NovelEnglishIt was a premeditated murder.
“This is bad, Captain Thompson.”
Another subordinate darted over, breathless and drenched in sweat. “The perpetrator, Brian Wise, is holding a person hostage on
the roof of the building.
“If we don’t let him go, he'll jump off the building with the hostage.”
The subordinate handed the phone to Ralph.
Ralph took the phone and stared anxiously at Brian yelling at the cops while holding a girl hostage in the video.
When he realized the pale-faced, teary-eyed girl was Carrie, his eyes bulged, his heart sank, and his blood ran cold.
He could not believe his eyes.
The ever-calm Ralph, even at a close encounter with armed drug traffickers, panicked and ran upstairs.
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Yasmin, her eyes bloodshot, ran to Ralph with a teddy bear.
“Is the hostage Carrie? Is it Carrie?” She sobbed
Ralph nodded solemnly.
“I'll go with you.” Yasmin was on the verge of a breakdown.
“l know you're anxious, but your presence will make matters worse. You don’t know much about the perpetrator, and you are not
well-versed in negotiations. If you anger him, he might just slit Carrie's throat.”
Ralph eased the strain in his tone and looked deep into Yasmin's tear-filled eyes. “Trust the cops. Trust me.”
“Mr. Ralph, please save Carrie by all means.”
Even though Ralph was a thorn in Ryan's side, Yasmin had to put all hope in him.
“Don’t worry. | will risk my life to save Carrie. I'm a cop, and it is my duty.”
Ralph sternly said, “Don’t alarm Ryan yet. He's a firecracker. If he finds out, he'll barge here with backup and blow up the school. If
you want Carrie to be safe, do as | say.”
It took Ralph five minutes to get to the roof and read through the perpetrator’s background.
He had to figure out the direction of the negotiation, foresee possible scenarios, set up a plan to save the hostage, and presume
the worst-case scenaall in those five minutes.
Since the beginning of his career, Ralph has saved many hostages from armed abductors and even those strapped to explosive
devices.
As Carrie was in danger, Ralph’s mind was all over the place for the first tbefore he opened the door to the roof.
Then ca voice on the headset.
“Captain Thompson, the sniper is in position.”
Snapping out of his thoughts, Ralph said in a flat tone, “Do not fire without my order. The hostage’s safety is the priority.”
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He pushed the door open and walked steadfastly toward the perpetrator.
“Don’te any closer! One more step, and I'll slit her throat.”
Out for blood, Brian put the knife closer to Carrie's neck.
The girl's fair skin was tainted with a bloody slit.
Several police officers, armed with guns, stood dozens of feet away. No one dares to go any closer.
Tears rolled down Carrie's cheek as she closed her eyes in despair.
Even as her life hung in the balance, the love of her life was the only thing she clung to.
“Ryan... I'm scared, Ryan.”
“Easy there, Brian. You don’t want to do that.”
A familiar voice made Carrie's heart skip a beat, and she opened her tearful eyes.
“Ralph... Ralph!”
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