Part 69 (1/2)
Not Rinna. One of Falcone's soldiers, and he landed in a heap in the circular drive. It was immediately apparent that he'd been shot in the head.
The cops stood in stunned silence. Then one of them spoke.
”Jesus Christ!”
”What the h.e.l.l was that for?” Cooper boomed over the bullhorn.
”That's the man who fired the weapon,” the voice from inside called. ”I've given him to you. Now we can negotiate.”
”I don't think so,” Cooper answered. ”Come out with your hands up.”
INSIDE, Falcone turned to Rinna. ”Why won't he talk terms?”
She tried not to look smug. ”Because you just broke one of their laws. They have laws.”
”Laws!” he snarled. ”I don't give a rat's a.s.s for their laws.”
”But they do,” she answered. ”In this society, you don't just kill people.”
”Not even to appease the authorities?”
”No. Tell your men to put down their guns, so n.o.body else gets shot. And close the blinds so they can't see in.”
”Close the blinds,” Falcone ordered, and men snapped to obey. ”We have to get home.”
She took a deep breath. ”Maybe I can help you get out of here.”
”How?”
She thought about getting him to stick a fork in an electric socket. Too bad that would only hurt him. She needed something more permanent.
”I can open a portal.”
”You said you couldn't,” he growled.
”I said I was too weak. I'm still weak for something like that. But I'm willing to try.”
”You'll get us out of here?”
”If you let me stay behind.”
He nodded tightly, and she knew that he was only agreeing because he thought he had no choice.
”You have to buy us some time,” she said.
”How?”
”With a story they'll believe. Tell them that you are from the Middle East and you are holding a woman hostage. Tell them that you will kill me unless they guarantee an airplane for you and your men.”
”An airplane? A thing that flies in the sky?”