It took eight additional minutes before the expected phone call. Paul let the phone ring three times before picking up. “Hello, who is this?” Paul asked in his electronic voice.
“This is Lieutenant Marshall Briggs, LAPD.”
“Well, Lieutenant, I'm going to need to speak to a trained negotiator. Is that you?”
“I can help you,” was the reply.
“Not if you can't answer my questions,” Paul replied.
“No, I am not a negotiator. I have one on the way, but I can help now.”
“Have that person call me, please,” Paul said and hung up, anticipating that he had just bought another ten minutes or so.
Brian emerged and sat down at an adjacent desk, entering information into the computer. “Estimate?” he asked simply.
“I'll need at least another half-hour,” the new arrival said.
“No problem,” Paul said
