"I'm standing by."
She hung up. Ronnie and Doc turned to her. In fact, everyone was listening intently. It seemed that the role of mediator had been bestowed on her. She didn't particularly welcome it. Suppose, despite everyone's best intentions, something went terribly wrong? If this standoff ultimately ended in disaster, for the rest of her life she would feel responsible for the tragic outcome.
Over the course of the last few hours, Tiel's priority had shifted. It had been a gradual shift, and until this moment she hadn't even realized that it had taken place. The news story had become a secondary consideration. At what point had it become an afterthought? When she saw Sabra's blood on her gloved hands? When Juan threatened Katherine's fragile life?
The people making the story were much more important to her now than the story itself. Producing a prizewinning, job-securing exclusive account of this drama wasn't as vital a goal as it had been previously. What she wished for now was a resolution to celebrate, not lament.
If she blew it…
She simply couldn't, that's all.
"The kidnaping allegation has been dropped," she told Ronnie, who was listening expectantly. "You'll have to face other criminal charges. Mr. Dendy has agreed to let Sabra keep the baby. If you agree to these terms and surrender, Mr. Galloway gives you his personal guarantee that no force will be used."
"It's a good deal, Ronnie," Doc said. "Take it."
"No, don't."
Sabra spoke in hardly more than a croak. Somehow she had managed to stand. She was leaning heavily against the freezer chest in order to keep herself upright. Her eyes were sunken and her complexion was leeched of all color.
She looked like someone who'd had theatrical makeup expertly applied for a character rising out of a coffin.
"It's a trick, Ronnie. One of Daddy's tricks."
Doc rushed over to lend her support. "I don't think so, Sabra. Your dad responded to the video message you sent him."
Gratefully she clung to Doc, but her dull eyes beseeched Ronnie. "If you love me, don't agree to this. I won't leave here until I know I can be with you forever."
"Sabra, what about your baby?" Tiel asked gently.
"Think of her."
"You take her."
"What?"
"Carry her out. Give her to someone who'll take care of her. No matter what happens to us-to Ronnie and me- it's important to me to know that Katherine is going to be all right."
Tiel looked hopefully toward Doc for inspiration, but his expression was bleak. He seemed to feel as helpless as she.
"That's it then," Ronnie stated firmly. "That's what we'll do. We'll let you carry Katherine out. But we're not leaving until they let us go. Free and clear. No compromise."
"They'll never agree to that," Tiel said with desperation.
"That's an unreasonable demand."
"You committed armed robbery," Doc added. "You'll have to account for that, Ronnie. But because of extenuating circumstances, you'd have a good chance of beating the rap. Running away would be the worst thing you could do. That would solve nothing."
Tiel glanced at Doc, wondering if he were listening to his own advice. The admonishment against running away could be applied to him and his circumstances three years ago. He didn't notice her glance, however, because his attention was on Ronnie, who was arguing his point.
"Sabra and I vowed that we would never be forced apart. No matter what, we promised each other to stay together.
We meant it."
"Your father-"
"I'm not going to talk about it," the young man snapped. Turning to Tiel, he asked if she would carry Katherine out and deliver that message.
"What about the others? Will you release them?"