The sheriff gets word of a hostage situation in a subdivision just outside of town. "Brody is holding his wife and kids hostage," the caller reports. "He’s got a gun and he means business."

Minutes later, half the second shift is on the scene blocking both ends of the street, with two more cars in front of the house. A hostage negotiator is on the way.

Neighbors provide deputies with the name of the resident. Officers are told the couple yells at each other all the time. The husband is a part-time house painter and often comes home drunk.

"In the house—this is the sheriff’s department. Pick up the phone, we’d like to talk to you," says the negotiator, using a patrol car public address system.

Two minutes pass by. No response. The phone in the hostage house is ringing but nobody answers.

The drapes are drawn and the blinds closed. "Maybe this is a prank call and there’s nobody there," the negotiator thinks.

The negotiator’s cell phone rings. It’s headquarters. "Lieutenant, you have a call from the hostage taker in the house—do you want me to patch it through to you?" the dispatcher asks.

"Affirmative!" says the lieutenant.

"Hello, sir," says a meek voice on the other end of the phone. "I don’t want to talk to no cops, but I’ll work something out with one of my neighbors." The caller hangs up.

Minutes later a deputy brings a civilian to the lieutenant. "This gentleman has been hanging around since we got here," says the deputy. "He claims he knows the guy and can get him to come out."

The lieutenant takes a chance. He makes a few suggestions, then hands the microphone to the neighbor.

The neighbor calls out: "Brody, the sheriff says nobody’ll get hurt if you’ll come out now. Raise both hands and back out slow—you and Gretchen and the kids’ll be all right."

That scenario goes on for several minutes until a deputy brings a second neighbor to the lieutenant. The second neighbor blurts out, "Brody! What’re you doing with the sheriff’s speaker? I though you was in your house holding Gretchen hostage."