Once the elevator doors closed, Casey collapsed against Thomas in tears. He wrapped one arm around her, while he grabbed his cell phone with the other and thumb-dialed 911. The woman had become hysterical. Her hiccupping sobs made it hard for him to hear the phone ringing on the other end.
He patted her back. “You’re okay. You’re safe now.” The sound did not abate, in fact, it increased. “I don’t mean to sound insensitive, but I really need you to calm down so we can get Shadowhawk out of there.”
At that Casey pulled away and nodded while she wiped her eyes on the sleeves of her terrycloth robe. The tears were still visible, but her loud sobs ceased as she worked at gaining control. “That’s a good girl.”
“911, what’s your emergency?”
“Officer needs assistance. This is Detective J.J. Thomas from OCSD, badge number 2598.”
“Hold on, Detective, while I confirm.”
Seconds later, the operator was back on the line. “Okay, Detective, what is your emergency?”
“I have a hostage situation of a fellow officer at 2122 Marina Drive, Penthouse A. Get SWAT down here immediately. The apartment in question is a glass tower. The principal involved is a female, five foot five, red hair, holding a gun to the officer’s head. No other persons are on the premises.”
“Just a moment, Detective.”
The elevator doors opened and he guided Casey out into the lobby. The guard, Vince, jumped out of his chair and ran over. “What’s wrong?”
“We have a bit of a situation here. Any time now this place will be swarming with cops.”
“What kind of situation?” Vince asked.
“Hostage. Call all the elevators to the lobby and keep them here.”
“Detective?” The 911 operator was back on the line. “I’ve dispatched all available units and SWAT is ten minutes out. Is there anything else I can do for you?”
“Better add an ambulance to that just in case,” Thomas said.
“Already done,” the operator answered.
Sirens could already be heard in the distance. “I’ve got to go,” Thomas said.
“Good luck and be safe,” the operator said.
“Thanks.” Thomas was about to slip his phone back into his pocket when it rang. He glanced at the screen before picking it up; it was Shadowhawk. He hit answer and listened. He heard a slightly muffled conversation and knew she had her phone in her pocket.
Luckily he could still make out every word. He hit mute, so that no noise from his side could be heard.
Vince appeared before him. “What else can I do?”
Thomas kept the phone to his ear while he talked. “With the elevators out of commission and all the activity around the building, the tenets are going to panic. I need you to field those calls and keep everyone calm.”
“I could make an announcement through the phone tree.”
“What’s that?”
“Anytime we have to get everyone’s attention, we have a computer contact the residents by phone with a message. You know, the electricity will be out for four hours, or the water will be off from ten to two, stuff like that.”
“Great. Tell them that we have an emergency and for their own safety they must stay in their apartments until further notice. You’ll still probably have to field calls. Above all else, stress it’s for their own safety as well as the safety of law enforcement that they stay locked in their apartments.”
“I’ll do my best.” Vince returned to his desk.
Three black and whites came to a screeching halt; six uniforms jumped out and ran toward the building. Thomas removed his badge and clipped it to the front of his shirt where it was visible before he walked out the glass doors with Casey close on his heels.
“I’m Detective J.J. Thomas from OCSD. My partner, Detective Shadowhawk Quinn, has been taken hostage by one Ronnie Tallman, she’s holding a Beretta on her as we speak. They are on the top floor, in Penthouse A. SWAT is on the way.”
“What do you want us to do?” an eager young officer asked.
“I need this place cordoned off and guarded. No one but law enforcement should enter. I want someone inside guarding the stairs. I need Penthouse B evacuated.”
Thomas pointed to the guard, who was speaking into the phone. “Vince over there will help you. When you’re done, I need that elevator stopped at the lobby.”
Thomas put his hand on Casey’s low back. “This is Casey, she’s had a rough day. She was the perp’s first hostage. I need someone to get her to safety.”
“I want to help,” Casey pleaded.
“This is helping. I can’t worry about you and do my job,” Thomas assured her.
Reluctantly, Casey went with the young officer. As the first six officers disbursed, more cars arrived and Thomas found himself dispatching more orders. When the SWAT team finally arrived, Thomas heaved a huge sigh of relief.
