Page 60 of What's Left of Me

“He could wear a camera and a wire.” JJ smiled triumphantly.

“And if this psycho thinks he’s caught and lashes out at Matt, hurting or killing him on the spot before running out the back where I won’t be?” Nick’s brows jumped to his hairline and his lips twisted.

“That’s oddly specific, Nick.” JJ’s eyes widened and he mouthed,Wowto me and Phoenix. “I don’t think crazy murder man would do that. He’s not dumb; he wouldn’t risk getting caught.”

“Ha!” Nick shook his head. “He’s insane, JJ. You can’t get into his head any more than any of us can. We don’t risk someone to save another. Your plan is dangerous.”

“Actually.” Mason held up his hand. “I got an idea.”

Nick groaned. “If it’s anything like JJ’s, I’m sequestering you to the kitchen as well.”

“No, but it’s a risk.”

Nick motioned with his hand for JJ to get on with it.

“Gabe and Angel go as originally suggested.”

No one said anything for a beat; then JJ spoke. “And?”

Mason sighed. “If he knows any of us, seeing Gabe and Angel enter the place where he works could invoke a visceral response. He likely wouldn’t expect the brazen attempt.”

“Huh…” I glanced at Nick, JJ, Phoenix, and Four. They were all clearly impressed. “That may work.”

JJ stood. “Let me get the guys.” He rushed off to the kitchen and a few seconds later, all three of them came into the living room.

“Got an errand?” Angel leaned against the doorway, a bored expression on his face.

“We got an amazing errand.” JJ was practically bouncing. “Mason, tell them, tell them!”

Mason chuckled and rolled his eyes. “Okay, but remember, you don’t have to do this.”

The three of them stared, waiting for Mason to get on with it. Once he was done, the same reaction JJ, Nick, Four, Phoenix, and I’d had adorned their faces.

“I love it.” Gabe smiled.

“Sounds brilliant.” Angel nodded in agreement.

“What about me?” Shep asked.

“We still need to eat.” Four smirked.

“Fuck you.” Shep turned and went back into the kitchen.

Gabe clapped his hands together. “When do we do this?”

“We need to get you both wired with cameras and microphones. Then, yeah, you can go this afternoon.” I’d have to go to the tech room to get the equipment.

“Wait,” Phoenix said. “A couple of things. What if you go and he isn’t working or you don’t see him?”

“We’ll go every day until we’re sure we’ve seen them all. It’s possible he won’t react to us at all, and we won’t know if we’ve found him without you, Phoenix,” Angel answered.

“That’s why you’ll be watching and listening in. If you hear him, you simply have to speak into this, and Angel and Gabe will hear you.” I pointed to the microphone that was attached to one of my computers.

“Okay, and what if he does run?”

“Then we run after him.” Gabe took a few steps closer to Phoenix. “We won’t let him get away, Phoenix.”

He nodded. “Okay. Let’s do this.”

---