Chapter Four
Trying his best to ignore the apprehensive glances of the onlookers, Garret pulled up to the scene in one of the morgue's SUV's. "Who's in the house?" he asked, bypassing the yellow warning tape set out by police to prevent neighbors from crossing an invisible safety line.
Matt Seely took charge of the hostage situation immediately after placing the call for backup. He turned to face Garret he said, "Two morgue employees, Mr. Mahesh… uhh—"
"Bug, yeah. Who else?"
His voice faltered slightly, "Ms. Lily Lebowski," he hesitated, as if recovering from shock before adding, "Mrs. Rachel Campbell, wife of the man lying on a steel table in your morgue. I didn't see him, but we're calling around to find where their four year old son, Kurtis Campbell, is. We assume he is in the house as well."
"Any idea on who the hostage taker might be?"
"None yet. We hope that our negotiator can find out that information." Matt looked hopefully to the house.
Since the police began arriving, a coffee table had been erected in front of the large front window to block the view of the living room inside. Every so often, an upstairs curtain fluttered, Matt felt that they had him trapped.
He held a plan of the house in his arms, rolling it out he looked at it again. He viewed the first floor, living room, three known hostages and their placement according to what was in his memory.
Neighbors were pulled toward the excitement. They assembled behind the police tape gossiping together about the house and the people who lived there. "The nerve of them, bringing something like this into our neighborhood," "I see her every morning taking that poor boy to school. You know, I think he's abused," and "Even the police are predicting a bad outcome, look, the morgue is here!" Each time a new neighbor came to investigate, a new twist to the story would be added.
The sun dipped passed the houses and, next to the bright spot light constantly aimed at the house, street lamps were the only source of light.
"Seely!" A male officer called from next to a squad car. He was covering the receiver to a cell phone.
Matt walked confidently over to the officer. The cell phone was handed to him, "Seely here!" He barked. There was a pause before Matt sighed, "I understand. Yes. Goodbye."
Without a word to Garret, Matt began grouping his officers together. Most had high powered rifles pointed at the house. A few communicated on walkie-talkie cell phones. "We have four innocents in the house; it's a positive on the boy!" He announced.
A vehicle pulled in besides Garret's SUV. A disheveled looking man in a suit stumbled from the driver's seat.
"Who is this clown? Get him out of here!" Seely exclaimed as the stranger pushed his glasses up on his face. Two uniformed officers approached him to escort him back to his vehicle. The man began to protest.
"Wait Seely!" Garret announced, "He's Lily's fiancé."
Colour drained from Matt's face but that was the only sign of weakness that he showed. His features stiffened, his harsh voice barked new orders to the uniforms, and he turned and began conversing with another head officer.