“So I heard.” She paused. “Jane’s parents just got here. I saw them in the parking lot.”

“They called me, right after they saw the newscast.”

“They’re looking for you. You’d better go to them.”

“I can’t handle them right now.”

“I’m afraid you also have another problem.”

“What?”

“Detective Korsak is here. He’s none too pleased that he didn’t get notified at all.”

“Oh, Christ. He’s the last person I want to see.”

“Korsak is her friend. He’s known her as long as you have. You may not get along with him, but he cares a lot about Jane.”

“Yeah, I know.” He sighed. “I know.”

“These are all people who love her. You’re not the only one, Gabriel. Barry Frost has been hanging around here all evening. Even Detective Crowe dropped by. We’re all worried sick, we’re all scared for her.” She stopped. Added: “I know I’m scared.”

He turned to look up the street, toward the hospital. “I’m supposed to comfort them? I’m barely holding it together myself.”

“That’s just it, you’ve taken it all on yourself. It’s all been on your shoulders.” She touched his arm. “Go, join her family. Her friends. You need each other right now.”

He nodded. Then, taking a deep breath, he walked back toward the hospital.

It was Vince Korsak who spotted him first. The retired Newton detective came charging toward him, and intercepted him on the sidewalk. Standing under the streetlamp, Korsak looked like a glowering troll, bullnecked and belligerent.

“How come you didn’t call me?” he demanded.

“I didn’t get the chance, Vince. Things have been happening so fast-”

“They said she’s been in there all day.”

“Look, you’re right. I should have called.”

“Coulda, shoulda, woulda doesn’t cut it. What the hell, Dean? You think I’m not worth calling? You think I wouldn’t want to know what the fuck is going on?”

“Vince, calm down.” He reached toward Korsak, who angrily batted away his hand.

“She’s my friend, goddammit!”

“I know that. But we were trying to control leaks. We didn’t want the press to hear that a cop was inside.”

“You think I’d have leaked it? You think I’d do something that fucking stupid?”

“No, of course not.”

“Then you should’ve called me. You may be the one who married her, Dean. But I care about her, too!” Korsak’s voice cracked. “I care about her, too,” he repeated softly, then suddenly turned away.

I know you care. I also know you’re in love with her, even if you’ll never admit it. That’s why we can never be friends. We both wanted her, but I’m the one who married her.

“What’s happening in there?” said Korsak, voice muffled. Still not looking at him. “Does anyone know?”

“We don’t know a thing.”

“That bitch popped the secret on air half an hour ago. There’s been no calls from the taker? No sounds of gun-” Korsak stopped. “No reaction?”

“Maybe they weren’t watching the TV. Maybe they haven’t heard they’re holding a cop. That’s what I’m hoping-that they don’t know.”

“When was their last contact?”

“They called around five, to set up a deal.”

“What kind of deal?”

“They want a live TV interview. In exchange, they’ll release two hostages.”

“Then let’s do it! What’s taking so long?”

“The police were reluctant to send in any civilians. It meant endangering a reporter and a cameraman.”

“Hey, I’ll run the fucking camera if someone shows me how. And you can play reporter. They should send us.”

“The hostage takers asked for a specific reporter. A man named Peter Lukas.”

“You mean that guy who writes for the Tribune? Why him?”

“That’s what we’d all like to know.”

“Well, let’s get on with it, then. Get her the hell out of there before-”

Gabriel’s cell phone rang and he winced, thinking that it must be Jane’s parents trying yet again to talk to him. He could not put them off any longer. He reached for the phone and frowned at the digital display. It was a number he did not recognize.

“This is Gabriel Dean,” he answered.

“Agent Dean? With the FBI?”

“Who is this?”

“It’s Joe. I think you know who I am.”

Gabriel froze. He saw Korsak watching him, instantly alert.

“We have things to talk about, Agent Dean.”

“How did you know-”

“Your wife here tells us you’re trustworthy. That your word is your bond. We hope that’s true.”

“Let me talk to her. Let me hear her voice.”

“In a minute. Once you promise.”

“What? Tell me what you want!”

“Justice. We want you to promise to do your job.”

“I don’t understand.”

“We need you to bear witness. To hear what we have to say, because there’s a good chance we’re not going to live through this night.”

A chill sliced through Dean. They’re suicidal. Are they going to take everyone else down with them?

“We want you to tell the world the truth,” said Joe. “They’ll listen to you. Come inside with that reporter, Agent Dean. Talk to us. When it’s over, tell everyone what you’ve heard.”

“You’re not going to die. You don’t have to.”

“You think we want to? We’ve tried to outrun them and we can’t. This is the only choice left to us.”

“Why do it this way? Why threaten innocent people?”

“No one will listen to us any other way.”

“Just walk out! Release the hostages and surrender.”

“And you’ll never see us alive again. They’ll come up with a logical explanation. They always do. Watch, you’ll see it in the news. They’ll claim we committed suicide. We’ll die in prison, before we ever get to trial. And everyone will think: ‘well, that’s how it goes in jail.’ This is our last chance, Agent Dean, to get the world’s attention. To tell them.”

“Tell them what?”

“What really happened in Ashburn.”

“Look, I don’t know what you’re talking about. But I’ll do whatever you want if you just let my wife go.”

“She’s right here. She’s fine. In fact, I’ll let you-”

The connection suddenly went dead.

“Joe? Joe?”

“What happened?” Korsak demanded. “What’d he say?”

Gabriel ignored him; all his attention was focused on reestablishing the link. He retrieved the phone number and hit DIAL.

“… we’re sorry. This number is currently unavailable.”

“What the hell is going on?” Korsak yelled.

“I can’t get through.”

“He hung up on you?”

“No, we were cut off. Right after…” Gabriel stopped. Turned and looked up the street, his gaze focusing on the command trailer. They’ve been listening in, he thought. Someone heard everything Joe said.

“Hey!” called Korsak. “Where you going?”

Gabriel was already running toward the trailer. He didn’t bother to knock, but shoved open the door and stepped inside. Hayder and Stillman turned from the video monitors and looked at him.

Hayder said, “We don’t have time for you right now, Agent Dean.”

“I’m going into the building. I’m going to get my wife.”

“Oh, yeah.” Hayder laughed. “I’m sure you’ll be greeted with open arms.”

“Joe called me on my cell phone. They’re inviting me in. They want to talk to me.”

Stillman abruptly straightened, his face registering what looked like genuine surprise. “When did he call you? No one told us.”

“It was just a few minutes ago. Joe knows who I am. He knows Jane is my wife. I can reason with these people.”

“It’s out of the question,” said Hayder.

“You were willing to send in that reporter.”

“They know you’re FBI. In their minds, you’re probably part of this crazy government conspiracy they’re so scared of. You’d be lucky to last five minutes in there.”

“I’ll risk it.”

“You’ll be a prize for them,” said Stillman. “A high-profile hostage.”

“You’re the negotiator. You’re the one who always talks about slowing things down. Well, these people want to negotiate.”