Moon - New Moon Part 69

Not Rinna. One of Falcone's soldiers, and he landed in a heap in the circular drive. It was immediately apparent that he'd been shot in the head.

The cops stood in stunned silence. Then one of them spoke.

"Jesus Christ!"

"What the h.e.l.l was that for?" Cooper boomed over the bullhorn.

"That's the man who fired the weapon," the voice from inside called. "I've given him to you. Now we can negotiate."

"I don't think so," Cooper answered. "Come out with your hands up."

INSIDE, Falcone turned to Rinna. "Why won't he talk terms?"

She tried not to look smug. "Because you just broke one of their laws. They have laws."

"Laws!" he snarled. "I don't give a rat's a.s.s for their laws."

"But they do," she answered. "In this society, you don't just kill people."

"Not even to appease the authorities?"

"No. Tell your men to put down their guns, so n.o.body else gets shot. And close the blinds so they can't see in."

"Close the blinds," Falcone ordered, and men snapped to obey. "We have to get home."

She took a deep breath. "Maybe I can help you get out of here."

"How?"

She thought about getting him to stick a fork in an electric socket. Too bad that would only hurt him. She needed something more permanent.

"I can open a portal."

"You said you couldn't," he growled.

"I said I was too weak. I'm still weak for something like that. But I'm willing to try."

"You'll get us out of here?"

"If you let me stay behind."

He nodded tightly, and she knew that he was only agreeing because he thought he had no choice.

"You have to buy us some time," she said.

"How?"

"With a story they'll believe. Tell them that you are from the Middle East and you are holding a woman hostage. Tell them that you will kill me unless they guarantee an airplane for you and your men."

"An airplane? A thing that flies in the sky?"

"You don't have to really do it. You'll be leaving through the portal. But you'll stall them with that story."

"But... how can they get me an airplane?"

"They'll tell you they're trying. And while they are negotiating-talking to you and trying to get you to free me-I can work on the portal. But I can't do it alone. When the time comes, I will need your power. She looked from Falcone to Avery and Brusco."

"All right," Falcone muttered.

"Tell your men to put down their guns."

He gave the order, and weapons clanked to tables or onto the floor.

Just then a jangling noise made the men jump. Frantically they looked around.

"I heard that before. What the h.e.l.l is it?" Falcone growled.

Rinna answered with confidence. "The telephone."

"Which is?"

"A talking device. Maybe the man outside wants to talk to you." Confidently she picked up the receiver and looked at the readout. It said, "Frederick County Police."

"h.e.l.lo? h.e.l.lo?" a voice said.

"Put it to your ear," Rinna whispered. "And talk into this part."

"h.e.l.lo?" Falcone said.

"This is Jake Cooper of the Frederick County Police."

Falcone glanced at Rinna, then said. "I am from the Middle East, and I am holding a woman hostage. I want an airplane to the Middle East."

"Let's talk about it," Jake Cooper said.

"We can talk," Falcone answered. "But stay away from the house, or I will shoot her. Like the policeman."

"Just stay cool," the man on the other end of the line said. "We can work this out."

"Yes. But I need some time." Falcone turned to Rinna. "How do I make the voice go away?"

She took the receiver from him and set it back in the cradle. Then she pointed to the television set where a woman was breathlessly describing the hostage situation.

THE wolves withdrew into the woods. Not being able to speak was too much of a disadvantage. So they ran back to where they'd left their clothes, then changed.

"Did you hear that?" Logan growled as they moved toward the house again where they could get a better view.

"Yeah. Lucky wolves have good hearing. It has to be Falcone. He says he wants a plane to the Middle East." Logan stopped short. "A plane to the Middle East. Jesus!"