Detective Sanders walked around the perimeter, examining the church from various vantage points, trying to clear his mind. Something about their demands just didn’t sit well.

He replayed the conversation in his mind.

“Check the sarcasm at the door, Detective. Or I might have to throw a few hostages off the roof, if you catch my drift.”

“I read you loud and clear, comrade. Do I have your assurances that nobody has been injured so far?”

A pause. “The pastor didn’t survive the initial takeover. Other than him everyone is safe and sound. And they will be unless you fail them, Detective.”

“Okay, so what are your demands?”

“We want transportation to the airport, food and water in the mean time. We also need you to detain American Airlines Flight 729 to Honolulu until we reach it.”

“Anything else?”

“We want 15 million dollars in unmarked bills, no tricks, no dye-packs. Get to work, Detective. 350 lives are at stake.”

It all seemed straight-forward, but why did they want him to hold that specific flight?