Page 10 of Save Her Life (Sandra Vos #1)
NINE
Another hour scooted by, taking them to eleven PM, and Sandra and the team were still in a holding pattern. Bowen remained eager for SWAT to move in and bring the situation to an end. But she had enough experience to know that end wouldn’t be a pretty one if they rushed things. Thankfully it didn’t sound like the police chief had changed his mind despite Vern Wilcox being hurt. She had no doubt Bowen had passed that news along.
The line for the throw phone rang, and Sandra answered.
“I have all their names,” Gavin told her.
“Great. Let me get a pen and paper.” She looked at Richie, who was ready to note everything down.
“Not so fast. I thought of something I want.”
“It’s not good faith to change what’s at stake partway through, Gavin, but I’m listening.” She wanted to denote a cooperative spirit while maintaining control.
“I want my daughter to get her meds, but I want to take them to her.”
“I’ll see what I can do.” She knew there was no way that would fly.
“And I want a hundred thousand dollars and the freedom to walk away from this free and clear.”
“I’m sorry, Gavin, but I’m not sure how I’m supposed to make that happen.” It was a passive-aggressive approach, but the apology paired with the use of his name added warmth. This response also flipped things back to Gavin for him to solve the problem.
“Fine. I don’t need the money. It’s for my girl. Get it for her. Isn’t there someone you could talk to about this?”
He’d just elaborated and revealed his primary emotional driver was his daughter’s welfare. “Sure, Gavin, I can talk to my boss about this and explain your side. I can tell you’re a good dad, just trying to do right by your daughter.”
“That’s right. This is all for her.”
“Your daughter also needs to learn there are consequences for her actions. It’s a valuable life lesson that could save her a lot of grief. If you surrender peacefully right now, the charges against you will be light, Gavin. I’ll speak on your behalf.”
“Just get the money and the meds for her. You have an hour to decide.” He hung up, and Sandra set a timer on her phone for sixty minutes.
“Well, he seems to have that move down,” Bowen griped.
Of course Bowen had to be in the command vehicle for that interaction… “At least he’s given thought to what he wants.”
“Whatever delusions he has, there’s no way this guy is getting away scot-free,” Bowen seethed. “And a hundred K? Not a chance.”
She wasn’t going to discuss the money with Bowen. “You and I know he will pay for what he’s done, but he needs to be convinced that the charges against him will be light. If we succeed in reassuring him in this regard, we get everyone else out safe and sound too. I believe zero casualties is the ultimate goal we all share.”
Bowen mumbled incoherently and said, “I can’t believe we’d offer this guy a deal.”
“It and the money are worth entertaining if it gets him and the hostages out safely.”
“Tick tock,” Bowen said and tapped a finger on his watch face and sat down at the table with a coffee. “The HT gave you an hour. I’d say we’ll know everyone’s fate at that time.”
Patrick wrapped up a phone call and spoke to everyone. “So I heard back from Simon. He got into the pharmacy system and found a few Gavins listed. I narrowed it down to one that fit Wilcox’s description. Gavin McConnell. Twenty-five years old, no criminal record, has an address in town. No phone number on record or noted in the pharmacy system.”
“No record is great news.” This suggested Gavin would be less likely to take things to the absolute extreme. It was probable he wasn’t prejudiced against law enforcement. Not that he’d given her any indication of that during their talks, aside from some fear the FBI was on scene.
“I’m not sure how much comfort I take in his clean record,” Patrick said. “Most law-abiding citizens don’t hold people at gunpoint for hours.”
“The sad part is, Patrick, we’re all capable if we’re pushed to our breaking point,” Sandra said. “What about any spouse or significant others?”
Patrick typed more. “He shares an address with Karen Bing…” More clicking away. “She’s the mother of a two-year-old, Cassandra. Both are also attached to Gavin’s account with the pharmacy. Simon can’t get into the prescription records side of things without another type of warrant though.”
“Likely no need to worry about it. Get an officer over there to talk to her,” Garrison told the intelligence officer. “Tell her what’s going on and have the officer find out what they can from her about Gavin. We’ve speculated he was recently fired from his workplace. See if the officer can find out the circumstances and specifics, if that’s even the case. If not, then why the medical insurance was canceled. Also if the meds are needed urgently.”
“You bet.” Patrick got on the phone.
Sandra needed to have a frank and honest conversation about granting Gavin McConnell’s requests. That wasn’t going to happen with Bowen. He might not like what she had to do next, but she had a job to do and lives to save.
She stepped outside to call Assistant Director Rowe.