Outlier: One mistake can destroy everything. by Jacob Mesmer Page B

observable phenomena and clean the environment completely upon eventual termination.” She ended the call without waiting for a response.
     
    Bancroft had been agency, fully trained in non-detectable surveillance and counter-surveillance, but Tanner Industries offered significantly more potential. Bancroft continued to review the recordings of Jay at home, practicing his new skills. Getting eyes at the school would be easy. They likely had a security system he could remotely tap into. He’d have to get it done before the subject strengthened his skills sufficiently for human practice.
     
    Bancroft liked the private sector much better for many reasons. There was better pay and he got to spy on people who had no inkling they were being watched. Less bureaucracy and zero concern for collateral damage.
     
     

Chapter Twenty-Three
     
    “So, where are we?” the chief said while massaging his lower back. He couldn’t seem to find a comfortable position in his chair.
     
    “Three girls. All minors. They see Jay Hutchins, male, 27, standing outside staring at them. They turn away, and a minute or so later the glass breaks inward. One girl injured, not life-threatening. She’s already at home.”
     
    “Cameras?” the chief asked, hopefully.
     
    “Negative.” Sean didn’t look up from his notes.
     
    “Circumstantial. Not enough for a warrant. Not enough for an arrest. Only enough to ask him to come in for questioning. You say you know this guy?” the chief asked, hoping this may help.
     
    “Not really. Graduated high school in the same year, not much involvement. He was fond of Sheryl. They exchanged a few emails, nothing serious. She was a crush, and she kept a professional distance.”
     
    “Shit. I didn’t know. Sorry, Sean.” The chief seemed genuinely upset at the connection. It had only been—what, six days?
     
    “Don’t worry about it. But yeah, I’ll go to his house and talk to him about it. But there was that other thing. The kid who peed his pants. I asked him about that, and he wasn’t being entirely forthcoming.” Sean finally met his chief’s eyes.
     
    “What do you mean?”
     
    “That’s the thing. No crime, some guy peed his pants. Tell you the truth, only reason I went over to talk to Jay was because I was bored. But Chi, the girl who was with Josh, who peed his pants, said Jay used voodoo or witchcraft or something. She seemed convinced it was his fault that Josh peed himself.” Sean couldn’t help but smile when he said the last part. “So I go to his house,” he continued, “and he plays innocent. Doesn’t even corroborate.”
     
    “Sounds intriguing,” the chief started, twisting in his chair, “but you well know that without any hard evidence, there ain’t shit we can do. You know how many high-school girls believe in that crap, what with all those vampire movies that are so popular? My granddaughter’s trying to get me to watch this TV show about a coven of witches or something, for chrissakes.” This made Sean laugh out loud. Finally some levity.
     
    They both sat there.
     
    “Tell you what. It is likely that this Jay character put a brick through the window, but unless he confesses, we ain’t got jack. But you can talk to him, and we can talk to his boss; who’s that, the principal?”
     
    “Yeah, I think so.”
     
    “If he’s a danger to the kids, they’ll fire his ass in a heartbeat. Lean on Jay a bit, then talk to his boss and tell ‘em you think he might be dangerous around students; mention he likes watching boys pee their pants and let them deal with him. Maybe he’ll get fired and try that shit on some guy in a bar and get what’s coming to him.”
     
    Sean took a slow breath. The excitement of small-town crime. That law degree was looking better and better.
     
    “Right. I’ll get on it.”
     
     
     
     
     
     

Chapter Twenty-Four
     
    Sean pulled up to Jay’s house, suspecting he had already missed him. He checked his watch. 9:30.