CHAPTER SIX

Grissom stood quietly in the parking lot as Sara came to the doors to stand outside the store.

The next song on the Muzak system heard inside and outside was the Beatles "We Can Work It Out". Lyrics meaning something only to them resonated through the air and between them.

"TRY TO SEE IT MY WAY
DO I HAVE TO KEEP ON TALKING TILL I CAN´T GO ON
WHILE YOU SEE IT YOUR WAY
RUN THE RISK OF KNOWING
THAT OUR LOVE MAY SOON BE GONE

WE CAN WORK IT OUT
WE CAN WORK IT OUT

THINK OF WHAT YOU´RE SAYING
YOU CAN GET IT WRONG
AND STILL YOU THINK THAT IT´S ALL RIGHT

THINK OF WHAT I´M SAYING
WE CAN WORK IT OUT
AND GET IT STRAIGHT OR SAY GOOD NIGHT

WE CAN WORK IT OUT
WE CAN WORK IT OUT

LIFE IS VERY SHORT
AND THERE´S NO TIME
FOR FUSSING AND FIGHTING MY FRIEND

I HAVE ALWAYS THOUGHT
THAT IT´S A CRIME
SO I WILL ASK YOU ONCE AGAIN

TRY TO SEE IT MY WAY
ONLY TIME WILL TELL IF I AM RIGHT OR I AM WRONG
WHILE YOU SEE IT YOUR WAY
THERE´S A CHANCE THAT WE MIGHT FALL APART
BEFORE TOO LONG

WE CAN WORK IT OUT"

As the music ended, Sara blinked and struggled to keep her composure. This man who meant everything to her was only six feet from her.

"Are they treating you alright," Gil asked. He was going to have to keep his questions and comments absolutely neutral. He could not betray his knowing Sara so as not to jeopardize her or the other women. But it was taking every fiber of his being to maintain that façade. Inside, he was holding Sara and telling her everything was going to turn out okay.

"Yes, we are but one of us has been hurt," Sara replied flatly. "She's also pregnant and needs prompt medical attention. Her husband needs called, too."

"We'll make that clear to the men holding you and that everything is being done to secure your release," Gil said, his voice cracking only slightly.

He and Sara's eyes met in a gaze that held only them and this moment. A lifetime was captured in that instant. All that should have been said and wasn't. All that should have happened and hadn't.

"I'm bringing you home," Gil said lowly and fiercely, for her ears alone.

He turned away and walked rapidly back to the negotiator. The negotiator shrugged, saying, "Those men are not taking the women along with the intent of keeping them alive. They've been backed into a corner and there's high probability that they'll kill them as they have nothing to lose."

Grissom clenched his teeth. "Jim, what are their chances?" he finally asked as he steeled himself for the truth he already knew.

"These are not men, they're lower than animals," Brass said bluntly. "If we storm the place, they'll kill 'em or they may get killed in the crossfire. If they walk with them, they'll kill one or both as soon as they can for no loose ends."

Gil's eyes fixed on the store.