He took a deep breath to ease the overwhelming anxiety. “One male perp with a handgun. One female hostage. I witnessed him prior to taking the hostage and we’ll be operating under the assumption that he is suffering from a mental illness. That means the perp cannot, under any circumstances, feel threatened or we risk the life of the hostage. She appears to know him in some way and that might work in our favor.”

Daniel nodded at the tech specialist who approached the circle, gear slung over his right shoulder. “I need the phone number to that specific office line immediately.” He looked at the rest of the group. “Get into position, but keep your distance. If he opens the door, we don’t want to spook him with guns in his face. Do not fire unless you cannot miss. I can’t stress the importance of that.” He looked Matt in the eye. “The hostage is Jack Brooks’s daughter.”

And the love of my life.

…

Story sat cross-legged on the office floor watching Frank pace back and forth in front of the door, blocking her escape. His demeanor did nothing to reassure her. With each passing minute, his desperation seemed to grow, his mutterings running together until she couldn’t make them out. He gripped the gun in a shaky hand, waving it to emphasize specific words in his tirade, clearly having lost his grip on reality.

She tried to focus on the positive. Ten minutes had passed since entering the office, which was a good thing. Having read Jack’s book, she knew that the first few minutes of a hostage situation were the most dangerous. She hadn’t resisted in the slightest, another point in her favor.

She’d yet to actually address Frank, taking the time instead to gain her composure. Remaining calm was essential. The ten minutes had served to cool the adrenaline spiking through her blood and she felt capable now of taking the next step. Asking the right questions and listening. Unlike most hostages, she had the advantage of already knowing her captor’s motivation. Medical care for his mother. Now she had to find a way to get it for him.

Her gaze went to the phone sitting silent on the desk. She knew it would ring momentarily and Daniel would be on the other end. In the meantime, she could at least help grease the wheels. Build a rapport. Give him control. Stay calm.

“Frank?” Story began quietly, not wanting to alarm him. “You remember me, right? I’m your neighbor, Story.”

His pacing abruptly ceased and he looked perplexed. “Of course I remember you. You’re the only person in the building who talks to me.”

She couldn’t wait to someday tell her students that being nice might help save your life. “Y-yes. I’ve been meaning to stop by and say hello but my father has been ill. You know how stressful that can be.” She gave him a small smile and reminded herself not to look down at the gun. “How is your mother?”

“Terrible,” he spat. “She’s terrible. And stubborn. She doesn’t want to die and leave me with hospital bills. The insurance company and the hospital are in league together, you know. Everything is about money with them. Greedy bastards.”

She nodded, but didn’t agree verbally. Her manipulation had to be subtle or she might do more harm than good. “Frank, if I could help, would you let me?”

His brows slashed down over his eyes. “How?”

The phone picked that moment to start ringing. Story flinched at the noise. Frank’s eyes shot toward the desk. He drew the gun and pointed it at her once more, startled by the suddenness of the sound. She didn’t think he would shoot her on purpose, but in his current state, he might pull the trigger by accident. Keep talking. Ignore the phone. Get him to focus.

“That’s my friend on the phone,” she said, drawing his scattered attention back to her. “He can get help for your mom. If I ask him to, he’ll have a doctor at your apartment in five minutes.”

“Five minutes,” he repeated, splitting his attention between her and the ringing phone. His expression was a mixture of confused and hopeful. “Why would he do that?”

Story didn’t know how to respond. He wants to help you would sound too patronizing and he wouldn’t buy it. She went with her instinct and told him the truth. “Because he doesn’t know you. And he thinks you might hurt me. It’s his job to make sure I don’t get hurt, so he’s going to give you whatever you want.”

He looked perplexed. “Hurt you?”

She nodded, relieved by his genuine confusion. “Frank, do you want me to pick up the phone? I’ll give my friend your address and tell him to send a doctor straight to your mom.”

His face screwed up like he might cry. “Okay,” he choked out.

Moving extra slowly, Story reached for the phone.

…

“Hi, Daniel.”

