Watching her team clear the row of cars and break into a run for the ambulance, Sam held her breath until they had safely delivered Gonzo. Arnold and Cruz climbed in the back with him while the others took cover in a parking lot at a nearby apartment complex.

“What did Hugo do?”

“He stole some stuff from me. Important stuff.”

“Is that why you had to kill him and his friends?”

“I didn’t want to hurt him, but when I got there... It was all gone. They’d taken almost all of it, and I needed it. I owe people money.”

“I understand how things can spin out of control. I really do. But there’s no sense in letting it get any worse by allowing your grandma and cousins to get hurt. Would you mind letting them leave?”

“No. They can’t leave. If they do, you’ll kill me.”

“You have my word that we won’t kill you. If you hold your fire, so will we.”

Farnsworth nodded at her with obvious approval. Hostage negotiation wasn’t her forte, and she was trying to remember lessons learned more than thirteen years ago in the police academy.

“I want my dad.”

“He can’t come right now. I saw him a little while ago, and he’s busy.” Telling Billy his dad was locked up wouldn’t help anything, so she kept that detail to herself. “I really want to help you, Billy. Do we have a deal? Will you let the others go so we can get everyone out of there safely?”

“No. No deal.”

“Why not, Billy?” She remembered it was important to keep using his name so he’d know she thought of him as a person. It showed compassion and a sense of connection. At least that was the goal.

“It’s not going to matter. I still owe those guys money, and they’re going to come after me to get it.”

“We can help you with that too, but you have to help us. Let the others go, and we’ll figure out what we can do for you.”

“The grandmother and cousins are in a bedroom in the back of the house,” the SWAT commander reported over the secure frequency they used during incidents. “Springer is pacing in the front room. Do you want us to go in?”

Sam looked at Farnsworth, who weighed the decision silently.

“Are you still there?” Billy asked, sounding like a frightened young boy rather than a full-grown man who’d made all the wrong choices that led to this moment.

“I’m here. I want to help you, Billy. Will you let me?”

They all waited breathlessly to see what he would say. “I can’t,” he said softly.

“Take him,” Farnsworth said into the radio.

SWAT officers burst into the house through every door and window. A hail of gunfire greeted them, but they were ready for him.

“Hostages are secure.”