“Tamy’s dad’s arrived,” said Penny.

“Don’t say that,” said Tamy. She didn’t want that.

“You could try telling everyone that Tamy’s father is a piece of shit,” said the ex-agent.

Penny thought she must have misheard.

“He’s a worthless fucking piece of backstabbing shit.”

Everyone near the ex-government agent wondered what kind of negotiation technique this was. The chief of police wanted to have a closer look at his ID.

“What’s the plan?” asked Edward.

103

“What did she mean ‘I’ve changed my mind’?” asked Samuel.

“She’d changed her mind,” said Ali.

“About what?” said Samuel.

“Tamy, your dad’s entered the building,” said Penny. “And he’s a piece of shit.”

“He’s a what?” asked Edward.

“A worthless fucking piece of backstabbing shit,” said Penny.

“I wouldn’t have said ‘worthless,’” said Tamy.

“What do you want me to do?” said Edward. It didn’t get through so he shouted it. “What do you want me to do!”

102

Clara Redlake was put through.

“Hi, Edward,” said Clara. They put her on with Samuel. There were voices all over the room.

“Why is she speaking?” said my brother. “Why has this woman been put on the air? Why is her voice in here?”

“Don’t be like that, Edward,” said Clara Redlake.

“She’d changed her mind about dying,” said Ali.

“She was in the bath, though,” said Samuel. “She died in a bath.”

“This is getting . . .” said Penny.

“She wanted me to . . .” said Ali.

“Just keep calm, Penny,” said the ex-agent. “You’re doing fine.”

“Mm-mm.”

“Put the gun down, Edward,” said Clara.

“I was holding her under,” said Ali.

101

The police didn’t think it was a good idea for Tamy’s dad to get involved at the sharp end but the ex-government agent instructed them to let Tamy’s dad bang on Tamy’s door.

“Tamy!”

The chief of police grabbed the ex-agent’s ID.

“Why is this a good idea?” asked Penny.

100

Bang bang bang!

“Who the fuck’s that?” asked Edward.

“You were what?” asked Samuel.

“Kirsten asked me to hold her under,” said Ali.

“Don’t bang on the door, Dad,” said Tamy.

“Tamy!”

“What’s the plan here?” said Edward. “Tell me what to do!”

“Tell him who he is,” said the ex-government agent.

The chief of police realized he’d made a bad decision.

“Shall we stop the calls now?” said John. “I don’t think we should have any more calls coming through.”

“Tell the gun guy who Tamy’s piece-of-shit dad is,” said the ex-government agent.

“Why is that a good idea?” asked Penny.

“What do you want me to do?” asked Edward. He was losing a lot of blood. The room had started to swim.

“Get this man out!” shouted the chief of police.

“Just tell him,” said the ex-government agent.

“Why?”