Page 56 of Jon's Helter Skelter Cold Case

“Sounds feasible,” Tyson said. “It’s like ordering in all the parts to a car and putting it together. More difficult than just buying it? Sure. Doable? Absolutely. People do this all the time.”

“I’m sold,” Gonzalez stated. “We’ll put it on the list of people to look out for, anyone who was a former employee of the businesses that make those things.”

Might as well cover all bases, I guess. “What’s your other thought, Sho?”

“Well, our meditation room works off similar tech. We block all other energies from going into the room to shield the occupant, right? But it also works in the reverse, that all energy of the person inside is blocked from exiting as well.”

See, this was why I wanted a group meeting. People thought of things I didn’t. I trusted Sho to understand the mechanics of things and be able to throw ideas out on the table.

Jon looked at Carol. Carol looked at Jon. Whole telepathic exchange going on there. Then Jon nodded and stood.

“Give me five minutes for setup,” Carol requested, also standing.

“Wait, what?” Jim looked confused.

“I think they’re going to test the theory right now,” I narrated, mostly for the benefit of Gonzales and Marc, who couldn’t see the interaction. “If Sho’s right, Carol won’t be able to find Jon.”

“I’m game to test it,” Marc answered. “In fact, I think I still have Jon’s business card somewhere in my bag. I might try tracing it to him and see if that works.”

“Great,” Sho encouraged. “The more we test this theory, the better. Abby, can you sit here and relay to them if this is working or not?”

“Sure.”

I got up and followed Carol because curiosity killed the cat and all that. Jon went into the meditation room. Probably to kick back on the bed and relax while waiting. I certainly would, in his shoes.

Carol was lightning quick setting up, and she didn’t take five minutes, I’d tell you that much. More like a minute flat. She had those crystals and a map on the table like the pro she was. Then she flicked her fingers, got her powers engaged, and went to work.

Only to stop right away, eyes nearly crossing.

“Holy shit. Sho’s right, I can’t detect him at all.”

I stood in the doorway, so I called to Abby, “Carol can’t find him!”

I could hear her relay it to the two agents still on the call with us.

Garrett jogged to the meditation room and opened the door. I could hear him talking with Jon, and apparently so could Carol, as she tried again, then grunted with satisfaction.

“Okay, I can trace him, but it’s fainter. He’s still mostly under protection.”

Totally thinking aloud, I mused, “I wonder if that’s how Marc was able to detect our perp for a split second? An open door?”

“It could very well be.” Far from seeming pensive, Carol looked delighted, with some consternation mixed in. “I’m sitting here kicking myself, wondering why I didn’t think of this sooner. We’ve had experience with these rooms for how many years? Searched for how many people? But I do think Sho has found the answer to the mystery.”

“Sure seems that way.”

I ducked back out of the room, intending to ask Sho where and how this shield on the meditation room worked, but only made it to the door of the conference room when I heard the front office door open.

“Hello, all!” Alan called. “We are here early. Find anything yet?”

“Might have.” I kept walking to meet them partway, happy to see Grant here already. We were on a roll, or at least, if this worked on Grant, we’d be on a roll. “Grant, we’re testing something. We think the protections on our meditation room are similar to what the perp is using. Want to test it?”

He looked better than I’d ever seen him. Grant had clearly gotten some good rest recently, and I knew whom to thank. Man was downright bright-eyed and bushy-tailed.

“Sure! Uh, who’s playing my practice dummy?”

From inside the room, Jon called, “I am!”

“Good, give me something.”

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