This Time You Lose by Chris Stralyn

Author:Chris Stralyn
Language: eng
Format: epub
Tags: thriller, crime, suspense, fear, intense, page turner, childcare, child care, hostage, home invasion, daycare, five stars, top ten, chris stralyn
Publisher: Chris Stralyn

CHAPTER 18

An officer stuck his head inside the door of the Mobile Command Unit. "Food's here, Lieutenant."

Peter nodded and hung up the phone. "Be right out."

The door banged shut and Peter turned to the technician seated across the table. "Set it up."

The officer nodded.

Peter moved to the rear of the Command Unit, grabbed a bulletproof vest from one of the closets, and pulled it over his head. He would deliver the food himself. He wanted to get a look at Tito.

The technician closed the cover on the audio device and flicked the switch. "Ready when you are, Lieutenant."

Pulling the Velcro straps of the vest around his torso, Peter fastened them, and took a cell phone from the charger. He nodded toward the technician. "Okay, give me thirty seconds. Then start recording."

Peter walked down the steps of the Command Unit and stopped. He nodded to the officer parked there, then looked up the street at Lisa's house. Everything was quiet. Except for the dozen or so officers positioned around the house, you would never know that anything was wrong. He shook his head. He'd dealt with plenty of hostage takers over the years, but what kind of low-life takes a daycare hostage? It was just insane.

The officer got out of the patrol car and handed Peter a small pharmacy bag. "Insulin and syringes," he said, then opened the backdoor of the cruiser.

Peter reached inside and pulled two large shopping bags containing McDonald's food from the seat. He nodded again to the officer, shut the door, and started up the street.

The sight of Happy Meal boxes peeking from the top of the bag, combined with the aroma of french fries, made him think of his kids at home. Hell, they were in daycare. What if this had happened in Annarvar? These could be his kids. He stopped, looked down at the sidewalk, and shook the thoughts from his brain. He had to stay focused.

Moving forward again, he took the cell phone from his pocket and dialed Lisa's number. It rang twice before Tito answered.

"Hello."

"This is Peter Vonnason. We've got some food out here for you."

"Yeah? Where are you?" Tito asked.

Peter focused his attention on the large picture window and resumed walking. "If you look out the big window, you'll see me walking up near the police car parked on the street out front." A slight crack opened between the curtain and the edge of the window. Peter stopped. "I've got only a cell phone, I'm not armed."

He set the bags down on the sidewalk, raised both arms over his head, and turned all the way around. Then he picked up the bags with one hand and held them out toward the window as he spoke into the phone. "I've got a bag out here with Happy Meals for the children, and another one with some adult meals," he said, "and I brought some insulin for the twins. Send them out and we can have one of the paramedics give them their shots."

"You think I'm stupid? No one's coming out ‘til you get me my money," Tito said.

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