His entire body sagged at the sound of Story’s voice. He hadn’t allowed himself to contemplate the possibility that she might be hurt or worse, but it had been in the back of his mind all the same. When he got her out of that damn office, he wasn’t letting go of her for a very long time. She wasn’t clear of danger yet, though. Concentrating had become increasingly difficult with the arrival of Jack, who now stood behind him in hospital scrubs, practically breathing down his neck. Like Daniel, he was frantic to get Story out safely.

With the help of his team’s efficiency, they’d learned through the hospital that the hostage-taker’s name was Frank and he lived in the same building as Jack, explaining how Story recognized him. Information had been provided about his mother, giving Daniel the man’s motivation.

Blocking out everything but Story’s voice, Daniel spoke calmly, not knowing if the perp could overhear him. “Are you injured?”

“No, I’m fine.” Daniel heard a male voice in the background and her muffled response, telling him the perp couldn’t hear his end of the conversation. “Frank is my neighbor and he won’t hurt me.”

“I knew that kid was off,” Jack ground out behind him.

“Is that Jack out there? He really shouldn’t be under any stress.”

Daniel threw a warning glance at his mentor over his shoulder. Despite Story’s assurance, he wouldn’t take any chances with her life. Especially when he knew firsthand how people could behave when under incredible stress. At this point, he would normally ask to speak with the perp, but Story had already established a relationship and he needed to use that. “I’m going to get you out of there, sunshine. Tell Frank that we know about his mother. A doctor is already on the way to her.”

Her sigh of relief sounded wonderful against his ear. She relayed that information to Frank, and Daniel strained to hear his response, but couldn’t make it out.

“He wants to talk to his mother, to make sure the doctor is really there.”

“Done.” Daniel gestured to his technician, who was already dialing a phone. This was his opening. He could use it to get inside and protect her. “I don’t want to hang up with you. Will he allow me to bring a cell phone inside?”

Muffled conversation. “I don’t think he likes that idea.”

He cursed under his breath. “Listen to me. I can’t put the call through without him letting you go in exchange. If I do that, I lose my leverage and he has no reason to free you. So this is what we’re going to do. We’re going to trade me for you. I’ll come in with the cell phone, unarmed, and he’ll let you out.”

“Daniel, no.” Her voice trembled. “I won’t let you do that.”

“It’s my choice. It’s the only choice.” Daniel exhaled a shaky breath, acutely aware how many officers could overhear his conversation. But none of it mattered. Only she did. “I won’t risk you. I love you too much.”

She choked back a sob. Her next words were whispered. “I love you, too. That’s why I’m going to hang up. Put the call through.”

His heart stopped cold. “No, Story. Please—”

“Trust me,” she said, and hung up.

His precious connection with her broken, Daniel yanked off his headset and let it fall to the ground. It landed with a clatter at his feet, but the sound barely registered over the dull roar in his ears. The

recurring nightmare played in his head, only this time Nora pointed the gun at Story, Daniel nowhere in the vicinity to stop the bullet. With considerable effort, he dragged himself out of the hideous daydream and focused. It’s not over. Pull it together.

He turned to look at Jack, who was already making plans with several officers to enter the room by force. It was a bad call. Daniel knew it in his gut. He’d just lectured Jack on the importance of trusting Story. This was not at all what he’d had in mind, but now he had no choice but to put his money where his mouth was.

“No,” he interrupted firmly. “We wait.”

Everyone, including Jack, froze. “Danny, we can’t leave it up to her. The situation is too delicate. We need to go in.”

“I’m running point here, Jack. And we’re waiting.” Resolutely, he addressed the technician. “Put the call through.” He turned once more to face the door. Trust me, she’d said.

“Come on, sunshine,” he whispered under his breath.

Chapter Twenty-Two

Story knelt by the desk, watching as Frank ended the phone call with his mother and replaced the receiver in its cradle. Very slowly, she stood and made eye contact with him, gently bringing him back to their situation. “It sounds like they’re taking good care of your mother.”