Chapter 17 Negotiation with the Criminals

The surrounding officers gasped in shock, none expecting the hijackers to be so ruthless as to kill hostages on a whim. Javier's face turned ashen, his eyes darting around. The hijackers' aggressive stance took him by surprise. His phone rang again, and he answered it.

"How do you like my gift, Chief?" The voice on the phone was eerily cheerful, more like a greeting between old friends than a threat from a criminal.

"Do you think dropping a dead body will intimidate me?" Javier, a seasoned officer with a keen eye, responded sharply.

He deduced that Aokumi had already been dead before being thrown down, as there were no screams or signs of struggle. Nonetheless, Javier was wary of the hijacker's bold and unconventional tactics. Normally, criminals would not start by killing key figures, as they are valuable bargaining chips. The impact of saving a billionaire versus an ordinary citizen is significantly different in terms of influence.

"Ha, it seems I underestimated you, Chief. To show my sincerity, how about I switch to a live one this time? You can choose: Vice President Holly, Assistant to the President Powell, or Executive Director Andrew. Of course, if you prefer all three, that can be arranged, hahaha."

The hijacker's tone was arrogant, leaving Javier powerless and furious. "What do you want?" Javier demanded.

"It's simple. Release General Sara of the Red Front and his followers, whom you captured last year."

"The one responsible for the amusement park bombing?"

"Yes."

"I can't make that decision."

"I know, which is why I'm giving you two hours. How does that sound?"

"No, two hours is too short. I can't manage that. At least four hours."

"Two hours. You're in no position to negotiate. For every minute past the deadline, I'll throw someone from the building."

Feeling cornered and frustrated, Javier continued, "Fine, two hours it is. I'll report to my superiors, but until I get a response, you must ensure the hostages' safety, or we will take action. You wouldn't want that, right? Also, how should I address you when I report this?"

"Ha, alright, Chief. I must support your work, mustn't I? Call me X. Remember, you have only two hours, haha."

The call ended, leaving Javier infuriated by the hijacker's taunts.

As for the nickname, Javier had little hope of tricking the criminal into revealing his identity. He was familiar with General Sara, the mastermind behind last year's bombing.

Releasing such a dangerous individual was out of the question. If the U.S. government yielded to such demands, it would set a dangerous precedent.

The U.S. government never negotiates with terrorists, and neither does Javier. Known as a firm chief among Los Angeles's precincts, he wouldn't start now.

He handed the phone to his assistant and took a walkie-talkie earpiece.

"Sound check, sound check."

Receiving a clear response, Javier ordered, "SWAT, be ready. We attack in five minutes."

Indeed, Javier would not concede to terrorists. This was his jurisdiction, and the operation plan had been ready for ten minutes. The negotiations were merely a formality to stabilize the situation.

From a distance, George rushed over with a walkie-talkie, shouting, "We've made contact!"

Javier took the walkie-talkie, almost certain that Detective Steve Owen was inside the building. The body was likely a hijacker killed by Owen.

Owen's ingenious method of sending a message via the hijacker's body was smart. Due to the last digit of the frequency being erased, initial attempts to establish contact failed until George tried each possibility.

Meanwhile, Owen and McClane navigated the elevator shaft, escaping the scene of their confrontation with the sniper. Before leaving, they heard helicopters, unsure if they belonged to the police or media—a potentially good sign.

McClane suggested heading to the roof to possibly coordinate with the police. Owen, used to following the lead, agreed.

Climbing the shaft proved safer than the stairs to avoid surveillance. They encountered no resistance, suggesting their enemies hadn't anticipated this route. Despite the danger of falling due to the dusty beams, Owen adapted, using cloth to clean his grips, unbothered by the height due to his extreme sports background.

McClane, unfazed by danger, joked about their mutual life-saving, though Owen felt he had saved McClane more. Amidst their climb, McClane shared personal stories, to which Owen could only listen, having never been married or promoted himself. Owen inwardly criticized McClane's chance for promotion, given his notorious sharp tongue.