The woman suddenly came to a stop and stared down at the manila folder near her feet.
Don’t open it. Please don’t open it.
The woman picked it up, eyeing the name on the cover.
Distract her, now!
“Excuse me,” she said. “I really-I really need to use the bathroom. Being pregnant and all.” She pointed to the waiting room toilet. “Please, can I go?”
The woman dropped the chart down on the coffee table where it landed just out of Jane’s reach. “You do not lock the door.”
“No. I promise.”
“Go.”
Dr. Tam touched Jane’s hand. “Do you need help? Do you want me to go with you?”
“No. I’m okay,” said Jane and she rose on unsteady legs. Wanted desperately to sweep up the medical chart as she moved past the coffee table, but the Crazy Lady was watching her the whole time. She walked to the restroom, turned on the light, and closed the door. Felt sudden relief to be alone, and not staring at a gun.
I could lock the door anyway. I could just stay in here and wait it out until it’s over.
But she thought of Dr. Tam and the orderly and Glenna and Domenica clinging to one another on the couch. If I piss off Crazy Lady, they’ll be the ones to suffer. I’d be a coward, hiding behind a locked door.
She used the toilet and washed her hands. Scooped water into her mouth, because she did not know when she’d next get a chance to drink. Wiping her wet chin, she scanned the small restroom, searching for something she could use as a weapon, but all she saw were paper towels and a soap dispenser and a stainless steel trash can.
The door suddenly swung open. She turned to see her captor staring at her. She doesn’t trust me. Of course she doesn’t trust me.
“I’m finished,” said Jane. “I’m coming out now.” She left the restroom and crossed back to the couch. Saw that the medical chart was still lying on the coffee table.
“Now we sit and wait,” the woman said, and she settled into a chair, the gun on her lap.
“What are we waiting for?” Jane asked.
The woman stared at her. Said, calmly: “The end.”
A shudder went through Jane. At the same time, she felt something else: a tightening in her abdomen, like a hand slowly squeezing into a fist. She held her breath as the contraction turned painful, as sweat beaded on her forehead. Five seconds. Ten. Slowly it eased off, and she leaned back against the couch, breathing deeply.
Dr. Tam frowned at her. “What’s wrong?”
Jane swallowed. “I think I’m in labor.”
“We’ve got a cop in there?” said Captain Hayder.
“You can’t let this leak out,” said Gabriel. “I don’t want anyone to know what her job is. If the hostage taker finds out she’s holding a cop…” Gabriel took a deep breath, and said quietly: “It can’t get out to the media. That’s all.”
Leroy Stillman nodded. “We won’t let it. After what happened to that security guard…” He stopped. “We need to keep this under wraps.”
Hayder said, “Having a cop in there could work to our advantage.”
“Excuse me?” said Maura, startled that Hayder would make such a statement in Gabriel’s presence.
“Detective Rizzoli’s got a good head on her shoulders. And she can handle a weapon. She could make a difference in how this goes down.”
“She’s also nine months pregnant and due to deliver any minute. What, exactly, do you expect her to do?”
“I’m just saying she’s got a cop’s instincts. That’s good.”
“Right now,” said Gabriel, “the only instinct I want my wife to follow is the one for self-preservation. I want her alive and safe. So don’t count on her to be heroic. Just get her the hell out of there.”
Stillman said, “We won’t do anything to endanger your wife, Agent Dean. I promise you that.”
“Who is this hostage taker?”
“We’re still trying to ID her.”
“What does she want?”
Hayder cut in: “Maybe Agent Dean and Dr. Isles should step out of the trailer and let us get back to work.”
“No, it’s okay,” said Stillman. “He needs to know. Of course he needs to know.” He looked at Gabriel. “We’re going slow on this, giving her a chance to calm down and start talking. As long as no one’s getting hurt, we have time.”
Gabriel nodded. “That’s the way it should be handled. No bullets, no assault. Just keep them all alive.”
Emerton called out: “Captain, we’ve got the list. Names of personnel and patients still unaccounted for.”
Stillman snatched up the page as it came off the printer and scanned down the names.
“Is she on it?” Gabriel asked.
After a pause, Stillman nodded. “I’m afraid she is.” He handed the list to Hayder. “Six names. That’s what the hostage taker said on the radio. That she’s holding six people.” He neglected to add what else the woman had said. And I have enough bullets for them all.
“Who’s seen that list?” said Gabriel.
“Hospital administrator,” said Hayder. “Plus whoever helped him compile it.”
“Before it goes any further, take my wife off it.”
“These are just names. No one knows-”
“Any reporter could find out in ten seconds that Jane’s a cop.”
Maura said, “He’s right. All the crime beat reporters in Boston know her name.”
“Scratch her name off the list, Mark,” said Stillman. “Before anyone else sees it.”
“What about our entry team? If they go in, they’ll need to know who’s inside. How many people they’re rescuing.”
“If you do your jobs right,” said Gabriel, “there’ll be no need for any entry team. Just talk that woman out of there.”
“Well, we’re not having much luck on the talking part, are we?” Hayder looked at Stillman. “Your girl refuses to even say hello.”
“It’s only been three hours,” said Stillman. “We need to give her time.”
“And after six hours? Twelve?” Hayder looked at Gabriel. “Your wife is due to give birth any minute.”
“You think I’m not considering that?” Gabriel shot back. “It’s not just my wife, it’s also my child in there. Dr. Tam may be with them, but if something goes wrong with the birth, there’s no equipment, no operating room. So yes, I want this over as quickly as possible. But not if there’s a chance you’ll turn this into a bloodbath.”
“She’s the one who set this off. The one who chooses what happens next.”
“Then don’t force her hand. You’ve got a negotiator here, Captain Hayder. Use him. And keep your SWAT team the hell away from my wife.” Gabriel turned and walked out of the trailer.
Outside, Maura caught up with him on the sidewalk. She had to call his name twice before he finally stopped and turned to face her.
“If they screw up,” he said, “if they go charging in there too soon-”
“You heard what Stillman said. He wants to go slow on this, just like you.”
Gabriel stared at a trio of cops in SWAT uniforms, huddled near the lobby entrance. “Look at them. They’re pumped up, hoping for action. I know what it’s like, because I’ve been there. I’ve felt it myself. You get tired of standing around, endlessly negotiating. They just want to get on with it, because that’s what they’re trained to do. They can’t wait to pull that trigger.”
“Stillman thinks he can talk her out.”
He looked at her. “You were with the woman. Will she listen?”
“I don’t know. The truth is, we know almost nothing about her.”
“I heard she was pulled out of the water. Brought to the morgue by a fire and rescue crew.”
Maura nodded. “It was an apparent drowning. She was found in Hingham Bay.”
“Who found her?”
“Some guys at a yacht club down in Weymouth. Boston PD’s already got a team from homicide working the case.”
“But they don’t know about Jane.”
“Not yet.” It will make a difference to them, thought Maura. One of their own is a hostage. When another cop’s life is on the line, it always made a difference.