He drew a deep breath and turned to look at the scene behind him, where news trucks had begun to gather the evening before. This morning more had joined the rigs already parked. It was not only local reporters; national news organizations had also arrived.
Rowan had been busy with the ever-growing crowd, and so far had done a terrific job of using some of the local police to keep the press far away from the immediate scene.
She’d even set up a podium so that throughout the day Chief Cummings could do news updates. Hopefully that would keep him busy and feeling important while Evan did all the hard negotiating behind the scenes and not get any of the credit for the eventual release of the hostages. Not that he cared about credit...he just cared about the ultimate results.
“Nick—” he turned to the man who had just approached “—why don’t you get Davis and Daniel and meet me at the mobile van,” he said. “I need some updates.” He also needed to refocus on the task at hand and not on his past with Annalise.
Within minutes the four men were huddled by the side of the mobile van. “Daniel, tell me what’s going on at the compound where these people live.” The agent was not only a skilled sniper, he’d also been working with the local police and Hendrick per Evan’s instructions.
“According to what Hendrick could find out, there’s only one way in and one way out of the place. The entire compound is surrounded by a high fence and guarded, but we now have a heavy presence at the gates. We’re checking out any vehicles that go in and come out. If any of these scumbags manage to get out of here, they won’t be able to go home to roost.”
“Good. Anything to report, Davis?”
Davis frowned. He’d been working with the local police to make sure the back of the building was being guarded, and that men were on call for a potential entry into the school.
“The men are complaining about working so many hours, but I think the gunfire out the back windows when you tried to get to the van woke them up as to just how serious the situation is,” he said.
“As if armed men holding five hostages wasn’t serious enough?” Evan replied with disgust.
“With all the action happening at the front of the building, I think they forgot that they needed to stay on their toes. Besides, I have a feeling the toughest crime scene those men have seen is in a convenience store where a lollipop was stolen,” Davis said with equal disgust.
“Chief Cummings is constantly crowing about how good his men are,” Daniel said.
“Let’s hope his men are good,” Evan said. “We need them to be good. What about the interviews, Nick. How are they coming?”
“We’ve now interviewed all the teachers who work here, but none of them had any information about what’s going on. I know Hendrick is checking into their backgrounds. We’re also working off the list Regina Sandhurst gave us of the other staff and delivery services, and will be conducting interviews with them throughout the afternoon. I also spoke to Director Pembrook earlier,” Nick continued. “She didn’t want to bother you, but she told me to tell you to take your time and don’t feel pressured by either the locals or the news reports.”
“Hell, you all know me well enough to know I don’t give a damn about what any of the reporters say about me,” Evan replied. “And Chief Cummings isn’t about to push me to do anything I’m not ready to do.”
“You know we all trust your judgment,” Nick replied. “We’re all behind you.”
Evan clapped him on the back. “Thanks, man. Let’s all check back in with each other in about two hours. I know we’re all tired, but stay on your toes. I intend to start really putting on some pressure, and you all know that things can change in the blink of an eye.”
Evan returned to his position at the patrol car, his head swirling with thoughts and information. Under different circumstances, he would have seriously considered telling Daniel to get into position and shoot Jacob.
There was really only one reason holding him back from doing that, and that was Annalise’s assessment that Jacob’s wife was even more evil than her husband. If Jacob was taken out by a sniper’s bullet, he worried about what Gretchen might do. So, right now killing Jacob wasn’t an option.
This would also usually be the time he’d tell the people inside that he needed proof that the hostages were still alive.
But the last thing he wanted was for Jacob to drag Annalise and the girls up to a window knowing that she was hiding her phone. Besides, he knew the hostages were still alive thanks to Annalise keeping him informed.
He raised the bullhorn. “Brotherhood of Jacob members, if you tell me what you want and why you are in the school, we might be able to work something out. We need to have an open dialogue.”
There was no response from Jacob. Evan waited fifteen minutes and then delivered the same message. Again there was no reply.
Evan hoped Jacob’s men were becoming mutinous. He hoped like hell that hunger, discomfort and isolation were making the men rebellious against the leader who had put them in this situation in the first place. And for what? What on earth had drawn them to the school building where there was nothing but a closet full of snack food?
The school office had no money. They still hadn’t asked for any kind of a ransom. They’d made no contact with Regina Sandhurst, so what in the hell were they doing here? What had been their initial plan?
Damn it, what had
