A look of indignation crossed the Bailey’s face. “Detectives, I have several research projects underway and I have many students helping me with various aspects of them. In addition, I am responsible for the entire Psychology Department curriculum. You can’t possibly think that I’d remember what each and every student was doing. I can barely remember what I ate for breakfast this morning.”
Mike wryly smirked, one corner of his mouth turning up. “Personally, if I was the last person to see a girl that went missing shortly afterward—call me crazy—but I’m pretty sure I’d remember what the conversation was about.”
Jake spoke up. “We’ll wait.”
Professor Bailey flicked his eyes to Jake’s. “Wait for what?”
“For you to look at your notes, Professor.” When Bailey looked confused, he prodded, “To determine what the project was about? We’ll wait.”
“W-Well, that could take a while, Detective. Why don’t you come back later this afternoon and I’ll have that pulled for you.”
Mike smiled, but it didn’t reach his eyes. So you can run, dickhead? Think again.
“We’ll wait.”
“Of course, Detectives. My apologies. I do want to help. I’ve had a lot on my mind lately and even the little things have been slipping my mind. If you’ll wait just outside with Mary, I’ll check my notes and be out shortly.” He pressed the intercom button. “Mary, would you be so kind as to get these detectives each a cup of coffee? They’ll be waiting in the reception area for just a bit.”
There was only one way in and out of the office, so there wasn’t a chance the professor could escape, but he wouldn’t put anything past the slimy bastard.
“That’s a kind offer, professor, but we’ll wait in here. We’ve got nothing but time on our hands today.”
The professor paled even further, but went to work tapping on his computer. Mike sat back patiently waiting for whatever bullshit he was going to spew at them. And now that he’d seen his reaction, bullshit was exactly what it would be.
Chapter 24
Kate
Kate and Olivia had been working all day, with the exception of a short break for lunch. She was getting tired. She’d fought Olivia for the first couple of hours, insisting Olivia didn’t understand the sickening nature of her dreams, but Olivia had then shared a few dreams of her own. Kate had been confused as to why she dreamed specifically of Sarah, and she saw others being held as well, but her dreams seemed centrally focused on Sarah. Olivia had explained the dreams were random in that way. Even she hadn’t figured out how to dream of something specific when she wanted. She didn’t think it could be done.
Olivia really seemed to understand what Kate was going through. Wise beyond her years was the best way she could describe her. She felt like a kindred spirit. When Kate questioned her on how she developed her own techniques, she would only say that someone with the same abilities helped her many years ago. It gave Kate enough hope to really try her techniques.
Kate had spent the last several hours meditating and visualizing. Olivia encouraged her to step back from her surroundings and take in the entire picture. Kind of like an out-of-body experience. Remove emotion. View her dreams from a clinical perspective. That way she could see other things—clues—that she would otherwise miss. Even the smallest detail may be a clue, Olivia told her. And when Kate had these disturbing dreams, even the smallest clue could lead to a solution. In this case, it could lead to finding Sarah and the other kidnapped girls.
Olivia had even put her under hypnosis, which before today she didn’t believe in. While Dev and Ren had apparently filled Olivia in on Kate’s dreams, Kate repeated them in detail, sans the fangs, getting frustrated when she couldn’t remember the details Olivia was pushing her to remember.
Was there anyone else there? Describe the equipment? Was there anything that could be considered unique in the room? Emblems? Windows? Were there any weapons? How many entry points were there to the room? Did you hear any noises? People talking?
No!
She didn’t know of any of those things! She didn’t hear anything. She didn’t see anything else. She couldn’t tear her eyes away from Sarah tied down to a table.
However, during the hypnosis session, she’d apparently told Olivia some things she wasn’t able to consciously remember. Like, where she was being held appeared to be set up like a lab. There were beakers, empty vials and those filled with blood, medical and surgical type of equipment. Disturbingly, there was a row of infant incubators in the corner of the room. Empty. She also remembered there was a man in the corner of the room. He was short, heavy and balding with black-rimmed glasses. She couldn’t see him completely as his profile was to her, but when she awoke, Dev had called for a sketch artist to draw what she could remember. Unfortunately, she didn’t remember anything that would help them find where Sarah or the others were being held.