It's too much. Mike giving him a quick look of reassurance as bullets ricocheted around the stone cellar, the muted sounds of a struggle not ten feet from him, wet breaths and quick movements, sounds that drifted across to them like pleading and sobs.

He exchanged a long look with Mike from their respective covers, simple and concise. This is it. The last step. He waved Mike back, mouthing go around to him as Tom turned back to the sounds of struggle in the darkness.

"Lets talk," he said soothingly, hoping Mike got the message and was starting to slip beside the hostage taker in the deep shadows of the cellar. "You were gonna put him on the block, weren't you? Maybe we can work out a...monetary exchange."