'I'm glad you've met our negotiators. Sergeant Maddox will take over as the primary.'
'We were just discussing that, Captain. I think we're in pretty good shape with that. The subjects seem calm.'
Martin keyed the radio transceiver strapped to her harness and called for a communications check of her supervisors in five minutes, then looked back at Talley.
'Do you have a perimeter in place around the house?'
'Yes, ma'am.'
'How many men?'
'Eleven. A mix of my people and the Highway Patrol. I put the men in close, then pulled them back to get things going with Rooney, so you'll have to be careful with that.'
As Talley spoke, Martin didn't seem to be paying attention. She glanced both ways along the street, leading Talley to think that she was measuring the scene and more than likely sizing up his officers. He found himself irritated. The command van was being repositioned farther down the block over an access point to the underground power and phone lines that ran under the streets. If they wanted to tap into the phone lines that ran to the house, they could do it from there. They could also tap power for the van. Talley had already called PacBell and the Department of Water and Power to the scene.
'I'll get my supervisors together so you can brief everyone at once. I want to rotate my tactical people into the perimeter as soon as we've stabilized the situation.'
Talley felt another flash of irritation; it was clear that the scene was stable. He suggested that Martin assemble her supervisors in Mrs. Peña's home, but Martin thought that would take too much time. As she called her people together under a streetlight, Talley radioed Metzger for copies of the floor plan. He passed them out as everyone assembled, and gave a fast overview of his conversations with Rooney, describing what he knew of the house and the people within it.
Martin stood next to him, arms crossed tightly, squinting at him with what Talley began to feel was a critical suspicion.
'Have you cut the power and phones?'
'We blocked the phones. I didn't see any reason to cut the power until we knew for sure what we were dealing with.'
Martin told her intelligence officer, a sergeant named Rojas, to have someone from the utility companies standing by if they needed to pull the plug.
Metzger pointed up the street.
'They're already standing by. See that guy in the Duke cap? That's him.'
The tactical team supervisor, a veteran sergeant named Carl Hicks, studied the floor plan sketches, and seemed irritated when Talley couldn't produce actual city floor plans.
'Do we know where they're keeping the hostages?'
'No.'
'How about the location of the subjects?'
'The room immediately to our right of the front door is the father's office. Rooney is usually in there when he talks to me, but I can't say if he sticks. I know he moves through the house to keep an eye on the perimeter, but he's buttoned up pretty well. The shades are down over every window except the French doors overlooking the pool in back. They don't have drapes back there, but he's got the lights off.'
Hicks frowned at Martin.
'Sucks for us, but what can you do? We might be able to get heat images.'
If they had to breach the house, it was safer for everyone if the breaching team knew the location of everyone in the environment.
Maddox tipped his chin toward Talley.
'The Chief here worked Rooney into admitting that all three perps are inside. I might be able to work him for the locations.'
Martin didn't look impressed with that.
'Hicks, float two men around the perimeter to find out exactly what we're dealing with here. Let's make sure this place is secure.'
Talley said, 'Captain, be advised that he's hinky about the perimeter. I pulled back the line to start the negotiation. That was part of the deal.'
Martin stepped away to stare up the street. Talley couldn't tell what she might be looking at.
'I understand that, Chief. Thank you. Now, will you be ready to hand off the phone to Maddox and Ellison as soon as we're in place?'
'I'm ready right now.'
She clicked her tongue curtly, then glanced at Maddox.
'Sounds good, Maddox. The three of you should get into position at the front of the house.'
Maddox's face was tight. Talley thought he was probably irritated with her manner, also.
'I'd like to spend some time going over the Chief's prior conversations with these guys.'
Martin checked her watch, impatient.
'You can do that while we rotate into the perimeter; I want to get the show on the road. Chief Talley, I have seven minutes after the hour. Do I now have command of the scene?'
'Yes, ma'am. It's yours.'
Martin checked her watch again. Just to be sure.
'Then log it. I now have command and control. Sergeant Maddox, get into position. Sergeant Hicks, you're with me.'
Martin and Hicks trotted away into the milling SWAT officers.
Maddox stared after her for a moment, then looked at Talley.
'She's wound kinda tight.'
Talley nodded, but said nothing. He had thought that he would feel relieved when he turned over command of the scene.
He didn't.
