Yeah. Im going to leave her be. And shes going to come up with something, Barrow said.
Hed barely spoken when Schultz came rushing in. While Capone knew how to rig a central box and stop cameras and security systems, Schultz was an expert sharpshooter. He was tall and thin, not much in the muscles department, but Nick had seen him take long shots that were just about impossible.
News is out that were here, he said. Cops are surrounding the gates. I fired a few warning shots and Dillinger answered the phonetold them we have a pack of hostages. You should see them all out there at the gates, he added, his grin evident in his voice. They look like a pack of chickens. Guess theyre calling for a hostage negotiator. Dillinger is deciding whether to give them a live one or a body.
Kody Cameron stood. They give him a body and Im done. If he gives them one body, it wont make any difference to him if he kills the rest of us.
And just how far are you getting, sweet thing? Schultz asked, coming close to her. He reached out to lift the young womans chin.
Nick struggled to control himself. Hell, she wasnt just a captive. Not just someone he had to keep alive.
She worked for Finnegans. She was connected to Kevin Finnegan and Kieran Finneganand therefore, to Craig Frasier.
And he noticed her the first time hed ever seen her. Known that hed wanted to see her again.
Hed never imagined it could be in this way.
For a moment he managed to keep his peace. But, damn her, she just had to react. Schultz cradled her face and she stepped back and pushed his hand away.
Hey, hey, hey, little girl. You dont want to get hurt, do you? Be nice.
Nick stepped up, swinging Schultz around.
Leave her alone, dammit. Were here for a reason.
What? Are you sweet on her yourself? Schultz asked him, his tone edgy. You think this is merchandise you keep all for yourself?
Im not merchandise! Kody snapped.
I want her to find what Dillinger wants, and I want to get the hell out of here! Nick said. He was as tall as Schultz; he had a lot more muscle and he was well trained. In a fair fight, Schultz wouldnt stand a chance against him.
There were no fair fights here, he reminded himself. He had to keep an even keel.
Leave her alone and let her get back to work, he said. Get your mind on the job to be done here.
Shouldnt you be up in one of the front towers? Capone asked Schultz. Isnt that your job in all this?
Schultz gave them all a sweeping and withering glare. Then he turned and left.
Capone was staring at Nick. Maybe you should get your mind on the job, too, Barrow, he suggested.
And you, Nick added softly.
Capone continued to stare at him.
It went no further as Dillinger came striding into the room. He ignored Capone and Nick and walked straight to the desk and Kody.
How long? he asked her.
How long? Youre asking me to do something no one has managed in decades, Kody said.
Youre got two hours, Dillinger said. Two hours. Theyre bringing in a hostage negotiator. Dont make me prove that I will kill.
Im doing my best, Kody said.
Wheres the phone in this room? Dillinger asked.
On the table by the door, next to the Tiffany lamp, Kody said.
What the hell is a Tiffany lamp? Dillinger demanded, leaning in on Kody.
There. Right there, boss, Nick said, pointing out the elegant little side table with the lamp and the white trim-line phone. He walked over to it and saw that the volume was off.
Ready for calls, he told Dillinger.
Good. Well manage it from here. Capone, get on down and help Nelson with the hostages. Schultz is in the eagles seat in the right tower. Floyds in the left. And weve got our good old boy, our very own private Machine Gun Kelly, in the back. Dont trust those hostages, though. Im thinking if we have to get rid of a few, well be in better shape.
No, we wont be, Nick said flatly. You hurt a hostage, it tells the cops that theyre not doing any good with negotiation. We have to keep them believing theyre getting everyone back okay. Thats the reason theyll hold off. If they think were just going to kill people, theyll storm us, figuring to kill us before we kill the hostages. Thats the logic they teach, trust me, Nick told Dillinger.
Dillinger shrugged, looking at the phone. Well, well give them a little time, if nothing else. So, Miss Cameron, just how are you doing?
Dakota Cameron looked up and stared at Dillinger, then cocked her head at an angle. Looking for a needle in a haystack? she asked. Im moving some hay out of the way, but theres still a great deal to go. You do realize
Yes, yes, Dillinger said impatiently. Yes, everyone has looked for years. But not because their lives were at stake. Youre holding so many precious souls in your hands, Miss Cameron. Im just so sure that will help you follow every tiny lead to just where the treasure can be found.
