The perp hijacked the school bus. My husband, a renowned negotiator, sent his intern, Scarlett, to handle it. Soon, Scarlett enraged the perp, and a toddler was shot. Afterward, my husband held Scarlett, who was weeping uncontrollably. “It’s not your fault.” Then, he patted my shoulder. “Leo dying was just bad luck. It has nothing to do with Scarlett. She was brave and smart, which is why there weren’t more casualties.” It took me a moment to realize he thought the child who died was *our* son. My husband, Derek Henderson, rushed to the scene with his intern, Scarlett Davis. “Scarlett, you handle this. This is a rare opportunity for real-world experience.” Scarlett pouted her lips just so, her voice turning syrupy-sweet. “Derek, I’m so nervous. It’s my first negotiation, I’m really not sure what to do…” I couldn’t believe my ears. I surged forward and grabbed Derek’s arm. “Are you insane? There are 22 kids in there! This is Scarlett’s first live negotiation? That’s way too risky!” Derek impatiently shook off my hand. “Briar Hayes, what do *you* know about this? I know Scarlett’s professional capabilities! Don’t make a scene here!” Derek turned to Scarlett, patting her back with a doting expression. “Don’t be scared. Negotiate however you think best. Be bold and try it. I’m here to help you.” A chill ran down my spine as I watched their intimate interaction. Parents, who had rushed to the scene, were already sobbing. The whole area was chaotic. The negotiation call connected. Scarlett took a deep breath, trying to make her voice sound sweet. “Hello, sir, I’m Scarlett Davis, the negotiator. Please calm down. What are your demands…” Before she could finish, the perp’s rough shouting roared through the receiver. “Negotiate my ass! Get lost! If you don’t get me a car and money, I’ll start killing people!” Scarlett was stunned by the outburst, her face instantly flushing crimson. In her shame and anger, she lost her composure and shrieked into the phone. “You can just wait to die! Do you know whose kindergarten bus this is? The principal’s son, Leo Hayes, is on that bus too! If you lay a hand on those children, she will never let you off the hook, and the police will take you down!” “Shut up! Scarlett!” Hearing that, I nearly went mad with shock. Because I was the principal of that kindergarten. “How could you say that? That’ll just enrage him!” Scarlett shot me an annoyed look after my outburst. “Principal Hayes, if you don’t understand negotiation tactics, don’t butt in! I’m applying psychological pressure!” She turned, her eyes welling up, and complained to Derek. “Derek, look at her… she’s interfering with my work…”
Derek glared at me, his tone harsh. “Briar Hayes, quiet down. Scarlett is a professional. I trust her judgment! Stop messing things up!” On the other end of the line, the perp was indeed thoroughly enraged, his voice wild. “Leo Hayes? The principal’s son? Fine! Fine! I’ll make an example of him first!” “Who’s Leo Hayes? Get out here, you little punk!” Inside the bus, children’s terrified screams erupted instantly, their tiny figures huddling in fear behind the windows. My heart, along with the other parents’, clenched. Several mothers nearly fainted. But Scarlett, as if to prove herself, continued to provoke the perp through the phone. “Go ahead and try it if you dare! You won’t get away even if you kill someone! You’ll die too! I can’t stand cowards like you who only pick on the weak!” I couldn’t take it anymore. I rushed to her, shouting in a sharp voice. “Scarlett, if you don’t care about other people’s children, what about your own? Owen is on that bus too!” A flicker of surprise crossed Scarlett’s face, quickly turning into a cold sneer. “Briar Hayes, what nonsense are you spewing? My son isn’t even one of your kindergarten kids. He’s at my mom’s house today, how could he possibly be on the bus?” She turned to Derek, whining. “Derek, she just can’t stand me, she’s deliberately trying to mess with my emotions…” Derek’s face darkened completely. He yanked me away. “Briar Hayes, did I not tell you to get lost? If you interfere with the operation again, I’ll have the police remove you by force!” In the instant we were arguing, a small corner of the school bus curtain was violently yanked open. The perp fixed his gaze on a small figure huddled in the corner of a seat. The name embroidered on the child’s backpack was clearly visible. The perp roughly dragged the child over, screaming hysterically out the window. “I found him! The principal’s son, Leo Hayes! All of you, back off! If you keep surrounding me, I’ll kill him right now!”
The perp pressed the child’s back tightly against the bus window, a knife held to the child’s neck. “Retreat! All of you, retreat! Get me a car! Or I’ll stab him to death immediately!” Captain Miller, commanding the scene, looked grim as he quietly ordered into his comms. “All units, sniper in position? Look for an opening. Negotiation team, try to stabilize him, buy us time…” “No!” Derek suddenly cut in. “Captain Miller, give Scarlett another chance. The perp is agitated, but Scarlett has a read on him. Changing negotiators or going in now will only provoke him further. Scarlett, quickly, talk to him, make demands, calm him down!” Scarlett took a deep breath. She picked up the megaphone again, her voice brimming with righteous conviction. “Listen, perp inside! We will never compromise with evil!” “Put down your weapon and release the hostage now! That’s your only way out!” “Threatening the innocent and weak, what kind of strength is that? Go ahead and kill if you dare, but remember, once you kill, the full wrath of the law awaits you—the death penalty!” I and the other parents were stunned, staring at Scarlett in disbelief. “What is she saying?” “Is she insane? How can she not care about the child’s life?” Sure enough, the perp was completely enraged. “Fine! Fine! You’re forcing my hand! You’re all forcing me!” The perp’s desperate roar echoed from inside the bus. Immediately, a large gush of crimson blood splattered across the bus window. “Ah!” Scarlett, who was closest, witnessed the horrific scene firsthand. She let out a piercing scream and collapsed to the ground with a thud. Her phone shattered as it fell, and she began to sob despairingly. The perp’s crazed voice sounded again. “See that?! If you don’t retreat—” “Bang!” Before he could finish, a crisp gunshot rang out. The perp’s voice cut off abruptly. He had a bullet wound in his forehead and fell to the ground. The scene descended into chaos. Police officers carried crying children off the bus, handing them back to their parents. I stood frozen, my gaze fixed on the blood-stained bus window, cold all over. Just then, Derek hurried towards Scarlett, who was slumped on the ground. He pulled Scarlett tightly into his embrace, gently patting her back. “Scarlett, it’s over now, it’s over…” “It’s not your fault. Negotiations are like this; no one can guarantee 100% success. The perp was just too depraved. It’s not your mistake.”
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