“Oh my God,” Iris says. “I—” But before she can even articulate whatever she’s feeling, I hear it: honking. It’s coming from the parking lot. Three long ones, then two short ones.
My knees nearly buckle in relief. Wes lets out a smile that’s a little too big for today’s situation.
“Oh my God,” Iris says again. “You did it. Casey’s safe.”
Then she promptly turns around and throws up in the trash can next to the desk.
— 29 —
Phone Transcript: Lee Ann O’Malley + Clear Creek Deputies Receive Hostage #1 （Casey Frayn）
August 8, 11:25 a.m.
O’Malley: I’ve got the welding machine. Do you have one of the hostages?
HT1: I do. You’ll find that I’m a reasonable man. I’m giving you the youngest of the group. A little girl.
O’Malley: I appreciate that. A kid has no place in something like this. Are you a parent?
HT1: Are you?
O’Malley: Oh, you know family. It’s complicated. Why don’t I tell you how we’re going to do this?
HT1: I don’t think so. Put the welding machine in front of the back door. Stay at the end of the lot.
O’Malley: That can be arranged.
HT1: Call me when it’s done.
[Call disconnected]
O’Malley: We need to move to the back. He’s giving up one of the kids.
Sheriff Adams: Get this machine in position!
O’Malley: We’ve got to play this carefully, Sheriff. We don’t want to spook him with the rest of the hostages inside.
Sheriff Adams: I’ve got it, Lee. Stay back here, okay?
Deputy Reynolds: Sir, she’s been leading the negotiation. If he doesn’t see her— Sheriff Adams: That’s an order, Reynolds. You stay back, too.
O’Malley: Like it or not, I am leading this negotiation. When this is over and everyone’s out safe, you can have all the credit and the glory. But if you continue to get in my way and something happens to the hostages, you’re going to be blamed. So you need to move back about three steps and let me take care of this for you. Do we understand each other?
[Pause]
Sheriff Adams: Yes.
O’Malley: Then I’m going to make the call.
Sheriff Adams: If this goes to hell . . .
O’Malley: It won’t.
[Pause. O’Malley dials bank number. Three rings.]
HT1: Is everything in place?
O’Malley: The welding machine is ready.
HT1: I want all the cops in the front. If I see anyone but you waiting for the hostage in the back alley, we’ll start shooting.
Sheriff Adams （background）： Fucking A.
O’Malley: It’ll just be me.
Sheriff Adams （background, muffled）： Fucking madness. Fucking PIs.
HT1: Five minutes.
O’Malley: See you there.
[Call disconnected]
Sheriff Adams: Someone get O’Malley a vest! What have you got on you, O’Malley?
O’Malley: My Glock . . . and my Winchester’s in the truck.
Sheriff Adams: I’d strap the rifle to my back if I were you.
O’Malley: It’s a rare moment when you and I agree, Sheriff. I’m gonna take it as good luck.
Sheriff Adams: Get in that vest. And don’t get shot. I’ll never hear the end of it.
[Muffled noises and voices, unable to transcribe. Time passed: 3 minutes, 18 seconds. From Official Report: Deputies retreated to the front of the bank, leaving O’Malley at the back entrance.]
O’Malley: Milwaukee. Akron. Austin. San Francisco. Seattle. Rochester. Milwaukee. Akron. Austin. San Francisco. Seattle. Rochester. Milwaukee. Akron. Austin. San— [Banging sound]
O’Malley: Hands where I can see them!
HT1: I thought we were being civilized about this.
O’Malley: Is that what you call pointing a gun at a middle-schooler?
HT1: Desperate times.
O’Malley: Let the kid come toward me, you get the welding machine pushed toward you. Deal?
HT1: Deal.
O’Malley: On three. One. Two. Three.
HT1: Go.
[From Official Report: Hostage #1 （ID: Casey Frayn, age 11） crosses the alley and into police custody. O’Malley kicks the dolly with the welding equipment toward HT1. He retreats back inside the bank.]
O’Malley: Hey, hey, you okay? Did they hurt you? What’s your name? I need paramedics down here!
Casey Frayn: Are you Lee? Are you her sister?
O’Malley: Yes. Is she okay?
Casey Frayn: She told me to tell you that he’s a Raymond. Do you understand that? He’s gonna kill them. All of them. She didn’t think I knew, but I could tell. I could feel it. She told me to . . . Here . . . I have it . . . She— Unidentified Deputy: Ambulance will be here in two minutes.