Detective Cross

Chapter 32

I recognized the officer — her last name was Larson. She hesitated until Mickey exposed the bomb vest again.

“Do it,” Mickey said. “Call in there. And don’t even think of trying to shoot me.

“I drop this phone, the IED goes off.”

Officer Larson blinked and said, “Let’s calm down a second here, son. I can’t just call into the Senate. I wouldn’t even know how.”

“Bullshit.”

“She’s right, Mickey Hawkes,” I called loudly, and got up.

He looked at me as I started past Kate. “Sit down, man.”

I hesitated. Kate tugged on my pants leg. I looked down at her, and saw she wanted to tell me something.

“What?”

She glanced at Mickey and said, “Nothing.”

Mickey had turned to the Capitol Hill cop. “Call your boss, lady. Or call his boss. I’m sure one of them knows how to contact the senators blocking the vets’ bill.”

“Is that what this is about?” I said, moving up the aisle.

“Sit down, or I blow this now!” he shouted at me.

I sat down seven rows from the front with my hands up.

Mickey looked back at Officer Larson, who hadn’t moved.

“Call now!” he yelled. “Or do you want to explain how you could have stopped the bloodbath that’s about to happen?”

Larson held up a hand, said, “Calm down, and I’ll try to make the call.”

I said, “Mickey, how about letting some of these people go while she tries?”

He glared at me. “Why would I do that?”

“To show your goodwill.”

“There’s no such thing as goodwill,” Mickey said. “Why do you think I’m here?”

Larson backed through the door into the guard shack.

I said, “Mickey, why are you here?”

“I’ll tell those senators.”

“You could start with us,” I said. “Convince us, maybe you convince them.”

The teenager didn’t look at me, but I could see him struggle. He said, “I’m saying this once, my way.”

“You could—”

“Shut up, Dr. Cross!” he shouted. “I know what you’re trying to do! I’ve seen what all you goddamned shrinks try to do!”

Officer Larson emerged from the security bunker. I looked out the windows and saw the silhouettes of armed officers racing from all directions to surround the bus.

She said, “Mickey, I can’t call the senators.”

“You can’t?” he screamed. “Or you won’t?”

Larson said, “I don’t make these kinds of calls, Mickey. But there’s no way we’re going to let a senator anywhere near you and your bomb.”

His jaw clenched. He looked out the windshield, and back at the cop.

“Get them on the Senate steps then. And give me a bullhorn.”

Larson started to shake her head, but I yelled, “Call, Officer. See if it’s possible.”

I was standing again. Larson could see me through the windows. She hesitated, but then nodded. “I’ll ask, Dr. Cross.”

When she disappeared back inside the bunker, I said, “If you get your chance to talk to them, Mickey, you’ll let us go?”

He shook his head and said, “I want to see some action.”

Before I could reply, Larson exited the bunker again. “I’m sorry, Mickey, but they won’t allow it.”

His jaw tensed again as he struggled for another option. But then he straightened and gave Larson a sorry look. “I guess I have to make a different kind of statement then, don’t I?”

He held up the cell phone, and looked back at me. “Sorry I had to hack into Jannie’s phone, Dr. Cross. I always liked her.”

I saw flickers of anger, fear, and despair in his face. I’d seen the same in Kate Williams’s face when we first met. I understood he was suicidal.

“Don’t, Mickey!” I said.

“Too late,” Mickey said. He moved his thumb to the screen.