In mere seconds, over a hundred rounds were exchanged. The barrage from SWAT left Octavio pinned down, unable to retaliate. Meanwhile, SWAT operatives, caught up in the heat of the moment, poured ammunition into the warehouse with their rifles.
This was a prime example of how too many people and a lack of proper communication could lead to chaotic, unintended outcomes.
As the SWAT commander's ceasefire order came through, the gunfire abruptly stopped. Jack and Aubrey rushed to the rooftop forward command post.
Hannah was watching the live feed with a concerned expression. Seeing them, she quickly reported, "A ricochet hit Dr. Lucas Caldwell in the abdomen."
On the screen, shards of shattered glass lay scattered on the floor of the surgical room. Dr. Lucas Caldwell lay bleeding, his hands clutching his abdomen, while the anesthesiologist, Dr. Nicole Wright, pressed gauze to his wound in an attempt to stop the bleeding.
The situation had just gone from bad to worse. Although SWAT had carefully avoided aiming directly at the surgical room, one stray 5.56mm round had struck the concrete floor, ricocheted, and penetrated the operating room.
By sheer misfortune—or perhaps poetic justice—the bullet had struck Lucas Caldwell instead of the anesthetized boy on the operating table.
Jack and the others exchanged uneasy glances. The complications were mounting.
This wasn't the time to argue about responsibility. With the lead surgeon incapacitated and Octavio's hopes of saving his son dashed, there was no telling what he might do. Immediate action was needed to prevent further escalation.
"Get a communication device in there," Jack instructed over the radio. "We need to stop Octavio from doing something drastic. Nicole Wright is innocent."
Jubal's voice came through the channel. "Already done. The call will be patched through to you."
Jack moved to the rooftop edge, signaling the SWAT operatives to fall back. "Pull back and hold positions. I'll say it again—no one fires without explicit orders."
Although Jack had no direct authority over SWAT, his reputation and past collaborations earned him respect. After a quick confirmation with their commander, the SWAT operatives retreated from their positions atop the rooftop.
Meanwhile, a SWAT operative crouched near the warehouse, carefully lobbed a ruggedized communication box through a broken window.
Back at the screen, Jack watched as Octavio, crouched in a corner with his AR-15, cautiously pulled the box closer with his foot. He retrieved the device, pressed the button, and barked, "Who is this?"
"Octavio, I'm FBI Agent Jubal Valentine," came Jubal's voice. "I'm asking you to disarm and surrender. If you comply, we will do everything we can to save your son."
"Do you think I'm an idiot?" Octavio snarled.
Jubal quickly tried to calm him. "No, no, I know you're just a father trying to save your son. Please, let us help."
"Oh, you want to help?" Octavio sneered. "Fine. Send me a surgeon—one who can perform a kidney transplant. If I don't have one here in ten minutes, I'll kill that female doctor."
"Wait—don't—" Jubal started, but Octavio abruptly cut the connection.
Inside the warehouse, Octavio had barricaded the large glass windows with the wooden boards stored inside. While this shielded the interior from view, it also blocked the snipers' firing angles.
Octavio's military training showed in his methodical actions. He left only small gaps between the boards, providing just enough space to observe the outside. With these precautions, the FBI's options had dwindled to negotiation or an all-out assault.
"What do we do now?" Aubrey asked, his voice betraying his unease. This was his first experience with a hostage situation, and he was struggling to reconcile his Quantico training with the complexities of the current scenario.
"Could we have his wife talk to him? Maybe she can calm him down," Hannah suggested.
Jack shook his head, recalling his earlier conversation with Mrs. Diaz. "That won't work. At best, it might buy us a little time by de-escalating his emotions."
He glanced at the darkening sky. Sunset was approaching, and the rapidly fading light would soon make the situation even more challenging.
"Okay, I'll try to convince Mrs. Diaz to talk to him. Even a small delay might help," Jubal replied over the channel.
Octavio's demand was impossible to fulfill. No surgeon would willingly operate with a gun to their head, and the FBI couldn't risk giving him another hostage to use as leverage.
Jack left Hannah and Aubrey at the forward post and returned to Jubal's location. Minutes earlier, Octavio had finished a brief phone call with his wife.
The result was far from encouraging. Instead of calming him down, the conversation had been a veiled farewell. Octavio had subtly conveyed his last words to his wife, accepting his likely fate in hopes of saving his son.
"So the real question is, how do we convince Octavio that the FBI will help his son get the surgery?" Jubal muttered, pacing restlessly.
To resolve the hostage situation, the FBI was willing to make exceptions. Despite the organ's dubious origins, completing the transplant for the boy wasn't out of the question, given the circumstances.
"He won't believe us," Jack said bluntly. "This isn't even his country. Remember Helton, the guy who kidnapped that heiress? We're facing a similar issue here. Octavio is like a more dangerous version of Helton." (Chapter 568: Safehouse)
"I know, I know," Jubal replied, exasperated. "Another father willing to risk everything for his child. Dammit, he's cornered everyone—including his own son."
Jubal stopped at the window, staring at the warehouse in silence before turning back to Jack. "I'll go in as the surgeon. I'll get him to release Dr. Caldwell, then try to talk him down."
"And what exactly will you say to convince him?" Jack asked, a faint smile playing on his lips as he studied Jubal. His tone hinted at deeper understanding.
Jubal didn't notice Jack's expression and continued, "I'll point out the inadequacy of his setup—it's a makeshift operating room, with no proper team or conditions. From a professional standpoint, I'll convince him that surrendering is the best way to save his son.
I'll promise that if he cooperates, we'll take his son to a proper hospital with a full medical team, significantly improving the chances of success."
"You're empathizing with him," Jack interrupted, his voice calm but piercing. It wasn't hard to connect Jubal's reaction to his own daughter's health scare.
Jubal froze momentarily, his face betraying his inner conflict. He slumped slightly and mumbled, "I hate psychologists. Fine, you're right. I can't hide it from you.
But unless you've got a better idea that doesn't involve risking the hostages' lives in a full assault, what choice do we have?"
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I Am Zeus, KING OF GODS (Chapter 120)
Fairy Tail: Igneel's Eldest Son (Chapter 391)
I Am Thalos, Odin's Older Brother (Chapter 471)
Reborn in America's Anti-Terror Unit (Chapter 677)
Solomon in Marvel (Chapter 1059)
Becoming the Wealthiest Tycoon on the Planet (Chapter 1418)
Surgical Fruit in the American Comics Universe (Chapter 1422)
American Detective: From TV Rookie to Seasoned Cop (Chapter 1452)
American TV Writer (Chapter 1504)
I Am Hades, The Supreme GOD of the Underworld!(Chapter 570)
Reborn as Humanity's Emperor Across the Multiverse (Chapter 703)
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