Hostage

'You sure Jones's people got hit?'

'They said it was FBI, so it hadda be Jones's guys. We're getting this shit off the sca

'They get the disks?'

'I don't know. It's happening right now; no one's talking to us.'

'Why the fuck did they go in?'

'I thought you gave'm the green light.'

'It wasn't me.'

'Hang on a sec; there's more traffic on the sca

Howell tried to stay calm.

'Who's in the fuckin' house?'

'I don't know.'

'Is Jones still in the goddamned house?'

'I don't know.'

'Where's Talley?'

'I don't know.'

'You're paid to know, goddamnit. That's why you're there.'

Howell broke the co

'Fuck!'

He dialed Talley's number and listened to the Nokia ring. He let it ring twenty times, and then he snapped his phone shut so hard he thought he might have broken it.

Talley rolled code three all the way to the hospital. He beat Cooper, arriving a few minutes after three A.M. The parking lot was almost deserted; the remaining press camped by the emergency room entrance. Talley parked at the side of the hospital to avoid them, but got out of the car because sitting was difficult. He leaned against the door with his arms crossed, watching the street, then realized he was still wearing the bullet-resistant vest and the radio. He took them off and tossed them into the backseat. He found the Nokia, and dropped it onto the front seat.

The Nokia rang.

Talley hesitated in the door of the car, thinking the Watchman had finally heard about the house. He stared at the ringing phone as if he was hiding from it, as if any movement might draw the Watchman's eye and the Watchman would somehow know that Talley was there. Talley should have turned the goddamned thing off. He wanted the Watchman to wonder.

Talley felt his chest tighten, and realized that he had stopped breathing. The phone stopped ringing as Cooper turned into the parking lot. Talley took a breath, then raised his hand, but Cooper was already turning toward him.

Talley watched carefully as Thomas and Je

Je

'That's right. Did Officer Cooper tell you about your mother? We spoke with her in Florida. She's flying back now.'

They beamed. Je

Talley put out his hand.

'We didn't really meet before. My name is Jeff Talley.'

'I'm Je

She shook his hand firmly, her smile blinding. Thomas shook his hand as if it were serious business. They stood so close together that their arms touched, and both children stood very close to him. He knew that this was normal. He was the man who had saved them.

'It's good to finally meet you, Thomas. You were a big help. You were very brave. You both were.'

'Thank you, Chief. You're really dirty.'

Je

Talley glanced at his hands. They were streaked with soot and sweat, as was his face.

'I guess I am. I haven't had time to clean up.'

Je

Thomas rubbed at his nose, but his eyes never left Talley.

'Is our daddy okay?'

'He's doing better. Let's go see him.'

Talley brought them through the side entrance. He held their hands, letting go only to badge an orderly who led them through the hospital to the emergency room. Everyone they passed stared at them. Talley knew that it was only a matter of time before word spread to the press that the chief of police had brought the hostage children to their father. When the press knew, the Watchman would know.

Talley refused to bring the children through the ER admitting area. The orderly led them past the hospital laboratory along a hall that the ER perso

'You're the Chief, aren't you? May I help you?'

'I'm bringing the Smith children to see their father.'

'I'd better get Dr. Reese.'

'Fine, you go get her. We'll be in the room.'

Talley found Smith's room without waiting. He thought that Smith would be sleeping, but Smith was staring at the ceiling, his eyes blinking. He was still wired to the monitors.

Je

Smith lifted his head enough to see, and then his face registered surprise and elation.

The kids ran to him, both to the side of the bed without wires, and hugged their father. Talley waited in the door, giving them a moment, then entered and stood at the end of the bed. Je

Talley watched. Smith wrapped his arm around Je

'Thank God you're all right. You're all right, aren't you? You're okay?'

'Mommy's coming home.'

Talley stepped up behind Je

'We reached your wife. She's in the air now.'

Smith met Talley's eyes again, then looked away.

Talley said, 'Your family is safe.'

Smith nodded, still not looking at him.

'What happened to the three men?'

'They're dead.'

Thomas pulled at his father's arm.

'Daddy, our house is on fire. We almost burned.'

Thomas jerked his father's arm again, then coughed a great shuddering sob and buried his face in his father's stomach. It was all coming out now, all of Thomas's tension and fear. Smith stroked his son's hair.

'It's okay, partner. It's okay. You're safe. That's all that's important.'

Talley waited until the boy had calmed, then squeezed Je

'Could you guys wait in the hall for a second? I need to talk to your dad.'

Smith glanced up, then nodded to send his children to the hall. Je

'Thank you.'

Talley took out the two disks.

Smith stared at them, then looked away again.

'Did you tell my kids?'

'No. They'll have questions. Thomas helped me get them. He opened them on his computer.'

'It wouldn't mean anything to him.'

'He'll wonder. He's going to ask sooner or later.'

Smith sighed again.

'Shit.'

'Those are good kids you got there. That little boy, Thomas, he's something else.'

Smith closed his eyes,

Talley watched Smith, wondering if there was anything he could say to get this man to help him. He had negotiated with hundreds of subjects, and that was the game: Figure out what they needed to hear and say it; find their buttons and push them. All of that seemed beyond Talley now. He didn't know what to say. He glanced over at Thomas and Je