The Serial Negotiator

CRIME CONTINUES (2)

Chapter 4: The Crime Continues (2)

Meanwhile outside in the police vehicle…

“What’s taking them so long?!” Chase was already angry while waiting for his superiors to give them orders to move in.

“Sir, please calm down.” Lia said looking concerned. “They will contact us soon enough.”

“Lia, stop it. It’s not about that…” Jeremiah said as he called Lia back. “It’s no use talking to him when he’s like that.” He quietly continued so only Lia could hear.

“What are you talking about?” Lia asked confused at her teammate’s words.

“He isn’t as concerned for the case as much as he is for the negotiator that went inside a while ago.” Jeremiah explained to the wide eyed woman.

“Why would the negotiator matter?” Lia asked looking at her superior’s direction.

“I have no idea, but I’ve never seen him so stressed and impatient before.” Jeremiah as well couldn’t understand what was happening to his superior. Chase wasn’t the type of man to lose his cool so easily.

Officer Hayman on the other hand had began shivering ever since he heard the negotiator had entered the building. He was so scared that the truth he tried to hide would be revealed so easily.

Noticing something odd about the man, Chase decided to question him again. “Officer Hayman.”

“Y-yes sir?!” Hayman got surprised by the sudden mention of his name.

“When the negotiator was questioning you, why did you have such a hard time answering her?” Chase asked thinking back on the conversation they had.

“I-I got very confused sir. I wasn’t expecting to be questioned by her so suddenly.” Hayman answered still trying to hide his obvious discomfort.

“Do you have something to hide?” Chase was growing more and more suspicious of the man. Not only was Hayman shivering and stuttering while talking, he was also constantly looking at his phone. There was definitely something going on.

“Of course not sir…” It was such an obvious lie. Chase could feel the dishonesty from a mile away. The only thing left was to reveal the truth.

“Then you wouldn’t mind showing me your phone?” Chase asked, he was in serious work mode currently. There was no doubt he wasn’t playing around anymore.

“But sir…” Hayman sounded like he was pleading his superior to stop questioning him.

“I won’t repeat myself officer.” Chase simply said and fell into silence right after. His patience was wearing thin and he didn’t want to continue this pointless conversation any longer.

Hayman being left with no other choice now silently handed his phone. Upon receiving it Chase noticed there were several texts to the same person.

“You are texting someone while we’re on a case?” Chase asked with clear disappointment in his voice.

“It’s not what it looks like sir… I just…” Hayman had no excuse, it was obvious enough after taking one look at his phone. He wanted to say something in his defense but couldn’t. There was very little to be said in a situation like this one.

“Who is this person?” Chase asked after noticing the number also didn’t have a name attached to it, but it was the only number in the contact list without a name.

“…It’s a personal friend of mine. I’m sorry for my negligence sir it will not repeat, now can I have my phone back?” Hayman asked in an attempt to end the topic at hand. But his superior didn’t seem ready to let go of it just yet.

“I’d like to know who this is first…” Chase said while looking at the number once more.

“It’s a friend sir…” Hayman repeated his previous words but it was even less convincing the second time he said it.

“Then I’ll say ‘hi’ to them.” Chase said and dialed the number right after.

“N-no sir! It’s just!” Hayman was obviously panicked even more than he was before.

After several rings of the phone, the person on the other end of the line finally picked up.

“Listen, it’s not the moment Luke… I’m talking with the Negotiator.” It was a woman’s voice. “I’ll call you later, okay?” She quickly ended the call.

“That didn’t seem too friendly…” Chase murmured to himself. He was connecting several dots in his head. But there were still a lot of unanswered questions.

“The woman that had just picked up the phone said she was talking with the negotiator, care to explain that Luke?” Chase was in a bad mood, he usually never calls his new recruits by their first names.

“Sir?” Luke was surprised to hear his first name mentioned.

“I said I will not repeat myself.” Chase said staring down at his newest recruit.

