Hostage

Martin edged close to Talley as Jones deployed his men.

'What do you want me to do?'

'I don't know.'

'You just going to let them leave with the disks?'

'I don't know what I'm going to do, Martin. I don't know. I just gotta get those kids.'

Talley finished strapping on the vest and adjusted his radio. Everything moved quickly and efficiently, without wasted moves or words. When he was set, he looked over at Jones.

'You ready?'

Jones seated his helmet, then shook himself a last time to settle his equipment.

'Remember, Talley.'

'Let's just do this damned thing.'

Jones set off for the house. Talley let him get a step ahead, then turned back to Martin.

'If I don't get out, don't let him leave. Bring in the detectives and try to save my family.'

'Just make it your business to get out.'

She turned away before he could answer and shouted at her SWAT team to remain in place.

Talley caught up to Jones at the corner of the house outside the guest bedroom window. They heard music, loud and throbbing within the burning house. Talley was thankful for it, because the noise of the music and the fire would cover their entrance. They pulled away the screen, then Jones used a crowbar to wedge open the window. He pushed aside the shade, then gave Talley a thumbs-up, saying the room was clear. They lifted the fire extinguishers into the room, then they waited. They would not enter the house until the others were in position. Talley took the phone from his pocket and checked in with Thomas.

'Thomas?'

'I'm here, Chief.'

The boy's voice broke up, salty with static.

'We're almost there. Three minutes, maybe four. As soon as we get Krupchek, the firemen will come in.'

'It's getting hot.'

'I know. Is Krupchek still in the bedroom?'

Talley wanted to keep the boy talking. If he was talking, he wouldn't have time to think about how scared he was. Neither would Talley.

'He's sitting on the floor by the – '

The cell line went dead.

'Thomas? Thomas?'

Nothing.

The boy's phone had finally failed.

Jones glanced over his shoulder at Talley, and twirled his finger. They were spooling up, getting ready to launch.

'Let's go, goddamnit.'

Jones jabbed his finger at the window.

'Go!'

Jones went first, Talley giving him a boost up, then scrambling inside after him. The room was lit only by the low wall of flame that barred the door to the hall. The master bedroom door was only ten feet away. Jones shot the bolt on his MP5; Talley popped the slide on his pistol. They turned on their flashlights, then met each other's eyes. Talley nodded. Jones keyed his mike.

'Now.'

Talley heard the sliding glass doors in the master bedroom shatter at the same time that the front door blew inward off its hinges.

Two fast shots came from the master bedroom. Talley and Jones charged down the hall as a third shot cracked in the bedroom, then they were through the door.

The bedroom was an inferno. The man who had shattered the glass doors was down, writhing in agony. Talley glimpsed a flash of movement from his right and saw Krupchek heave up from behind a Morris chair, chest bare and glistening, an angry, strictured smile on his face. Krupchek screamed, a high-pitched screech, as he swung his pistol, pumping out shots even as Talley and Jones fired. Krupchek stumbled backwards, arms windmilling as he fell into the flames, thrashing and still screaming. Jones fired two short bursts into him and he was still.

They unstrapped their fire extinguishers as Jones's other men cleared through the door, covering the room with their weapons.

Talley shouted, 'We're clear!'

Jones pointed at the first two, then the fallen man.

'You and you, him, out to the van.'

Talley blasted gouts of CO2 at the burning security door, and shouted for Jones to help.

'Jones! The kids are in here.'

Jones shoved the next man toward the door.

'The office is at the front of the house. Make sure the hall is clear.'

'Help me get these kids!'

Jones and the last man joined Talley at the wall. Their CO2 extinguishers hissed like dragons. The red walls turned black as the flames engulfing them died. Talley banged at the door with his fire extinguisher.

'Thomas! It's me!'

The fire on the walls licked to life again, eating away the paint.

'Thomas!'

Talley fogged the door as it opened. The boy and his sister stood back, wary of the heat. Jones grabbed Talley's arm.

'They're yours, Talley. We're getting the disks.'

Talley let them go. He blasted the walls around the door again to beat back the flames, then stepped through and took the boy's hand.

'We're going to move fast. Stay behind me.'

Jennifer crowded next to him, nervously peering around him into the room.

'Is he dead?'

Talley ached when he saw her. Jennifer and Amanda were close to the same age. They wore their hair in the same cut. He wondered where Amanda was now. He wondered if she was looking for her own monster.

'He's dead, Jennifer. Come on. You guys did great.'