"Drop your weapon and let the girl go," Dave said calmly as he stood motionless in the car park, his gun held out directly in front of him. Nothing but authority came out in his voice, even though inside he was scared as hell. He couldn't shoot because he'd hit the little girl John was using as a shield. She couldn't have been more than eight years old and she looked terrified. He had no idea where his partner had gone. "My partner currently has his gun pointing right at you," he lied. "Let the girl go and he won't shoot. Come on John, put your gun down."
John licked his lips and shifted nervously. "Put yours down first," he said.
The kid was an amateur really, Dave realised. He was playing way above his game. He was too scared of dying to be anything big. Slowly, Dave lowered his gun and threw it over to his right. "Now drop it," he ordered.
John shifted again, his aim wavering between his hostage and the policeman in front of him. "Where's your partner? How do I know he won't shoot me as soon as I let this idiot go?"
"He's up there," Dave said confidently, pointing up at one of the higher levels of the car park.
John immediately swung around so that the girl's body was covering him from that angle and the girl whimpered in fear. John hadn't realised Dave was lying.
Dave tried again. "Just drop the gu-"
Bang.
Knees buckled. They weren't John's.
--
Seems a little harsh and a little morbid, but it had to be done. Please review.