Liz Forbes has dealt with her share of crises. However, being held hostage by a madman is not something she would recommend. Her heart is pounding as she rests her back against the couch and prays Logan will stay on the other side of the room.
She is afraid there will be no simple solution to this. One or both of them are probably going to die...Liz prays she's wrong but from the tirade going on, it's obvious this man is unhinged.
She leans her head back. This is not exactly how she planned to spend her evening...
Elena looks around. At this point, several Virginia State Troopers with their SWAT team have arrived to help tighten the perimeter around the cabin.
"I have real-world experience in hostage negotiation. That's what I did before switching to arson investigation." Elena tells Captain Gerard before shifting her attention to Damon. She's worked with him for several weeks now. He trusts her judgment and she trusts him to keep her alive if things go south.
Logan has a purpose that leaves more ugly possibilities.
He isn't answering his phone.
"We've got to calm this situation down quickly, Damon. If Logan won't answer a phone, then we'll have to talk the old-fashioned way."
Damon studies Elena's face. "Agreed."
Matt Donovan called Mark Fell to ask about the cabin's layout. She has already marked the front door and those six feet of open space as her worst headache. A no man's land. Six feet without cover.
"Officer Jordan, if I stay just inside the door, can you keep me in line of sight through that window?" Elena knows he's a trained sniper and someone she can trust to take a shot over her shoulder if it's required.
He studies the makeshift blueprint that was sketched based on Mark Fell's description. "Yes."
"Have two of your men set up to cover here and here." Elena marks two sweeps of the interior.
Elena turns up the sleeves of her shirt. She steps into the darkness to slip on a bulletproof vest but she won't carry a gun, certain that Logan will pat her down and take it from her anyway. Her gender, size, and clothing are designed to keep her from being perceived as one more threat. In reality, she is the worst threat. The sniper is under her control. To save lives, she will take one if necessary.
"Officer Donovan, try the phone one more time."
Elena watches Logan via the snake-scope camera that has been fed into the cabin via a crack in the foundation.
Logan turns to glare at the ringing phone, and paces toward it, but doesn't answer. Although he didn't pick up, it did capture his attention. That might be useful. Elena mulls the information in her mind.
It is time to go.
"Stay safe, Elena." Damon wraps his arms around her in a hug.
"Always, Damon." She hugs him back and holds on for several seconds before stepping away.
Elena assesses the cops on the perimeter as she walked toward the door. She puts her hand on the door and smoothly pulls it open, preparing sometime in the next six feet to get shot.
"Stay there!" Logan's voice jumps an octave.
Elena has certainly gotten his attention.
Liz silently watches as she continues her futile struggle against her handcuffs.
"Why shouldn't I shoot you right now?" Logan sneers as he waves his gun at Elena.
"You didn't answer the phone. We would like to know what it is that you want." Elena maintains a calm, unhurried voice and stands with a relaxed posture.
"I've got exactly what I want. You can turn around and go back the way you came."
"Of course. But would you mind if I just sit right here for a few minutes first? If I come right back out, the cops will be ticked off and think I'm an amateur."
"Sit down and shut up."
"Gladly." Elena sits down where she stands in one graceful move and rests her head against the door. Her heart rate slowly decelerates. She hasn't gotten herself shot in the first minute...she scans Liz's face. She is nervous but is maintaining her composure.
She wishes she could say something to alleviate Liz's fear, but the only communication she can make with her is her actions. The more bored Elena appears with the situation, the better. The goal is to get Logan to relax a little.
Elena studies the gun as Logan paces. She wishes someone would have solved his problems before he decided to start burning down buildings in Mystic Falls. He wouldn't agree with her, but options now are limited—Logan will end up in jail or dead. Her first priority is making sure he doesn't take Liz and herself with him.
She can't rush him; she will get herself shot and then she'll have Damon scolding her. Negotiating to get hostages released is always a challenge.
Elena can attempt to wait the situation out, and allow it to slowly turn in her favor. But Logan is unpredictable and manic, she's more afraid that he'll escalate just as he did with the fires.
"What's fucking taking so long? It's been hours already!" Damon spits in agitation.
"Chill, brother! Elena knows what she's doing." Stefan rests his hands on Damon's shoulders.
Damon's fingers curl into a fist. Frustration and annoyance compete for dominance within him. Elena and Liz's lives are in the hands of a madman. He has no choice but to settle back and wait.
Elena flexes her fingers, forced to bury all her emotions into that one gesture. She would give her next paycheck to be able to go outside and pound something. She draws a quiet breath and turns her full attention to the man pacing away from her.
"So Logan, what's the long game here?"
Ignoring her, Logan uses a fireplace poker to fling the logs out of the hearth and onto the rug sending it ablaze.
"The Virginia State Police are waiting right outside. You have no avenue of escape." Elena maintains eye contact despite the growing flames.
"Shut up!" Logan's face contorts in rage as he aims the gun at Elena.
A shot comes from within the cabin, followed quickly by a shriek from Elena.
Flames engulf the cabin. The dizzying, radiant heat from the blaze is almost overwhelming. The putrid scent of smoke reeks in his nostrils, scorching and sweltering hot. Thick black smoke from the fire starts billowing from the windows, and Damon turns in their direction.
"No." Stefan jerks his brother away from the flames and points to the SWAT team that's already breaking into the burning building.
Damon shakes free from Stefan and sprints across the yard, tripping more than once on the uneven footing. He runs to the rear of the cabin approaching the violently whipping flames. His eyes dart around looking for something to use as a weapon.
Picking up a log, Damon launches it at the window. It shatters explosively and several shards pierce his skin. With his adrenaline pushing him forward, he ignores the spots of blood dotting his arms, jumps through the broken window, and somersaults across the hard floor...
The room began to spin around her as Elena fights for control. "Get out of here, Liz," she yells as she struggles with Logan who seems determined to drag them both into the flames. Using her foot, she sweeps his knees out from beneath him as she continues to wrestle her way out of his grip.
As he falls to the floor, his face smacks hard against the floor. Blood spurts from his nose. Using her elbow she thrusts it into Logan's midsection and attempts a reach for the gun. Instead, she feels strong arms wrap around her middle and pull her to him.
"Elena!"
Her knees nearly buckle at the sound of Damon's voice.
The moment of distraction is all Logan needs. With an animalistic growl, he lunges in the direction of the SWAT team who are pouring into the cabin.
A shot rings out.
Logan drops to the floor.
It is over.
Short chapter. Thank you, everyone.
Chapter title: 'The Waiting' by Tom Petty.
See you next time and have a really terrific day.