Page 55 of Wild Oblivion

“I’m on my way.”

I ended the call, shoveled the rest of the eggs in my mouth, and bussed my plate. I hurried down the hall and banged on the hatch to JD’s stateroom. “Get up. Sheriff needs me across town. You need to look after Henrik.”

“I don’t need looking after,” Henry shouted from the galley.

Jack grumbled something.

I hustled up to my stateroom and grabbed my pistol. On the way out, I snatched my helmet and gloves and made a mad dash for the bike.

28

Patrol cars dotted the area. Lights flashed, and deputies took cover behind squad cars. They angled pistols over hoods, aiming at the front door.

Traffic had been blocked off, and news crews were on the scene. The patter of Tango One thumped overhead.

I pulled onto the scene, parked the bike, and found the sheriff. “What have you got?”

“Two perps. Half a dozen hostages inside.”

“They make any demands?”

“Other than asking us to go home, no. Not yet.”

Daniels had a sharpshooter on the roof directly across the street from the store. A tactical team was in position at the back door, ready to breach.

"Do you have a direct line of communication?”

"They picked up the store phone once. Told me to moveeverybody out of the area or they would start killing hostages.”

"What's the number?" I asked.

He told me, and I dialed into the store.

It rang forever.

Finally, someone picked up the phone. “Who ‘dis?”

“I’m the guy that’s going to help you get out of this situation.”

“Yeah? How you gonna do that?”

“I’m Tyson. What’s your name?”

“Fuck you.”

“That’s nice. Your mother give you that name?”

“Fuck you. Get all these pigs out of here now, or I’m gonna start putting holes in people.”

“Sounds like you’re a little frustrated.”

“Damn right, I’m frustrated. All these motherfucking cops showed up out of nowhere.”

"Yeah, I see how that could put a damper on your day.”

"So do something about it.”

"I'll see what I can do, but I need some cooperation on your end.”