Devil's Offer

Paul Sanders is a deputy in a small town police force. His son is currently in hospital and his wife and he are struggling to find the money to pay for a necessary operation. With the Sheriff away for the weekend Sanders is put in charge of two other deputies, Ross Kovacic and Tim Mulligan. During a night patrol of the local town, Sanders and Mulligan stumble upon a strange man attempting to break into a car. They arrest him, finding two keys on his person, a wallet and a gun. After getting a check on the stranger's ID, they discover he is wanted by the FBI. They lock him in a cell and keep an eye on him until the Feds pick him up in the morning. The Stranger confronts Kovacic and reveals to him he has $50,000 stashed in his motel room. He offers that as a down-payment. If they let him go, he'll tell them where they can find $200,000 in cash. Kovacic is in need of money himself and so heads over to the motel room to see if the stranger is telling the truth. It turns out he is and Kovacic shares this information with Sanders and Mulligan. Sanders refuses to let the prisoner go, even after Kovacic brings up his son's need for an expensive operation, but Sanders is convinced they'll get caught. Kovacic persuades Mulligan to help him release the prisoner. Mulligan is also keen to get the money and so distracts Sanders whilst Kovacic unlocks the jail cell. Sanders catches what they're doing and scuffles with Kovacic to stop him opening the jail cell. He takes the cell keys and orders both of them to stay away from the prisoner. The Stranger then starts talking to Mulligan raising the reason he needs the money. He is stuck living with his girlfriend's parents and is desperate for them to get their own place, but money is tight. Mulligan steals the cell keys from Sanders and releases the prisoner, but he takes Mulligan hostage. Kovacic sees this and threatens to kill the Stranger if he doesn't let Mulligan go. Sanders then appears ordering the Stranger to release Mulligan and return to the cell. The Stranger releases Mulligan, but warns them if he goes back inside the cell, they won't get the money. Kovacic turns his gun on Sanders and orders him to back down. Kovacic wants the money, but Sanders refuses to let him take it, resulting in a stand-off. Mulligan is torn between them, he needs the money, but he's scared of getting caught. As Kovacic turns his gun on Mulligan, he panics and Mulligan fires a shot at Kovacic clipping his neck. Kovacic fires back killing Mulligan. Sanders tends to Mulligan's wounds, but it's too late. The Stranger steps out of the cell and walks away. Sanders draws his weapon and orders the Stranger to stop. The Stranger gives Sanders the key to a locker and tells him the location. The money is all his, he suggests Sanders let him go and save his son. Sanders looks at the key, but before the Stranger can leave, Sanders shoots him in the back. When the FBI arrive, Sanders explains he was out of the room. He heard gunshots and came in to find Mulligan and Kovacic on the floor and the Stranger attempting to run. He shot the Stranger before he could get away. The FBI congratulate him and ask if the Stranger had any items on him. Sanders shows them everything except the key to the money.