Well, Ill try to keep a clear head here, she said. At the moment, my mind is not hampered with grief over losing anyone, and you really should keep it that way. I mean, if you want me to find out anything for you.
Nick wished he could have shut her up somehow; he couldnt believe she was taunting a man who was half-crazy and holding the lives of so many people in his hands.
He had to admire her bravadoeven as he wished she didnt have it.
But Dillinger laughed softly beneath his mask.
My dear Miss Cameron, you do have more balls than half the men I find myself working with! Dillinger told her. Excellentif you have results. If you dont, well, it will just make it all the easier to shut you up!
She wasnt even looking at Dillinger anymore. Shed turned her attention back to the journal spread open before her.
Let me work, she said softly.
Dillinger grunted. He took a seat in one of the chairs by the wall of the library, near the phone.
Nick walked to the windows, looking out at the gardens in the front of the house, the driveway andat a distancethe wall and the great iron gates that led up to the house.
More and more cars were beginning to arrivemarked police cars, unmarked cars belonging to the FBI and other law-enforcement agencies.
He wondered how Dillinger could believe he might get out of this alive.
And then he wondered just how the hell any of them were going to get out alive.
The phone began to ring. Dakota Cameron jumped in her chair, nearly leaping from it.
Nick nearly jumped himself.
Dillinger rose and picked up the phone. Hello? Dillinger here. How can I help you? Other than keeping the hostages alive... Lets see, how can you help me? Well, Ill begin to explain. Right now, everyone in the house is breathing. We have some employees, we have some guests... What we want is more time, really good speed boatscigarettes or Donzis will do. Now, of course, we need a couple because a few of these good people will be going with us for just a bit when we leave. Well see to it that you get them all back alive and well as long as we get what we want.
Nick wished he was on an extension. He wanted to hear what was being said.
He saw Dillinger nod. How bright of you to ask so quickly! Yes, there is a missing child, too, isnt there? An important little boyson of a mayor! Ah, well, all children are important, arent they...? Mr. Frasier? Ah! Sorry, Special Agent Frasier. FBI. Theyve brought in the big guns. Lets go with thisright now, I want time. You give me some time and you arrange for those boats. To be honest, Im working on a way to give you back that kid I scooped up. Not a bad kid, in the least. I liked him. Id hate for him to die of neglect, caged and chained and forgotten. So, you work on those boats.
Nick wished he was on an extension. He wanted to hear what was being said.
He saw Dillinger nod. How bright of you to ask so quickly! Yes, there is a missing child, too, isnt there? An important little boyson of a mayor! Ah, well, all children are important, arent they...? Mr. Frasier? Ah! Sorry, Special Agent Frasier. FBI. Theyve brought in the big guns. Lets go with thisright now, I want time. You give me some time and you arrange for those boats. To be honest, Im working on a way to give you back that kid I scooped up. Not a bad kid, in the least. I liked him. Id hate for him to die of neglect, caged and chained and forgotten. So, you work on those boats.
Nick saw Dakota Cameron frown as shed heard the name Frasier. Not that Frasier was a rare name, but Kody was good friends with Kevin Finnegan and therefore friends with his sister Kieranand so she knew Craig. She had to be puzzled, wondering first if he was indeed the same man a friend was dating and, if so, what he was doing in South Florida.
She looked up from her ledger. She was staring at Dillinger hard, brows knit in a frown.
A moment later Dillinger set the receiver back in the cradle. He seemed to be pleased with himself.
You kidnapped a child? she asked.
I like to have a backup plan, Dillinger said.
You have all of us.
Yes. But, hey, maybe nobody cares about any of you. They will care about a kid.
Yep, they will, Nick interrupted. But I think they need to believe in us, too. Hey, man, you want time for Miss Cameron to find the treasure, the stash, or whatever might be hidden? If were going to buy that time, we need to play to them. I say we give them the security guard. He needs medical attention. Best we get him out of here. An injured hostage is just a liability. Lets give him up as a measure of good faith.
Maybe, Dillinger said. He looked at Kody. How are you doing?
Id do a lot better if you didnt ask me every other minute, she said. And, she added softly, if I wasnt so worried about Jose.
Who the hell is Jose? Dillinger asked.