After introductions were made and the new arrivals were brought up to speed, everyone went to work.
Ronnie pushed Shadowhawk away and trained the gun on her chest. They now stood facing each other, which gave Shadowhawk the advantage of reading her better. “Babe, what are you doing?”
“You must think I’m really stupid or something.”
“I think you’re an amazing woman who has gone to a lot of trouble to get my attention.” Shadowhawk took a step closer in an effort to distract her while she fiddled with the phone in her pocket. “And I’m glad you did.”
“Stay back,” Ronnie barked.
Shadowhawk stopped. She took her hands out of her pockets and held them up.
“I want your gun. Set it on the floor and kick it over to me.”
Shadowhawk removed her piece with her thumb and forefinger on the butt.
“Don’t try any stunts. I’m pretty good with this thing. I practice on a regular basis.”
As Shadowhawk lowered her gun to the floor, she said, “A Beretta Nano, an interesting choice.”
“Daddy bought me this gun, it was my first. He was always worried I might be kidnapped and wanted me to be able to defend myself. Since then I’ve had numerous guns, but I always keep this one with me for sentimental reasons.
“He built a gun range on the estate and that’s where he taught me how to shoot. He also took me hunting. My brother, Teddy, was such a pussy, he never wanted to go. It was just me and him. Mother was furious. She was always jealous of me and my special bond with Daddy.”
“Yet your mother left you this apartment.” Shadowhawk kicked her gun lightly. It stopped dead center between them. If the woman noticed, she didn’t let on. She was off in her own world.
“I had Mommy wrapped around my little finger in the end. Teddy doesn’t have a clue how the game is played. I sat by her side and fed her. Told her how much I would miss her and cried my eyes out. I’m very good, you know. I can cry on cue. I should have been an actress.” Her laugh gave Shadowhawk a chill.
The woman was a narcissistic sociopath. Shadowhawk needed to keep her talking so Thomas had time to rally the troops. “You sure had me fooled. I believed you when you told me you loved me.”
“I do,” Ronnie answered emphatically.
“Then why are you still holding a gun on me. That’s not the action of someone in love.”
“I proved my love to you over and over. I sent you gifts, expensive floral arrangements and that diamond tennis bracelet that you never wear,” Ronnie quipped.
“But you never signed the cards. How was I supposed to know who was wooing me?”
“You should have known!” Ronnie shouted.
The outburst had Shadowhawk stepping back before she realized it and stopped. After taking a deep breath, she steadied her voice as she prepared to reply, “I’m sorry. Please forgive me. Can you just forget all of my stupid mistakes? We’re together now. That’s what’s important.” She reached out her hand. “Just give me the gun.”
“No.” Ronnie sounded like a petulant child as she reined it in closer to her body.
“Come on, babe, you’ve got to trust me sometime. How can I kiss you when you’re pointing that thing at me?” Shadowhawk sounded calmer than she felt.
“You’re trying to trick me.” Ronnie sounded like someone using baby talk.
Shadowhawk inwardly cringed. “Why would I do that? I got rid of the others so we could be alone.” She turned her back on Ronnie and walked toward the wall of windows, knowing all the while she was taking a big risk.
“Stop! Where are you going?” Ronnie’s panicked voice reached her.
As casually as possible Shadowhawk said over her shoulder, “Just to sit down.” Her steps never faltered as she headed toward the dining table. “Why don’t you put the gun away and get us a bottle of champagne?” She quickly swiped her hands down her face to remove the sweat in an effort to mask how unbelievably scared she was.
“I-no, wait!”
Shadowhawk sat at the head of the table and faced her antagonist. That way it forced Ronnie to come closer to the windows where SWAT could take her out. She noticed movement out of the corner of her eye, but forced herself not to look. Ronnie had taken a couple of steps, but she wasn’t quite close enough.
What’s worse was that the gun was now pointed at her head.
“I’m the one with the gun. I call the shots here. You can’t just do whatever you want,” Ronnie whined.
There was nothing Shadowhawk could do anymore to appear nonplussed. Her body was betraying her. Her shirt was glued to her skin and sweat dripped into her eyes. She grabbed one of the linen napkins from the table and wiped her face.
Ronnie made a weird expression. “What’s wrong with you?”
