Page 44 of Innocence

“We know that now,” frowned Lenny.

“Do you suspect the person is in this class?” asked Mary. They looked at one another, unsure of how to respond.

“We’ve asked ourselves that question, but I think the voice is throwing us off. We tried to listen for anyone that sounded like that, but obviously, no one sounds like that.”

“Did this individual know things that were discussed in class?” asked Angel.

“Yes, sir. As a matter of fact, they did. They knew about new professors being in the room, and they knew about other people’s phobias,” said Zane.

“That’s very helpful,” said Angel. He hugged Mary beneath his arm, and the two young men looked at one another.

“She’s your wife, isn’t she?”

“She is,” said Angel. “And if anyone dared to harm her, it would be the last breath they ever took.”

“We believe you, sir. What will happen to us?” asked Lenny.

“I’m not sure,” said Mary. “I’m not an attorney. Your uncle will be able to create a defense around you, probably being coerced, your illness used against you, or something like that. He’s the professional. Let him tell you what you should say and do. I’m glad you stepped forward and told us about all this. It helps a great deal.”

The two young men nodded, then looked at one another.

“We want to help. If there’s something else we can do to make this right, to find this person, we’re willing to do it. We knew it was wrong. We know it was wrong, but I don’t think anyone other than maybe you might understand what it feels like to have someone use your worst fear, your worst nightmare, against you. It’s horrible.”

“It’s too risky to use you for any help, but it is appreciated,” said Ian. “This individual knows who you are, probably where you live, obviously what classes you’re in, and what you look like. Right now, they have the upper hand. Our job is to reverse that. We need to find out who this person is, catch them doing something that will implicate them in the murders, or get them to confess to the murders. Either way, you two cannot be involved at this point.”

“Your job? I’m confused. You said this was your job to get them to do something or say something. How is that your job? Sir, aren’t you a professor as well?” asked Zane. Ian smiled at the young man.

“Part-time.”

CHAPTER TWENTY-EIGHT

“Okay, so we have these two with a paralyzing phobia around authority,” frowned Gaspar in disbelief.

“Gaspar, it’s real,” said Ashley. “I know it’s difficult for all of you to believe, but you’ve seen it before.” The men all stared at one another, unsure of what she meant.

“Come on,” said Bree. “How many times have we seen children convinced that an adult touching them was okay because it was an adult telling them so? Or a man or woman convincing their partner that the abuse was appropriate and they deserved it. How many times?”

“Hundreds,” muttered Tailor. “Don’t make it right.”

“No. No, it doesn’t. Which is the point here. The medications and dosage those young men are on indicate that their anxiety can be debilitating. I don’t know if that will help them or not, but whatever you did or said in those classes, Mary, at least made them have a breakthrough of some sort. Otherwise, they would have never stepped forward.”

“Maybe, but it doesn’t get us any closer to the person who is actually doing this and controlling it all,” she said, holding Angel’s hand. “What if we actually gave this person what they wanted? What if we asked those young men to deliver an address for me? Not this address, but an address. We could set a trap.”

“I think that’s awfully risky for them and for us,” said Nine. “Besides, they’ve been removed from the university and are in the care of family right now. We can’t use them. It wouldn’t be right.”

“Neither was them leading two people to their deaths,” said Angel.

“Angel, brother, I know. But two wrongs don’t make a right, or one right doesn’t correct two wrongs. Whatever the fuck the saying is,” growled Ghost.

“It’s Halloween,” said Trak.

All eyes turned to stare at him, wondering if their old friend had finally gone bonkers. He only stared at them.

“Halloween is an unusual time. Strange things happen. People’s fears are heightened. I once walked through a haunted maze with a few men in Delta. Grown men that screamed every time something moved.”

“A haunted maze,” smirked Mary. “I love that! I could tell the class that this is an experiment to see how they handle their fears in a controlled setting. I’d have to get it approved through the university.”

“I can handle that,” said Gaspar.

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