“What does that mean? The Negotiator is obviously… inside the building…” Jeremiah spoke out loud, his thoughts finally catching up to one another. “You’ve got to be kidding me!”

“It’s not what it seems. I can…” Hayman hesitated to speak. He didn’t have an explanation.

“Are you involved with the victim inside?” Lia asked while listening to the conversation and making her own assumptions on the matter.

“I wouldn’t say she’s a victim, she ever so sweetly told me that she would call me later.” Chase said in an almost mocking tone to the man that was currently rendered speechless by being seen through so easily.

“Then she’s the criminal? But why would she report her husband?” Jeremiah spoke while connecting the dots/

“I think Luke Hayman can explain that to us best.” Chase spoke, the tone he used seemed to be one of anger. He was waiting for answers and he wasn’t receiving them.

“…” Hayman had nothing to say, he was seen through so easily. His plans were all ruined.

*

*

*

Meanwhile inside the building’s highest floor apartment…

“I’m sorry about that; my lover contacted me just now.” The woman said apologetically. She didn’t know what type of person the negotiator was yet, so she didn’t want to risk and anger her.

“I don’t mind at all. Tell me, who is your lover? I believe he is in the police force… name was Luke Hayman, is that correct?” The negotiator asked a question to which she already knew the answer to. Yet she still wanted confirmation on the matter.

“Yes, that’s him. He thought of this plan himself.” The woman spoke; she had already become quite comfortable with the negotiator.

“What an intelligent fellow. What was the plan exactly? Besides imprisoning your husband, surely there must be something else?” The negotiator asked, it didn’t seem like an interrogation at all, rather a friendly conversation between two friends. It was truly bizarre.

“I think he was aiming at a promotion, or recognition. He’s in a new team right now, so he wanted to catch a criminal on his own.” The woman explained in simple words. She didn’t seem to be afraid anymore, rather she became more and more confident everything was going to go her way the more she spoke.

“I guess he didn’t anticipate this then…” The negotiator said and looked through the window discreetly so as the people outside don’t notice her.

“Anticipate what?” The woman asked with wonder, she followed with her eyes every move the negotiator made.

“You don’t know, do you? He can’t move… Neither one of the police officers outside cannot move or do anything here.” The negotiator explained.

“But… that’s their job!” The woman didn’t quite understand what she had just heard.

“That isn’t quite right. Their job is to follow other people in much higher positions’ orders. So they won’t move. Do you know what the scariest part is?” The negotiator asked while looking at the woman.

“W-what is?” The woman stuttered a bit at the unexpected question.

“The worst part is… that no matter what I do to you here, no one will come until they are told to.” The negotiator said in a completely ice cold voice. Her words made everything around them seem a bit colder. It send shivers down the woman’s spine.

“When are they doing to be allowed to do anything?” The woman asked, suddenly she didn’t feel as confident or safe as she did before. Hearing just eerie words from the negotiator made her dizzy.

“Who knows… maybe it will be after several minutes, or several hours. No one can tell at this point…” The negotiator was walking around the room freely and looking around. As if showing that she can do anything she wants to. While both the man and woman had barely moved from the place they had first been on.

“A-are you searching for something?” The woman asked with a small stutter in her voice.

“Oh yes, I’m looking for various things that can be used here. There sure are a lot!” The negotiator said randomly picking up various objects from the room. “Do you think this would hurt if you got hit by it?” She asked holding up a small but sturdy looking vase.

“I-I believe so… but why would you-?” The woman was very confused. Up until minutes ago she thought this situation was in her favor, right now she wasn’t so sure anymore.

“How about this… I bet some real damage can be dealt with something like this!” The negotiator happily said picking up a heavy looking album from the bookshelf.

“Wh-why would that matter?” The woman asked in a fearful voice. She didn’t really want to know the answer to her question but asked out of fear.

“Hm? Isn’t it obvious?” The negotiator said while walking closer to the woman.

“N-not exactly…” The woman said while stepping back a bit. Currently she was just as scared as her ex husband was.

