Chapter Twenty-Two
Jesse was anxious.Bryce didn’t have to be an empath to feel that. He could see it in the way he crossed the room. As day after day passed, Jesse couldn’t sit still. Even as he read from a tablet, he walked in long circles. Bathroom, bedroom, kitchen, living room, back around the bedroom until he got to the bathroom again. At first, he’d do the loop once every few hours. But as they neared a week in the safe house, Jesse was in constant motion.
Bryce couldn’t blame him, but he didn’t mind the rhythm they’d fallen into, either. In the morning, they exercised as best they could—sometimes in the bed—but by mid-morning they settled into deep research mode. They had talked their way through the few days leading up to the attack, so much that Bryce had Jesse’s schedule memorized. Jesse had them combing through junk files he had gathered over the years. Bryce wasn’t willing to lump all the files into the irrelevant category, but most weren’t key to solving their current mystery. They read through everything, though. Some tiny factoid might become relevant.
They had three infrequent visitors. Alex and Celia dropped by with updates. David brought supplies, including clothes that fit Jesse. Whenever they stopped in, Jesse asked for details on the case, and Bryce was glad he did. That wayhedidn’t have to ask and look like the one crawling up the walls.
Bryce closed the file he was skimming and opened the next folder. Video downloads. He plugged in his headphones and started the first one.
Some conspiracy theorist was talking about how the pyramids were clearly made by aliens.
Okay. Bryce had his research breaking point as well. He turned off the video and tossed his headphones onto the couch beside him. “You actually believe that ‘aliens helped ancient civilizations build their great structures’ crap?”
“What? No,” Jesse said, not looking up from his tablet as he walked around the kitchen. “I have those so I know what people are referencing in their arguments. Of course the ancient peoples built their own great structures.”
Bryce let out a relieved sigh.
“Except for Stonehenge.” Jesse continued pacing into the living room. “Everyone knows that was built as an alien prison.”
“What?”
Jesse stopped and grinned mischievously. “I’m joking. That’s aDoctor Whoepisode.”
“Oh.” Bryce wiped a hand down his face.
Jesse sat next to him on the couch. “Maybe we should take a break.”
“The longer it takes to find a clue, the longer it takes to solve the case, and the longer we stare at these walls,” Bryce grumbled.
Jesse knocked his knee against Bryce’s. “If I have to be stuck with someone, I’m glad it’s you. But you don’t have to stick around for me.”
“I’m all right.”
“It’s been a week. Call one of the others in. Get some fresh air.”
“Are you a mind reader?”
“Didn’t think those existed.”
“They don’t. But the thought of going outside crossed my mind a few times,” Bryce replied. He held Jesse’s hand. “Not going to abandon you, though.”
“Maybe no one’s trying to kill me anymore, and we can both leave,” Jesse said.
They sighed together, and then Jesse gave a short laugh. Bryce couldn’t help an amused grin. They were syncing up. The occasional sigh, the half-spoken asks that were fulfilled. The way they passed off articles to each other.
But despite the updates and research, nothing indicated that the case was coming to a close yet. Both the Valless and museum statues were still missing. There was no indication of who set the fire in Jesse’s apartment or murdered Stan Lawson. They were nowhere.
“You know,” Bryce said, “we’ve been digging through your computer files. What if the connection is somewhere else?”
“Like where?”
“The journals.”
Jesse stared off in the direction of the bedroom. After a week, he still hadn’t touched them out. He didn’t seem to want to sleep without them in sight. “You think they would help?”
“You were going through them at your apartment. Didn’t you think there was a connection?”
“I was looking for info on psychics.”
