Chapters (109)
- Part One
- ONE
- One day earlier
- TWO
- THREE
- FOUR
- FIVE
- SIX
- SEVEN
- EIGHT
- NINE
- TEN
- ELEVEN
- TWELVE
- THIRTEEN
- FOURTEEN
- FIFTEEN
- SIXTEEN
- SEVENTEEN
- EIGHTEEN
- NINETEEN
- TWENTY
- TWENTY-ONE
- TWENTY-TWO
- PART TWO
- TWENTY-THREE
- TWENTY-FOUR
- TWENTY-FIVE
- TWENTY-SIX
- TWENTY-SEVEN
- TWENTY-EIGHT
- TWENTY-NINE
- THIRTY
- THIRTY-ONE
- THIRTY-TWO
- THIRTY-THREE
- THIRTY-FOUR
- THIRTY-FIVE
- THIRTY-SIX
- THIRTY-SEVEN
- THIRTY-EIGHT
- THIRTY-NINE
- FORTY
- FORTY-ONE
- FORTY-TWO
- FORTY-THREE
- FORTY-FOUR
- FORTY-FIVE
- FORTY-SIX
- FORTY-SEVEN
- FORTY-EIGHT
- FORTY-NINE
- FIFTY
- FIFTY-ONE
- FIFTY-TWO
- FIFTY-THREE
- FIFTY-FOUR
- FIFTY-FIVE
- FIFTY-SIX
- FIFTY-SEVEN
- FIFTY-EIGHT
- FIFTY-NINE
- SIXTY
- SIXTY-ONE
- SIXTY-TWO
- SIXTY-THREE
- SIXTY-FOUR
- SIXTY-FIVE
- SIXTY-SIX
- SIXTY-SEVEN
- SIXTY-EIGHT
- SIXTY-NINE
- SEVENTY
- SEVENTY-ONE
- SEVENTY-TWO
- SEVENTY-THREE
- SEVENTY-FOUR
- SEVENTY-FIVE
- SEVENTY-SIX
- SEVENTY-SEVEN
- SEVENTY-EIGHT
- SEVENTY-NINE
- EIGHTY
- EIGHTY-ONE
- EIGHTY-TWO
- EIGHTY-THREE
- EIGHTY-FOUR
- EIGHTY-FIVE
- EIGHTY-SIX
- EIGHTY-SEVEN
- EIGHTY-EIGHT
- EIGHTY-NINE
- NINETY
- NINETY-ONE
- NINETY-TWO
- NINETY-THREE
- NINETY-FOUR
- NINETY-FIVE
- NINETY-SIX
- NINETY-SEVEN
- NINETY-EIGHT
- NINETY-NINE
- GLOSSARY
- Acknowledgments
- Continue reading
- Part One
- ONE
- TWO
- THREE
This time, Edwin shouted his answer. “I’m with her. Don’t come in. I’m armed.”
“We just want to talk to you about everything that’s going on,” Dazz said.
Silence.
Laryea beckoned to Dazz and they pulled back to where Courage and the constable stood.
“Ask Araba if she knows there’s a long ladder you can use to take a quick look through the window from the outside to see what the situation is.”
As Courage hurried downstairs and Dazz and Laryea returned to the bedroom door, Emma took a calculated risk and sneaked back to the top of the stairs. She wanted to be closer to the action. But she stayed low and flat.
“Edwin,” Dazz called out again. “Is the door locked? May we open it and enter? We don’t want any problems. We just want to chat with you, okay? Please.” Dazz waited for an answer, but none came. That could mean Edwin was undecided and considering options. “Chaley, we’re friends, right?” Dazz continued. “I know you’ve had some tough things happen in your life, but you’re a good man. You’ve come a long way and you’re one of our best policemen. I’ve seen that with my own eyes. Please, Edwin.”
Dazz looked at Laryea, who signaled him to keep going. Keep the pressure on.
“Edwin,” Dazz continued, “chaley, we can make it fair so that everything will come out right for all of us and no one has to get hurt. Talk to me. Tell me what’s wrong. What’s troubling you?”
“The door is open,” Edwin said.
Laryea whispered something to Dazz and he relinquished his automatic weapon to the DCOP, who stood out of sight in a small alcove in the hallway a few meters from the bedroom door. Courage had returned from outside shaking his head to indicate no ladder. He took a position next to Emma but insisted she back down a couple steps.
“I’m not armed, Edwin,” Dazz called out into the bedroom. “I’m going to open the door now, okay?”
Emma saw Dazz shut his eyes for a second, as if sending up a quick prayer. He pushed down the door handle and slowly opened the door.
NINETY-SEVEN
NINETY-SEVEN
Edwin had Josephine close beside him on the sofa, his left arm loosely around her waist. His right hand held a semi-automatic pistol. Josephine, in a house dress and headscarf, sat rigid and terrified.
“Hello, Dazz,” Edwin said.
Dazz stood with his hands clearly visible. “Hi, Edwin. How are you?”
Edwin snorted. “Funny question. I’ve been expecting you.”
“Is that so?”
“The rifle is unlicensed, I know. And this handgun too.”
“Put it down and let’s talk,” Dazz said.