Cole’s mouth twists. “So what are you supposed to do when you make a mistake? When you make a mistake and there’s no way you can take it back, no way you can fix it? Because it’s already done. It’s already over.” His voice is rough with tears. “I tried to save who I could. And then when I met you, I thought I could get us out of here, or at least I could get you out. But I couldn’t even do that.”

Miranda thinks of how the security guard grabbed Amina. About how Cole left her and Javier behind. She jabs him with the rifle. “You didn’t even try, you liar! You led us right into a trap.”

“If I’m lying, why did I run when Ron took Amina? Why didn’t I help him capture you? All I wanted was to help you find a way to escape. But you wouldn’t let me. You had to go back for her. You weren’t willing to cut your losses.”

“Cut our losses?” Grace echoes. “You mean we should have just let Amina die?”

“What’s worse? One person dying or five people dying? Besides, I wasn’t lying when I said I didn’t think they would kill her. Yes, some initial sacrifices had to be made, but after that the plans called for us to hold hostages and use them as bargaining chips.” He takes a deep breath. “But I must not know all their plans. Like I didn’t know they were going to blow up those cops.”

“So you would have stopped them if you knew?” Javier demands.

Cole pauses before his answer, and the pause is answer enough.

Miranda doesn’t wait for him to speak. “They were talking about a bus and a plane. What’s supposed to happen now?”

“We were asking for a bus so we could take the hostages with us to an airport. And they had to release three of my brothers’ friends from prison and take them to the airport too. Once we got on the plane, we were going to release half the hostages. And then we were going to fly someplace—they never told me where—and when we landed safely, then we would let the rest of them go.”

“And you really thought that was all going to happen?” Javier’s voice is flat.

Cole is silent.

Miranda had been thinking. “Well, right now, we’re going to do that stupid plan you came up with. With some slight modifications. We’re going to march you down there. You’re not going to wear a mask or a vest. And we’ll tell them we’ll kill you if they don’t open everything up. The metal gate, the doors.” She pokes him with the barrel of the gun. “And if they don’t, well, at least I know how to keep my promises.”