Down a Dark Road (Kate Burkholder #9)

“Joseph, while I have you on the line: Do you need anything? Do the kids need anything? Food?” Scanlon scribbles something on the iPad and lifts it to me with a question. What else?

I say quietly, “Flashlights. Candles. Lanterns. Phone battery.”

Scanlon repeats all of it. “How’s the phone battery? We don’t want to lose communication with you.”

“All I need is the truth. You’re wasting time with all this talking.”

“Fair enough,” Scanlon says easily. He’s found his stride now and is heading toward the zone. “I do need just one thing from you, Joseph. All I ask is that you keep me on the line. Stay with me. Talk to me. Will you do that?”

“You need to look at my case. I didn’t kill my wife.”

“Like I said, we’re working on that now. Not all of us are familiar with your case, so it’s going to take a little while.”

“Katie Burkholder knows about the case. She knows the truth. She will tell you.”

At the use of my first name, Crowder gives me a consorting-with-the-enemy sneer.

“Chief Burkholder told us everything you discussed with her, Joseph. Like I said, we’re working on getting our hands on your case file now.”

“My daughter saw the man who came into the house that night. No one believed her.”

“We know that, Mr. King. That interview with Sadie is one of the things we’re trying to get our hands on. She’s your youngest, right?”

“Yes.”

Scanlon hesitates, seems to take a moment to gather himself. “Listen, Joseph, since she’s so young—and more importantly, since she might have information that could help your case—why don’t you send Sadie out here to talk to us? We’ll get the Children Services folks out here to talk to her right away.”

“Katie already talked to her,” the Amish man replies.

“I understand,” the negotiator says patiently. “Will you work with me on this? Man-to-man? Meet me halfway? Send Sadie out here in good faith. I promise I’ll take good care of her. I’ll listen—”

The line goes dead. Scanlon hits END and sighs. “That went better than I expected.”

“If that was good, I’d hate to bear witness to a bad one,” Crowder mutters.

Ryan goes to the console on the counter and makes an adjustment. “You think he’s stable?”

“I do, actually,” Scanlon tells him. “For now.”

“Hostages safe for now?” Tomasetti asks.

Scanlon nods. “I think so. From what I’m gathering it’s all about the kids for him. Not as hostages, but because he wants them there with him. Even though he turned down my first request, it’s still early in the game.”

“At least he hasn’t shot anybody yet,” Crowder says.

“This is going to be a long process.” The negotiator shrugs. “He’s comfortable. He’s got food, water, and shelter.”

I catch Scanlon’s eye. “Since King is Amish, do you think it would be beneficial to appeal to some of his religious sensibilities or Amish tenets?”

Tomasetti nods. “Might be an angle worth consideration.”

“The more tools we have in our arsenal the better,” Rasmussen puts in.

Crowder makes a sound of incredulity. “How religious can a man be who cuts his wife in half with a fucking shotgun?”

Ryan shoots him a warning look. “What do you have in mind, Chief Burkholder?”

“Maybe bring in the bishop or one of the preachers of his church district. They’re influential members of the Amish community and they might be able to help talk him into giving himself up or at least releasing the children.”

“This guy is no more Amish than I am,” Crowder says. “He has no moral compass.” He motions in the general direction of the Beachy farmhouse. “If we play nice with this guy he’s going to snap and massacre everyone in that house.”

Ryan doesn’t defend me. Rasmussen looks down at his boots. Tomasetti makes eye contact with Scanlon. “What do you think?”

The negotiator grimaces. “One thing we don’t want to do is make King feel as if he’s taken things too far and there’s no going back. We do not want to back this guy into a corner. If he feels all is lost, that he has no recourse, he might do something rash.”

“Like what?” Tomasetti asks.

“If he feels there’s no way out of the hole he’s dug for himself and he’s facing life in prison, he might consider suicide a better option. Worst-case scenario, he takes the hostages with him.”

“Look,” I say, “I knew King once. I was in there with him. I do not believe he’s a threat to himself or those kids.”

The silence that follows lingers a beat too long. Ryan shoots Scanlon a direct look. “What do you think?”

“Let’s give this some time,” the negotiator responds. “Let’s not push him yet. Maybe get a family member in here and see how he reacts.”

I glance at Tomasetti, find his eyes already on mine. A silent communication passes between us. You’ve done all you can. Let it go.

I know he’s right. The last thing I want to do is leave. But there’s a distinct chill in the air here inside the command center. Not only have I become ineffectual, but I’ve worn out my welcome. Might be more productive to talk to Joseph’s brothers and see if they’ll help us out.

The command center door opens. I glance over to see a man dressed in full SWAT gear enter. About thirty years of age, he’s tall and fit with a cocky countenance that’s tempered by an air of military discipline. He’s wearing Kevlar, and military-style boots, and carrying a rifle case. Eyes the color of a deep lake beneath a brooding sky sweep the room, landing on Crowder.

“Unit is on scene,” he says.

Quickly, Crowder makes introductions. “This is Deputy Wade Travers, team leader of our SWAT unit.” He says the words like some kind of proud papa.

The men shake hands. When it’s my turn, Travers looks at me as if he’s met me before. “Kate Burkholder.” He recites my name slowly and thoughtfully, as if searching his memory. “You’re the ex-Amish chief.”

“Guilty as charged,” I tell him.

“I’ve heard a lot about you.”

“I categorically deny all of it.”

He grins, showing a mouth full of perfect white teeth. His grip is firm. Not a knuckle squeezer. I try not to ponder the “heard a lot about you” comment.

Travers clears his throat, addresses the group, but his eyes are on Ryan. “You want me to get a couple of guys in position?”

Ryan looks at Scanlon. “Curtis?”

“I don’t expect things to go south this early in the game,” the negotiator says. “But we’ve got to be prepared for any scenario, including worst-case.”

Crowder looks at me, as if expecting me to voice some objection. I train my eyes on Wade Travers, and I keep my mouth shut.

“I did a quick recon,” Travers says. “We’ve got a lot of trees. Low-light conditions. But there’s a decent-size window in the front with a clear line of sight. Not so great at the rear.”

“Good to know.” Ryan nods at Scanlon. If King needs to be moved to a location where he will be in plain sight, it will be up to Scanlon to get him there.