“That’s my final offer.”
“We don’t even know if he’s armed,” Carlyle said.
“Let’s get going,” Pierce said. “This is an assault, not a powwow.”
Bognor gave him a hard look. “Caleb, if Ric gets into any trouble, the state police will handle it.”
“At least let me cover him in case he walks into an ambush.”
“Fine,” Morris said. “Tell us when you’re in position.”
Pierce draped a 30-06 across his shoulder, bent low to the ground, and ran into the woods.
“Bad idea,” Carlyle said. “He’s trigger-happy.”
“Don’t worry, I’ll have one of my men jerk his chain, if necessary.”
With Carlyle in the lead, the three men crossed open ground and headed for the trees. In seconds, they were making their way up a narrow, rutted trail.
Carlyle turned around after several minutes. “Sheriff, it gets pretty steep just ahead. You sure you want to keep going?”
“I’m fine. Let me just rest for a second.”
“Take all the time you want.”
Bognor removed his hat and wiped his forehead with his sleeve. “Any idea what you’re going to say to him?”
Carlyle drank from his water bottle. “I’ll try to make him understand my aim is to avoid a shooting war.”
“How do you do that in three minutes?”
“I’ll pretend I’m being paid like a lawyer.”
“Your wife know what you’re doing here?”
“You kidding? I’ll be lucky if she doesn’t leave me when she finds out what went on today.”
“You can always go back to the university once this is finished.”
“No, that life’s over with. I wasn’t meant for a desk job.”
“Come on, you two,” Morris said. “My officers are wondering why we’ve stopped.”
The three men, moving slowly when they encountered uneven ground, continued up the mountain. As daylight faded, they found themselves in deepening shadow.
“You sure we’re on the right trail?” Bognor said.
“There’s only one way up the west side of this hill,” Morris said.
“How do we know Sutcliffe will let us get close enough to talk?” Bognor said. “For all we know, he may be watching us right now.”
Morris shook his head. “That’s pretty unlikely. I’ve got twenty-four troopers armed with assault rifles and stun guns. Four are watching us, the rest getting ready to surround that cabin.”
They stopped just inside the tree line. A small field lay between them and a cabin sitting on a small rise fifty feet up the hill.
Morris spoke into a walkie-talkie. “We’re in position. Hold your fire and wait for my orders.”
Bognor stepped close to Carlyle. “You don’t have to do this.”
“I’ve spent a decade trying to figure out why people like Sutcliffe go on a rampage. It’s final exam time.” He slipped off his backpack, handed his flashlight to Bognor, took a quick drink from his water bottle, and retied his bootlaces. “I’m ready.”
Carlyle grabbed a small bullhorn from Morris and took half a dozen steps into the open. “Sutcliffe. It’s Ric Carlyle. May I approach?”
Sutcliffe cracked the door. “How many are out there with you?”
“Just Bognor and Morris, but there’s troopers all around.”
“Why’d they send you?”
“I told them I understood what the Marshalls had done to your family.”
“You know nothing about us.”
“I know that a cop killed your grandfather when he was trying to surrender.”
Sutcliffe edged through the door but kept to the shadows. “Come on up, but keep your hands in the air.”
Carlyle crossed the meadow, mounted the porch steps, and stood facing Sutcliffe. The two men were three feet apart.
“That’s far enough,” Sutcliffe said. “Now spread your arms wide.”
“Why?”
“I need a shield.” You carrying a gun?”
Carlyle opened his jacket. “Satisfied?”
“I still need to pat you down.” Sutcliffe ran his hands over Carlyle’s torso. “Why in hell should I trust you?”
“I know that what Marshall did to the people who lived here was wrong.”
“Cut the drama. What do you want?”
“Where’s Betts?”
“He’s tied to a tree a thousand yards east of here. You can have him any time you want.”
“We better go inside to talk.”
Sutcliffe shook his head. “Can’t do that. There’s a couple and a young child in there.”
“You’ve got hostages?”
“I’m not holding them against their will.”
Carlyle turned toward the woods and raised the bullhorn. “Don’t fire. We’ve got people inside.” He said to Sutcliffe, “Step away from the cabin, please.”
“Why in hell would I do that?”
“The state police are afraid I’ll get killed in the crossfire.”
Sutcliffe took a step away from the cabin, but continued to stare at the tree line. “You gonna put me in your book? The one about how you captured a terrorist?”
“There’s no book. I’m just trying to make sure no one dies today.”
“No matter what you do, I’m going to prison for the rest of my life.”
“That may be, but we can’t end this standoff while you’ve got hostages.”
“What’d you have in mind?”
“Let them go now.”
“I’m not holding them. See for yourself.”
Carlyle raised the bullhorn again. “We’re going into the cabin.”
“Ric, that’s out!”
“There’s no other way.” Carlyle followed Sutcliffe through the open door and found the two adults crouched against the back wall with a child between them. “You guys okay?”
Jeff and Lisa glanced at Sutcliffe, but said nothing.
“See, they trust me,” Sutcliffe said.
“They’re scared to death. Let this be between the two of us.”
“You’ve got an army behind you. I’ve just got these hippies.”
Adam opened his eyes but didn’t move. When the woman began crying, her husband put his arm around her shoulder.
“I’d never hurt these kids.”
“The cops don’t know that,” Carlyle said.
“Why would I just give up my only bargaining chip?”
“You don’t need them anymore.”
“Why the hell not?”
Carlyle took off his jacket and draped it across the back of a chair. “Because you’ve got me for a hostage now.”
“This a trick?”
“You better do it before I change my mind.”
“All right, smartass. You’ve got yourself a deal.” Sutcliffe, shotgun in hand, cracked the door. “Make it quick. I don’t want flash-bangs landing in here.”
Carlyle helped the two adults to their feet. “When you get outside, put your hands in the air, and walk straight down the hill toward the trees.”
Sutcliffe said, “Watch over that little boy now.”
Carlyle, his
