“What do you mean?”
Sandra was approaching this entirely from Ryan’s perspective. It was the only way to succeed at negotiation. “You’re Timothy Hanson’s child.”
“What of it?” His tone became defensive and on edge.
“That makes you a Hanson.”
Ryan shook his head. “I’m nothing like them.”
“You possess many admirable qualities.” Sandra spoke while keeping a close eye on the gun in his hand.
“That I got from my mother.”
“I can understand that. Mothers are gifts to cherish.” Thoughts of Margo crept in. It was crazy to think that just last month Sandra was preparing herself to say goodbye. “You loved your mother very much. I can tell. Is that right?”
“That’s right.”
His agreement confirmed he felt understood. “Ashley Hanson and Martha Carmichael might be good mothers too. Do you know much about them?”
Ryan shook his head. His hand holding the gun wavered.
“Their children could have inherited some positive traits from them like you did from your mother. Unless Ashley and Martha are, or were, rapists or killers too…”
Ryan shrugged.
Sandra continued. “I doubt they are or were. They probably did their best to raise their children and protect them from harm. Just like your mother, Ryan. And Edward isn’t only his father’s son. He’s his mother’s too. See, it’s like Ms. Rose said, you can choose what you want to be in this life, Ryan. You, no one else.”
“Yes. My decision. No one else’s,” he parroted and paced in a circle, the gun now up toward his forehead.
“Ryan, you’re scaring me. Could you lower your gun, please?”
He took it off his temple, letting his arm fall to his side with it.
“You got your story out, and the world knows the truth now,” Sandra said. “You accomplished what you came to do today. You must be proud of yourself.”
Ryan scratched his cheek and nodded.
“You’re safe. No one is going to hurt you.” Again, as she voiced this promise, she cringed inside. She was certain several officers had their fingers hovering over their triggers. “Would you be willing to peacefully surrender now?”
Time felt like it stalled.
“Yes, I will.”
“Let me talk you through this, then, okay? I will need you to hand over the two guns first. You’ll slowly put them on the ground and step back five feet with your fingers laced above your head. Do you understand?”
“Yes.” Ryan did just as Sandra told him, pulling the second weapon from behind his back.
When he was in position, ERT officers swooped in to apprehend him.
“Good job, Vos,” the undercover cop playing the reporter told her.
“You lied to me!” Ryan screamed, and Sandra spun. He’d lunged forward with such strength that he shook the officers’ hold on him.
They raised their guns on him, ready to fire the moment they got a clear shot.
“No!” Sandra sprinted toward Ryan and pushed him to the ground.
He writhed beneath her.
