Chapter Fifty-Five
Josh knew he had to keep Laura talking, both for their safety and to try to give Maya time for a response.
Hopefully the FBI rescue team was close.
One of her quick updates had said that Kessler had arrived, but the team coming was held up due to the storm.
Small flakes were coming down hard outside. This storm was going to be a good one.
His sister continued sobbing, which only made Josh feel worse.
Because of him, Bianca had been pulled into this and was now a hostage.
He wanted to get her back over to where Elena was, but Laura had her gun pointed straight at him.
Ian had also pulled out a gun from a shoulder holster and had it pointed at Josh and Bianca.
“You leave her right there and you go back over there,” Laura said, nodding in the direction of where Josh originally stood.
“It’ll be okay,” Josh whispered into his sister’s ear. “Just trust me.”
Bianca gave a quick nod and squeezed his hand.
Josh walked back over to the front of the classroom.
He wished he could somehow let Maya know where Bianca was standing for her safety, but he also trusted Maya’s training.
She had helped clear houses in Afghanistan with her military K-9 and probably had more experience than some of the guys he worked with in Chicago. He had to keep Laura talking.
“Why kill Amber?” Josh asked. “I know it was to frame me, but really, why her?”
Laura gave a laugh. “Amber was a problem. She was always into other people’s business, and thanks to being your ex, she had figured out things she shouldn’t have. When Elena came to her, she called and tried to blackmail me. No one does that and gets away with it.”
Josh took a deep breath. Amber hadn’t really changed. That figured, but even so, she hadn’t deserved to die.
Movement outside the east window caught his attention.
He quickly looked away. Probably Maya, Rory, Deputy Wilson, and Agent Kessler.
They must have heard the gunshot and decided to go ahead and breach rather than wait for the hostage team.
Josh glanced over at Elena, who stared straight ahead.
Had she seen the movement? It was behind Laura.
Josh focused on her. If he could keep her distracted, that would help the officers outside, including Juniper.
“You killed Amber but then realized that there was a loose end, didn’t you?” Josh said.
“What would that be?”
“Elena,” Josh said. “You didn’t know what Amber had told her and she was the one who wanted to reopen the case.”
Laura turned her focus on Elena. “You should have just left things alone.”
“There’s more to this than you realize,” Elena said. “A lot more.”
“No,” Laura answered. “I think there are things you don’t know.”
“I was wondering why you didn’t want the person responsible for this crime to pay for it, but I think I know,” Elena said. “You killed Sydney, didn’t you?”
Laura let out another crazy laugh. “You think I killed my own daughter? No. I didn’t.”
“Then who?” Elena asked. “Even if it’s a loved one who did this, for Sydney’s sake, let the truth come out.”
“You think I’m going to tell you everything?
You need to shut up.” Laura moved her finger to the trigger.
“Sydney was a disappointment. She thought that being a high-end escort meant she wasn’t a whore.
She was just like her father. If he didn’t think I knew about all the women on the side, he was wrong.
But I know I have the upper hand. Her death, while tragic and upsetting, had to happen. ”
Even though he was shocked to hear what Laura was saying, Josh knew he had to intervene. “You shoot Elena, then I really won’t tell you where the evidence is.”
“Maybe I should just shoot you all then,” Laura said, turning back to Josh.
“Then what? You’ll have to take care of us and who are you going to blame this on next? You won’t have anyone to frame,” Josh said.
He hoped Maya and company would make the breach soon. He didn’t know how long he could keep this situation under control. Laura had become desperate and desperate was dangerous.
* * *
Lined up outside, Maya waited for Kessler’s hand signal for the countdown.
They’d been able to peek in the window and see Laura holding a gun.
Based on her body language, she seemed to be losing control.
Ian also had a weapon. Tony was lying in a pool of blood.
It appeared he’d been the one shot. Maya was relieved it wasn’t Josh, Elena, or Bianca.
Kessler started the countdown and then, taking a battering ram, on one, he hit the door hard, knocking it open.
Juniper sprinted in, Maya right behind her.
Juniper noticed Ian holding the gun and flew off the ground, grabbing him by the arm and knocking him over.
Ian screamed and the gun tumbled out of his hand.
Josh immediately picked it up and ran over to assist Maya and Juniper. Rory and Agent Kessler were yelling at Laura to put the gun down. If she didn’t comply, then Maya might have to redirect Juniper to help them out.
Juniper, happy to be able to apprehend someone, was shaking her head back and forth. Her bite was strong and Ian was screaming while trying to get away. The sound of the screams only increased Juniper’s adrenaline, which Maya knew was going to make it hard to get her off the bite.
“Stop screaming and stay as still as possible,” Maya said. She had to repeat herself a couple times until Ian listened. Where was Laura? Hopefully Agent Kessler had her. Or Rory. Or both.
Ian finally quit struggling and Maya was able to get Juniper off the bite. The Mal flicked a golden eye her direction, asking Maya if she really wanted her to let go.
“Out,” Maya said again. She didn’t blame her dog for latching on. This man had come to their town and framed Josh. Part of Maya wanted to let Juniper enjoy the apprehension a little bit longer. After looking at Maya again, Juniper reluctantly let go.
“Good girl,” Maya said as she and Josh handcuffed the man. Josh patted him down and found another gun and a knife.
“Let’s set him over there,” she said, pointing to the wall. “Get up and move.”
“I’m too injured,” the man tried to say, but Maya wasn’t going for it.
“No, you’re not.”
Maya and Josh hoisted him to his feet and sat him down. Rory came over to keep an eye on him. Deputy Wilson was doing his best to administer first aid to Tony. Elena had frozen in place. Where was Bianca?
Stay calm. Focus. She has to be around here.
Out of the corner of her eye, Maya saw Laura backing away from Rory and Agent Kessler.
Somehow Laura had grabbed Bianca around her throat and was dragging her back.
She had the gun pressed to Bianca’s head.
Bianca tried to nail Laura with her elbow, but Laura tightened the grip around her neck.
Bianca gasped for breath, her face turning red as she clawed at Laura’s arm with no luck.
There was only one place they could go, which was the bathroom.
“No. No,” Maya said quickly flashing through the scenarios in her mind.
Send Juniper? Take a shot? There wasn’t time.
She didn’t have a good angle and risked hitting Bianca.
They had decided on this building because the bathroom was the only place someone could hide.
But it was an ideal place to hold and kill a hostage.
The door slammed shut.
“Bianca?” Josh said. “She took her. She took my sister. I’m going after her.”
“Shit,” Maya muttered. We have to save Bianca. Nothing bad can happen to her. “Josh, wait. We’ll get her. She’s going to be okay.”
“You can’t promise that.”
Maya took a deep breath. He was right. She couldn’t promise that.
“I know I can’t, but if you go barging in after her, Laura could shoot you both.
Right now I think Laura wants leverage and that’s why she took Bianca.
Let’s regroup and figure out the best way to get everyone out.
Alive. It’s hard, but we need to think about this as if it isn’t Bianca in there as a hostage.
What would we do if it was a citizen we didn’t know? ”
Anger and fear etched across Josh’s face.
Agent Kessler spoke up. “One of my team coming here is a good negotiator. We could try to talk Laura out or at least into giving up Bianca.”
“No,” Josh said. “We need to take immediate action.”
Maya took a quick glance out the window. The snowfall was picking up. “We’re wasting valuable time debating this. I’m not sure your team is going to make it here. What if we did a muzzle strike with Juniper?”