Our security guard. The injured man, Kody said.
Dillinger glanced restlessly at his watch and then at the phone. Give them a few minutes to get back to me.
He walked out of the room, leaving Nick alone with Kody.
How are you doing? he asked her.
She shrugged and then looked up at him. So far, I have all the same information everyone has had for years. Anthony Green robbed the bank, but the police couldnt pin it on him, couldnt make an arrest. He wrote in his own journal that it was great watching them all run around like chickens with no heads. Of course, it wouldnt be easy for anyone to find the stash. What it seems to mefrom what Ive readis that he did plan on disappearing. Leaving the country. And he was talking about boats, as well
She broke off, staring at the old journal she was reading and then flipping pages over.
What is it? Nick asked.
She looked up at him, her expression suddenly guarded. He realized thatto herhe was a death-dealing criminal.
Im not sure, she said. I need time.
Youve got time right now. Use it, he said.
We need to see some of the hostages out of herereturned to safety, she said firmly. In good faith!
They were both startled by the sound of a gunshot. Then a barrage of bullets seemed to come hailing down on the house.
A priceless vase on a table exploded.
Nick practically flew across the room, leaping over the desk to land on top of Kodyand bring her down to the floor.
The barrage of bullets continued for a momentand then went silent.
He felt her move beneath him.
He looked down at her. Her eyes were wide on his as she studied him gravely. He hadnt just been intrigued, he realized. He hadnt just wanted to see her again.
Hed been attracted to her. Really attracted.
And now...
She was trembling slightly.
He leaped to his feet, drawing her up, pulling her along with him as he raced down the hall to the stairs that led to the right tower where Schultz had been keeping guard.
Nick was pretty damned certain Schultza man who was crazy and more than a little trigger happyhad fired the first shots.
What the hell are you doing? he shouted.
As he did so, Dillinger came rushing along, as well. What the hell? he demanded furiously.
I saw em moving, boss. I saw em moving! Schultz shouted down.
The phone started ringing. Nick looked at Dillinger. Let me take it. Let me see what I can do, he said.
Dillinger was already moving back toward the library. Nick followed, still clasping Kodys hand.
When they reached the library, Dillinger stepped back and let Nick answer the phone.
Hello? Nick said. This is Barrow speaking now. We dont know what happened. We do know that you responded with the kind of violence thats going to get someone killed. Seriously, do you want everyone in here dead? What the hell was that?
Shots were fired at us, a voice said. Who is this?
I told you. Barrow.
Are you the head man?
Nick glanced over at Dillinger.
No. Im spokesman for the head man. Hes all into negotiation. What we want doesnt have anything to do with a bunch of dead men and women, but thats what we could wind up with if we dont get this going right, Nick said.
We dont want dead people, the voice on the other end assured him.
We dont, either, Nick said.
Barrow. All right, lets talk. I think everyone got a little panicky. No one wants anyone to die here today. Were all working in the same direction, that being to see that everyone gets out alive. Okay?
Nick knew who was doing the negotiating for the array of cops and FBI and law enforcement just on the other side of the gates.
He was speaking with Craig Frasier. Nick was glad the FBI and the local authorities had gotten it together to make the situation go smoothly. He knew Craig; Craig knew him. There was so much more he was going to be able to do with Craig at the other end.
How are they doing on my boats? Dillinger asked, staring at Nick.
Were going to need those boats, Nick said. He needed to give Craig all the information he could about the situation, without making Dillinger suspicious, and he wanted, also, to maintain his position as spokesman for Dillinger.
Yes, two boats, right? Craig asked.
Good ones. The best speedboats you can get your hands on. Now, were not fools. You wont get all the information you need to save everyone until were long gone and safe. But, right now, were going to give you a man. Security guard. Hes got a bit of a gash on his head. Were going to bring him out to the front and well see that the gate is opened long enough for one of you to get him out. Do you understand? The fate of everyone here may depend on this nice gesture on our part going well.
He knew that Craig understood; Nick had really just told him the guard had been the only one injured and that he did need help.
No one else is hurt? Everyone is fine?
Craig had to ask to keep their cover. But Nick knew the agent was also concerned for Dakota Cameron. That the Cameron family owned this placeand that Kody was down herewas something Craig must have realized from the moment Dillinger made his move.