He jogged toward the Crazy Horse with his weapon pointed at the ground.Police tape marked the perimeter of the scene.Wade ducked under it.Sheriff Nava was crouched behind his squad car with Jackson and a small group of officers.Several other first responders stood by, along with a firetruck and an ambulance.The street, still wet with rain, reflected the flashing lights from the emergency vehicles.
“Hendricks,” Nava said, all business.“We have an armed perpetrator inside the bar with a minimum of two hostages.A tactical team is on the way.”
“Active shooter?”
“He hasn’t fired his weapon.”
“It’s Charlie Franklin,” Jackson said.
Wade glanced at the entrance to the darkened bar, where the huge front window had shattered.Several metal barstools lay in the street, and broken glass littered the sidewalk.“Anyone have eyes on him?”
“Not since he turned off the lights.”
“Who are the hostages?”
“One of them is Elvira,” Jackson said.“The other is female, unidentified.”
“Is it my mother?”
“We don’t know,” Nava said.“To be honest, it could be, and you should probably go behind the line until we get more information.”
“Is that an order or a suggestion?”
Nava didn’t answer.
“I’m staying,” Wade said.
“I see movement,” Jackson said.“He’s coming forward.”
They all crouched down lower, waiting for the assailant to appear.
A voice shouted from inside the bar.“Sheriff, tell your guys to back off.”
Nava surprised Wade by standing up and walking into the open.“Charlie, let’s talk.You know me.We went to high school together.”
“Fuck you!”Charlie shouted.“Tell your guys to clear out.”
“Who’s in there with you?”
Charlie responded by throwing a bottle into the street.It smashed in a spray of brown glass and pungent liquid.
Nava ducked a little but didn’t run for cover.He signaled the fire chief to retreat.After the group of first responders left the area, Nava spoke again.“Let the women go, and I’ll come inside to talk.”
Wade was impressed with Nava for taking on the role of hostage negotiator instead of waiting for an expert to arrive.Lost Lake was a remote community without big-city resources.The decision to take action or delay response was a difficult one, and Wade was glad he didn’t have to make the call.
“I’m not talking to you,” Charlie said.“I want Hendricks.”
Wade’s blood ran cold.Nava didn’t respond.
“Send in Deputy Hendricks,” Charlie said.
“Why him?”
“I have a question for him.”
“I’ll go,” Wade said, standing.
Nava gave a curt shake of his head to deny the request.
