Heels hisses, “Having your hands zip tied didn’t stop anyone from beating up this kid. We need to get one of them by himself.” She takes a deep breath. “And then we need to get his gun.”

Gauges is the first to nod. “She’s right.” Most of the others follow, but it’s clear that a few, like Dreads, are still reserving judgment.

Heels looks around the ring of faces. “Does anyone have a lighter?”

Parker’s lips barely move. “I do.”

5:48 p.m.

HIXON: This is Sergeant Hixon of the Portland Police Department’s Crisis Unit. Is this Ron Skinner? What would you like me to call you?

SKINNER: Nothing. Because I’m not talking to you.

HIXON: Mr. Skinner, I just want to touch base with you. I’m here to listen to you and to try to make sure everybody stays safe.

SKINNER: We’ve got bombs hidden all over. You want more cops to die? Then send them on in. We’ve got so many places booby-trapped.

HIXON: They were only trying to prevent the loss of life. They weren’t trying to attack you. You told the dispatcher that the people you’re holding were being killed.

SKINNER: Sun Tzu said that all war is based on the art of deception. And make no mistake, this is war. America has turned against its own citizens. That’s why we have to take our country back. Do you think this mall is just some random target? In the Middle East they blow up mosques. This is America’s church. It’s where Americans go to worship. And now the whole world is watching.

HIXON: I’m very interested in hearing what you have to say. And I want to thank you guys for keeping the rest of those people in the mall safe while we talk this out. That’s going to count for a lot if we can end this now without anyone else getting hurt. Let’s see if we can keep things peaceful for now so we can all come out of this safe, okay?

SKINNER: Don’t you understand? Nothing about this world is safe anymore.

HIXON: Are you okay? Are you injured? Does anyone need medical attention?

SKINNER: It’s the people we’re holding that you should be worried about. You need to meet our demands or more of them are going to die.

HIXON: I appreciate you letting me know where you stand. And I just want you to know that, even though some people were shot at the beginning of this thing, we understand that all kinds of unexpected things can happen in a panic situation. Split-second decisions made in the heat of the moment, right? But you’ve done a good job of keeping things cool since then, and it seems like no one else has been hurt. Is that right?

SKINNER: More or less.