She nodded. “Maybe he still doesn’t trust himself, doesn’t think he’s strong enough yet.

“Dillon, Autumn is his niece. She may be in danger, too. Could Shepherd have told Blessed to go after Autumn again? That’s how all of this started, remember.”

“I’ll call Ethan and Joanna, tell them to take Autumn to Italy, or Siberia, or maybe consider one of those space flights they’re selling, any place Blessed can’t find them until we’ve got him in prison again.

“Which brings us to our bigger problem. Like Dr. Truitt and Dr. Nelson, no one will fully believe what he can do unless they see him in action. We still have that video we took of Blessed at Rockingham County Hospital a year and a half ago. We need to get that out to everyone, first of all, everyone in the CAU.”

Dillon picked up his cell and dialed. As he listened to the phone ring, he said, “The Metro police need to know what Blessed looks like, what his clothes look like, need to read the report of his attack on you in Georgetown. They need to know he’s not a poor old loon escaped from an asylum, down and out and raving mad because his mother died and he blames us.

“We need to show everyone involved that video.” He heard a man’s voice, and said, “Hello, Dr. Hicks? Dillon Savich here. I really need you to come to the CAU right away. We’ve got a situation here.”

Forty-five minutes later, all available CAU agents were seated in the conference room, talking among themselves, wondering what was going on. Dr. Hicks arrived, nodded to them, then dimmed the lights and flipped on the digital projector. He looked at each of them in turn. They all knew he was the top expert in hypnosis in the FBI. What was going on here? He said, “You’re here to watch a video that might save your life. I was there, I saw this. But first, let me give you a bit of background.

“This video was shot at Rockingham County Hospital in Titusville, Virginia, eighteen months ago. Let me emphasize that the nurse you will see is a professional. She has been told exactly what she can do and what she isn’t to do—namely, she is not to remove the patient’s blindfold or release the handcuffs. Now watch.”

“Is anyone there? How can I know if anyone’s there if I can’t see?”

Dr. Hicks paused the video. “This is Blessed Backman. Helpless looking, isn’t he? And with that poor, pathetic, whining little old man’s voice. The reason he’s in the hospital is that Savich shot him. This is his nurse bending over him.”

“Yes, I’m here, Mr. Backman. I’m sorry about the blindfold. I’m your nurse, Cindy Maybeck. Do you need anything, sir?”

“I need you to take off this ridiculous blindfold.”

All ears listened to his weak, querulous voice, heard the nurse say as she leaned close, “I’m sorry, sir, but I was told to leave it in place, for my own protection, not that I believe it, but I have to follow orders. Let me take your pulse, listen to your heart.”

The blindfolded old man whispered, “It’s that hick sheriff, he’s torturing me because we had a disagreement. Here I’m old enough to be his daddy and he’s afraid of me. Isn’t that a kick? Listen, how would you like to lie in darkness, Nurse, with your hands strapped down? I can’t even scratch my nose. It’s inhumane, don’t you think?”

All of them listened to him moan and ask for morphine, and then he started crying.

“Don’t cry, Mr. Backman, you’re getting the blindfold wet.”

He continued to sob. Then, “Just wipe my eyes for me, Nurse. Please. What can I do? My hands are tied down. I’m helpless.”

Dr. Hicks paused the video. “You can see she’s torn. We told her and all the staff that he could hypnotize them instantly, make them do anything he asked. You can see she doesn’t want to believe it. She’s never heard of such a thing. Who has? It all sounds ridiculous. This poor man had been shot, he was helpless. What could he do?” He started the video again.

“I swear I won’t say anything, Nurse.”

Everyone in the conference room was leaning forward, eyes on the screen. They watched her ease the blindfold over the top of his head. They watched her wipe away his tears. Real tears. They knew she believed this poor man couldn’t do anything to anybody. Surely he couldn’t. They saw Blessed Backman open his eyes and look up at her.

“You’re a pretty helpful girl. Unfasten the straps on my wrists.”

And he smiled up at her.

They saw she didn’t hesitate for an instant. She unfastened the straps and straightened to stand next to him. She didn’t move, didn’t speak.