Page 18 of Save Her Life

Sandra looked at Patrick. “Did Wilcox know if anyone else is hurt in there?”

“He didn’t.”

Sandra had been wishing for a more definitive answer. “Did you ask specifically about Megan Cobb?”

“I did and, apparently, she won’t stop sobbing, but Gavin brought out some cushions from the manager’s office to make her more comfortable. And before anyone asks, Wilcox told me everyone’s being held in the lunchroom.”

“Just as we thought,” Garrison said.

“Uh-huh. He secures the doors by putting a mop through the pull handles. He pops in and out of the room. He did collect their phones and took them with him.”

“Was he able to tell you anything about Gavin’s description that might help us ID him?” Ray asked, beating Sandra to the question.

“He says he looks to be in his twenties. He also added that he’s losing it in there. When he’s around, he’s pacing, waving his gun in the air, and making threats.”

“He’s stressed, trying to think of a way out of this,” she elaborated. “That could be a good thing. Anything else?”

Patrick shook his head. “Well, just that your colleague Simon doesn’t have a name for us yet. I just got off from him before talking to Wilcox. But apparently, he’s close to getting all the warrants in place to access the system, so it shouldn’t be long now.”

“More progress. I love to hear it,” Garrison chimed in.

“Let’s try our luck for more.” She got into position and patched through to Gavin.

He answered on the second ring and held the line in silence.

“That was a really smart decision, Gavin, letting Vern Wilcox go.”

“Is he going to be all right?”

The fact that Gavin was asking told her his conscience was working. Also that he had developed empathy for his hostages. There would be no advantage in mentioning Vern’s concussion. It would put Gavin into a tailspin and cause him to lose hope. “Yes, he’ll be fine. You did a good thing, letting Vern go for medical attention. You’re still in a terrific position to walk away from this.”

“I’d love to believe you.”

“Well, you said before that you trust me. There’s no reason for that to have changed. I haven’t lied to you, and I never will. I’m telling you the truth, Gavin,” she stressed. “I’ll see what we can do for you. Are the meds for someone else, Gavin?”

Seconds ticked off. No response.

She took that as confirmation the meds were for another person and decided to run with that assumption. It was a potential risk but one that she was comfortable taking. “I understand you’re nervous. But how about we get those meds to the person who needs them? Just tell me who they are for.”

“No. You’ll— No, that’s not happening. I tell you that, you’ll know everything about me.”

No one could say Gavin wasn’t intelligent. “But if this person needs their meds, let me help them. It’s obvious you care deeply about them.”

“She’s my whole world.”

She…It could be a significant other, but there’s only one person Sandra would describe as her whole world. Her daughter, Olivia. Was that why he empathized with Megan? Herelated with her and had a soft spot for children? “Are you a father, Gavin?”

More silence, but she wasn’t letting it derail her.

“Let me help you, helpher.”

“Okay.”

Sandra’s shoulders relaxed. He might as well have said outright the medication was for his daughter. The position of power shifted more to her. “Does that mean you’re willing to come out? I will get the meds to her.”

“I let that man go. What else do you need?”

She didn’t take well to the fact he’d removed Vern Wilcox’s name from his statement, referencing him by a label instead. That could be a deliberate choice to distance himself. “What is your daughter’s name, Gavin?”

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