The Doll's House

‘Most hostage-takers usually are, Kate. At the basic level, it’s all a form of bloody bargaining.’


‘This isn’t your standard hostage situation, but no action means something, and that is what we have to work on.’

Kate could see the barriers that closed off Strand Road. Within moments she would be in the thick of it. ‘We’re just there, O’Connor. I’ll see you shortly.’



Kate met Anne Holt and Maloney upstairs at number 75, the adjoining house. The first thing that surprised her was how young Anne Holt was – but she soon realised the young woman beneath the anti-ballistic vest was well able for the job in hand.

‘I understand we could be dealing with someone suffering from psychosis.’

‘That’s correct, Anne. His mental state would be both desperate and volatile.’

‘Have you ever been in a hostage situation before, Kate?’

‘Not from this standpoint, no.’ Kate didn’t care to elaborate, and Anne Holt didn’t press her on it.

‘Kate, all hostage situations are desperate acts. It’s the last chance for the taker to gain power. I don’t know the exact reasons why Dominic Hamilton is holding his sister, but his objective is important, even if he is psychotic. Once he knows we’re here, and he continues with the hostage situation, he will also know that one of the possible outcomes is his own death. He knows he’s taking a huge risk, but he feels that he has no choice. In many ways, he’s already helpless.’

‘I know that, Anne, but as I said to O’Connor and Maloney, his inaction over the short term is positive. Something is holding him back.’

‘We apply the Schlossberg theory as the general rule. When the heightened-arousal state of the hostage situation subsides, if the hostage-taker goes past half an hour without killing a hostage, they probably won’t kill them.’

‘But he’s still unaware of anyone else’s presence.’

‘That’s true, Kate, and we do have a man down.’

‘Nevertheless, if Clodagh McKay is still alive, we need to find out what’s holding him back.’

‘I agree.’

‘I’m hoping, Anne, that after the attack on Alister Becon, his heightened-arousal state has passed. And if so, mentally, Dominic Hamilton is coming down. He is probably experiencing levels of exhaustion – psychosis and sleep deprivation going hand in hand. The surge of adrenalin he experienced from killing Becon will have depleted his sugar levels. That combined with fatigue will make him more vulnerable. If the negotiations coincide with a more calm and lucid state of mind, we can work with that.’

‘Okay, let’s get this going.’



With the audio link in place, Kate remained in number 75 as Anne Holt took her position with Maloney and the rest of the ERU team outside. Anne Holt, as the trained hostage negotiator, mentally prepared herself to enter the premises once the sharp-shooters and the on-scene commander gave her the all-clear.

Soon after Anne Holt left number 75 Strand Road, O’Connor joined Kate and the other detectives positioned there. No one spoke, everyone waiting for ERU to make the next move.





Clodagh


Someone is here. Nothing else would explain the change of light at the bottom of the door. Perhaps the neighbours alerted the police, having heard the shouting.

Dominic hasn’t said anything for ages, and I’m not sure if this is a good or bad sign. I know that if I make any sudden movements he’ll respond. It’s as if, in his silence, he‘s trying to find the energy to make his next move, and I have no idea when or what that will be.

The darts in the old dartboard are too high for me to reach without alerting him, but the more I look at my brother, the torment on his face, the more I wonder if maybe, just maybe, I can pull him back from the brink. If there are others in the house, they’re bound to make their presence known soon. That has its own risks. I have no choice but to try to talk to him again. Get him to see some kind of sense.

‘Dominic,’ I say, as gently as I can. He doesn’t look up so I repeat his name, ‘Dominic.’ This time it registers, although I’m not sure that he knows it’s me. His eyes are frantically shifting around the room as if others are here. ‘Dominic, it’s me, Clodagh.’ He stares at me blankly. ‘Dominic, you look tired.’

‘I am tired.’ He looks down at the knife again.

‘Dominic, you do know that I love you.’

Again he stares ahead of him.

‘You’ve always taken care of me, Dominic, my big brother.’ I keep my tone soft, hoping that somewhere in his mind he can hear me.

‘None of that matters, Clodagh, not now.’ His voice is chilling.

Again, I hear the dogs barking outside. Although I can’t be sure, I think I hear movement beyond the attic walls, as if the noise is coming from the old shaft. I look at Dominic to see if he’s noticed it, and as I do, a woman’s voice calls from outside the attic door.

‘Dominic, my name is Anne Holt. I’m here to help you.’