Page 56 of Wild Oblivion

"You’re not in a position to demand anything from me,” he said. “I don't have to cooperate with shit. You have to do what I say. I'm the one with the hostages.”

"Look, I just want to make sure everyone’s safe and stays that way."

He didn't say anything.

"These people were just going about their business. They didn't ask to become hostages. How would you feel?”

He laughed. "First off, I wouldn't shop in a store like this. This is for people with more money than sense. Who pays these kinds of prices for rocks? That's all they are, man. They’re just rocks. But society says they're worth money. These dumbasses buy them. They ain’t got no value other than to look at. You can't do anything with them.”

"What are you gonna do with them? Sell them to a fence that will give you half of what they're worth. Ice is hard to move.”

"I’ve got ways.”

"Let me help you before you make a big mistake.”

"My biggest mistake was walking into the store in the first place."

"See, we can both agree on something.”

"Now let's start agreeing on my demands."

"I’ve been doing this a long time. You’re not the first person to take hostages. It doesn’t work out for most of them. I’m gonna tell you how this is going to go down. You can let everybody go before this escalates, and maybe this gets knocked down to armed robbery. Or you can keep going down this path until somebody gets killed, maybe even yourself. You want to do life in prison?”

“Hell no!”

“I don't care who you are, or how tough you think you are, life is a long stretch. A lot of things you miss out on when sitting in a 6x8 cell. Now, I guarantee you, if you put the guns down, let the hostages go, and just walk out of there, you'll get a fair shake. If not, everything is off the table. Even if you get away today, we’ll catch up with you eventually.”

"Bullshit. Once I walk out of this store, my ass is gone. You’re never gonna see me again.”

"You gotta fence the merchandise. Maybe you skip town, lie low for a while. Maybe you get out of the country. But kidnapping is a serious offense. There will be an international warrant. You won't be able to hide.”

"Man, I didn't kidnap nobody.”

I laughed. "The six hostages in the store might think otherwise.”

“That ain’t kidnapping. They was in here already.”

"So they can leave at any time?”

He was silent for a long moment. “Man, stop trying to confuse me. I want all these cops out of here. I’m gonna put a bullet in this pretty blonde if this area isn’t clear in 5 minutes.”

29

"Sounds like you're feeling boxed in," I said.

"You’re damn right I'm boxed in. Now I want all you mother fucker's gone."

"What happens if you put a bullet into the blonde's head?" I asked.

"Someone's gonna have a mess to clean up."

"That sure is an understatement. Then what happens?"

"Then I shoot somebody else, and I keep doing it until I get what I want."

"So you’re just going to rack up the murder charges?"

"One or a hundred, it's all the same, isn't it? I can't do more than one life sentence."