“Gee, babe, I guess you could say I’m a little stressed. I’m not used to having someone pin me with a gun and now it’s happened twice within a twenty-four hour timeframe. It’s a bit much, you know?”
Ronnie actually looked concerned. “The second?”
“Uh, yeah, your step-brother, Robert?”
“Oh.” Ronnie shook her head. “That useless piece of shit. It’s hard to find good help nowadays, but what can I say? The guy adores me and will do anything I say.” She grinned as if thinking of a distant memory.
“He’s been my partner in crime almost from the time he came to live with us. I just need to let him screw me every now and then and he’s good for another ten thousand miles.” She chuckled.
“Men are so easy to manipulate, they all think with their dicks.” Ronnie started to look off in the distance.
Shadowhawk needed to stop her. “Can you blame him? You’re gorgeous, with that flame red hair and those luminous green eyes.”
Ronnie’s head swiveled back and she gave a seductive grin. “Don’t forget my double D’s. If I remember correctly, you couldn’t get enough of them. You said you’d found Heaven.”
Shadowhawk tried not to flinch. “That goes without saying, but don’t shortchange yourself, you’re more than just a great rack.”
Ronnie wiggled her brows. “I am, aren’t I?”
“Why don’t you come over here and let me show you some lovin’?”
The SWAT commander raised his walkie-talkie. “Rocko, are you and your men set?”
“Affirmative. We’re in the elevator outside the penthouse, ready to go in on your order.”
“Sniper one?”
“Affirmative.”
“Sniper two?”
“Affirmative.”
Thomas listened to the sound off as he stared up at the rooftops of the buildings on either side of the one where his partner was being held. Thanks to Shadowhawk, they had ears, but he had to rely on the snipers for eyes. She seemed to have things under control as she worked with Ronnie’s psychosis. If Ronnie had not had a psychotic break, she’d know exactly what was going on outside. So far, it hadn’t seemed to enter her mind.
He was damned proud of the way Shadowhawk was holding up and wished he was doing half as good. He’d already tossed his jacket and rolled up his sleeves, but the sweat still rolled off him in waves.
His heart was pounding so hard, he was certain to go into cardiac arrest at any moment. Everything appeared to be moving in slow motion. He didn’t know how much more of this he could take.
News crews were setting up behind them and more arrived every minute. All the while he prayed Ronnie didn’t press her nose to the glass and see the circus going on down below. Of course it was a long shot, but one couldn’t help but worry about every little thing in a situation like this.
Shadowhawk appeared to be doing a good job at keeping her attention. She’d even managed to get the subject in front of the windows. One of the snipers announced he had a shot. The commander told him to hold his position.
Shadowhawk held her breath as Ronnie deliberated about joining her. Step one. Come on baby, just a little more. Step two.
A loud thundering shook the entire building. Shadowhawk jumped away from the glass thinking it was an earthquake. Suddenly a helicopter rose straight up as if from the floor below and filled the entire bank of windows. The logo of a local television station was painted on the side.
A man holding a large camera on his shoulder squatted in the open bay, his face hidden by the enormous lens. He was so close she could count the freckles on his hand. Ronnie swung her gun toward him and started shooting.
Shadowhawk tackled her from the side. They slid across the tile floor until they were stopped by the coffee table. The wind from the rotors blew the glass into the room, showering them. The helicopter banked right and flew away.
Shadowhawk grabbed for the gun. By her count, there should be only one bullet left. Her opponent was much stronger than she anticipated. Their bodies rolled over and over the glass-laden floor as they wrestled for the weapon.
She was vaguely aware of the sharp pin pricks of pain as the shards embedded themselves into her flesh deeper and deeper each time she landed on her back. Their entwined bodies edged closer and closer to the ledge.
If she didn’t put a stop to the motion soon, the two of them would plummet to their deaths on the asphalt thirty floors below. A shot rang out and their bodies ceased all movement. Shadowhawk found herself staring up into Ronnie’s stunned face.
One foot more and they would have been road kill. She heard the crash of waves and the sound of seagulls. The room filled with the scent of the sea. Something wasn’t right. She brought her hand up and found it covered in blood.
The gun had gone off between them.