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Sadie said, “I’ve got to do something. He’s a disease, and he’s spreading.”
I said, “This isn’t the answer.”
“What is? Arresting him and taking him to jail, where they’ll release him the same day? Or is the answer to protect him from people in the town? Because so far everything I’ve seen anyone do fails.”
She didn’t seem to be the least bit afraid. And that made me afraid. If she truly believed she had nothing to lose, then she was desperate. And desperate people are rarely open to negotiation.
Sadie said, “Mike, you’ve been good to me. But I know how seriously you take your job. And when this is all over, I want you to be able to say you did your duty.”
I turned from Dell Streeter back to her and said, “What are you talking about?”
“I want you to toss your gun onto the ground. You know I’m not going to hurt you. But I don’t want you to try to interfere.”
I hesitated.
Sadie said, “Mike, put your gun on the ground right now.”
I had heard that tone before. Many times. It was the tone used by people who weren’t bluffing. I bent my knees, then tossed the gun a few feet away onto the raw concrete floor. I had given up my gun in tough situations before. It always gave me a sick feeling in my stomach.
This was no exception.
Chapter 84
I immediately went into my negotiator mode. I said, “We can work this out, Sadie. It’s not too late.”
“Too late for what? This is exactly what I should be doing. There’s nothing that can happen to me that’s worse than what I’ve already been through.”
I thought about that, and it made me sad. She was right. Life had dealt her a bad hand. But she was bright, determined, and so very, very young. She probably didn’t believe it at that moment, but she had a lot of life in front of her. I couldn’t let her give it up. Especially because of a shitbag like Dell Streeter.
My heart broke at the thought of Sadie getting in trouble for this. I tried not to sound like I was pleading, but it was hard to do anything else.
“Sadie, sweetheart, please don’t use that gun.”
She stared straight ahead over the barrel of the pistol pointed at Dell Streeter.
“Think about the consequences. You’re smart. Really smart. You can do anything in this world. But not if you’re rotting in some jail.”
“Who says I plan to go to jail? And if I don’t do anything to him, it’s only a matter of time before he kills me. You know that. I’m a witness against him. It’s bad business to let someone like me live.”
I was at a loss. And I was desperate. I felt like I was falling down a hole and couldn’t get my footing. How could I stop her from doing something crazy? She was too far away for me to try to make a grab for the gun. I also wasn’t sure I wouldn’t hurt her if I threw my whole body against her.
I looked over at Streeter. He was still on his feet, but blood was pouring out of the bullet wound in his leg now. He was sweating, and his hair was pasted to his forehead.
Sadie said, “You don’t have to be here. I’m fine. Really. It would be better for both of us if you just left.”
“I can’t do that, Sadie. I couldn’t walk away from anyone in as much pain as you.”
Now Dell Streeter sounded outraged. “She’s in pain? Are you kidding me? Look at me. The gimpy bitch stabbed me and put a bullet in me.”
Sadie was very calm when she said, ?
??Please believe me. I’m okay. I’m fine. I know what I have to do.”
I said, “What do you think you need to do?”
“I need to make this guy admit everything he’s done. If you’re here, I might as well make him tell you where he hides his heroin. That way, no matter what, you’ll at least have something on him.”
Streeter said, “C’mon, Bennett. I’m not much for gun control, but you need to disarm her. Right now.”