After a small pause the negotiator continued. “I did say you would have to leave here alive to be able to explain yourself… You should be glad I’m so benevolent.” 

*

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*

Finally receiving a call from the higher ups Chase commanded his men “Move in!” At their superior’s command all available men went inside the building.

Climbing the stairs to the highest floor and in front of the apartment in question where the hostage is. They broke open the door. To their surprise inside were the couple but both of them were unconsciously laying on the floor. The officers were sure what to make of the situation so they quickly called for medical assistance. It was a truly bizarre sight.

*

Chase saw the Negotiator walking away from the crime scene as she usually does. He quickly went after her. “What were you doing in there?!”

“Doing my job unlike you guys just standing around aimlessly.” Bella said with annoyance in her voice while slowing down her pace.

“We had no orders to enter and you shouldn’t have either.” Chase said explaining to the woman. However she didn’t seem to care to hear any of it.

“So? You were just going to stand there and wait for the higher ups to give you orders?” Bella was in the worst mood she could possibly be in. She hated people that obeyed others.

“Yes, that’s what being a police officer is.” He answered; there really was no deeper meaning behind his words. Simply following orders is what his work entails.

“That’s none of my business then.” Bella said and attempted to leave again but her hand was caught by the officer.

“Next time… Don’t go…” He said with a serious expression.

“I’m not one of your police dogs, don’t order me around!” Bella was angry; she didn’t like being told what to do.

“I’m not ordering you around. I’m worried about you.” Chase explained grabbing Bella’s other hand as well while looking her in the eyes.

“Let go of me, I’ve already told you-” She tried to retort back but her words were cut off mid sentence.

“It was dangerous.” Chase said while keeping eye contact.

“So?” The negotiator asked while not breaking eye contact either. It turned into a staring contest.

“I don’t want anything to happen to you…” Chase said leaning in.

Suddenly someone comes up to them yelling. “Sir! We have to leave immediately to the station! Officer Wilfred has asked for you!” It was Jeremiah who had finally caught up to the two people and managed to report to his superior.

“Dammit…” Chase quietly cursed and backed away, letting go of Bella’s hands. “Let’s talk about this later.” He said and left with officer Jeremiah.

After being let go off, Bella simply thought to herself. ‘What a weird person.’ She didn’t understand why he was so worried about her safety. It simply didn’t make sense to her.

Bella has been a negotiator for 5 years already and has never had someone so worried about her. All that ever mattered was to get the job done. Her life in comparison to others’ wasn’t as important...

*

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*

After that entire scene Bella decided to go to the office of her supperior for a little bit. It was a habit of hers to go there and think sometimes. Since Rose's office was much quieter than her own.

*

“Not again! Not again! Please tell me nobody died this time!” Rose yelled as she saw the Negotiator enter her office.

“Calm down! I can’t hear my own thoughts from your yelling.” Bella said in an annoyed voice.

“If you tell me there was another-” Rose’s words were quickly interrupted.

“Nobody died! Now calm down already, I’m getting a headache. The second one for today.” Bella said as she made herself comfortable in her superior’s office.

“How many times do I have to tell you not to come and laze around in my office! If you didn’t come to report another mishap than why are you here?” Rose asked looking at the pile of work she has to do. She didn’t have time to entertain a guest.

“I just like your office better than mine…” Bella answered while stretching out her arms.

“Bella… I’m not in the mood for this. If you have no business here, leave.” Rose was in an awful mood.

“What’s gotten you so riled up?” Bella asked, but those words only served to further fuel the flames and annoy Rose.

“I’m not going to explain myself to you! Now get out.” Rose commanded as she sat back on her desk to continue her work.

“Fine.” Bella stood up and headed for the exit. Before leaving she stood by the door for a moment and said. “Just so you know…” after a small pause she continued: “Andrea is back.”

Rose’s eyes widened after hearing that name being mentioned. She tried to call back the negotiator but she had already left the office. ‘She’s back…’ Rose thought to herself. Now it was even more difficult for her to focus on her work.