“Do I have your attention now?”

My hands balled into fists as I searched for the right words to use. The officers had asked me to play along with him and act nice so I heeded. “You have my attention.”

“Good. It’s you I want and if you don’t come to me, more people will get hurt.”

I shut my eyes, drawing in breath and exhaling to steady my rage. “Where is my sister?” I asked as calmly as I could.

He let out the cackle I had grown to loathe so much. “I can see that my plan worked. You must be terrified, aren’t you?”

The officer’s wave urged...