Standoff by Sandra Brown Page B

hostage to the other, eventually landing on the Mexican who had attacked him.
    "I don't understand. What the hell is wrong with you people?"
    He nodded toward Ronnie. "He's the enemy, not me."
    "We're only trying to keep this standoff from ending in disaster," Doc said.
    "The only way that's going to happen is with a full surrender and the release of the hostages. It's a Bureau policy not to negotiate."
    "We heard it already from Galloway," Tiel told him.
    "If Galloway thinks I'm dead—"
    "We assured him you aren't."
    The agent sneered at Ronnie. "What makes you think he would believe you?"
    "Because I confirmed it," Tiel said.
    Doc, who'd returned his attention to Sabra, said, "I
    need another package of diapers."
    They couldn't be for the baby, Tiel reasoned. Katherine hadn't wet that much. It took only a glance for her to understand that the replacements were for Sabra. Her bleeding had not abated. If anything it had increased.
    "Ronnie, may I get another carton of diapers?"
    "What's wrong? Something with the baby?"
    "The baby's fine, but Sabra is bleeding."
    "Oh Jesus."
    "May I get the diapers?"
    "Sure, sure," he said absently.
    "Some hero you are, Davison," Cain remarked snidely.
    "To save your own skin, you're willing to let your girlfriend and baby die. Yeah, it takes real courage to let a woman bleed to death."
    "Wish that Mexican had used tape you cain't pull off."
    Donna grumbled. "You got a real fat mouth on you, G-man."
    "For once, you're right, Donna," Gladys said. Speaking to Cain, she added, "What a hateful thing to say."
    "All right, be quiet, all of you!" Ronnie said. Everyone instantly fell silent, except for the two Mexican men, who were conferring in whispers.
    Tiel rushed back to Doc's side with the box of disposable diapers. She tore it open and unfolded a diaper for him, which he positioned beneath Sabra's hips. "What made you think of this?"
    "She's bleeding through the napkins too fast. These diapers are lined with plastic."
    The exchange was spoken in an undertone. Neither wanted to panic the girl or further fluster Ronnie, who was watching the wall clock behind the counter. Its long, sweeping second hand was circling dreadfully slowly.
    Doc moved to Sabra's side and took her hand. "You're still bleeding a little heavier than I'd like."
    Her eyes darted to Tiel, who laid a comforting hand on her shoulder. "No need for immediate alarm. Doc's just thinking ahead. He doesn't want things to get so bad they can't get better."
    "That's right." Leaning down nearer to her, he spoke softly. "Would you please reconsider going to the hospital?"
    "No!"
    He appealed to her. "Before saying no, listen to me a minute. Please."
    "Please, Sabra. Let Doc explain."
    The girl's eyes moved back to Doc but they regarded him warily. "I'm thinking not only of you and the baby." he said, "but of Ronnie too. The sooner he brings this to an end, the better it's going to be for him."
    "My daddy will kill him."
    "No he won't. Not if you and Katherine are safe."
    Her eyes filled with tears. "You don't understand. He's only pretending to want us safe. Last night when we told him about the baby, he threatened to kill it. He said if he could, he would cut it out of me right then and strangle it with his bare hands. That's how much he hates Ronnie, how much he hates our being together."
    Tiel gasped. She'd never heard a flattering word about
    Russell Dendy, but this testimony of his cruelty was shocking.
    How could anyone be so heartless? Doc's lips compressed into a thin line.
    "That's the kind of person my daddy is," Sabra continued.
    "He hates to be crossed. He'll never forgive us for defying him. He'll have Ronnie sent to prison forever, and he'll make certain that I never see my baby again. I don't care what he does to me. If I can't be with them, it doesn't matter what happens to me."
    She tilted her head down and rested her cheek against her newborn. The peach fuzz on the baby's small head blotted Sabra's tears from her cheeks.