Remember Jamie Baker (Jamie Baker #3)(42)

“We can’t predict what his response would be if the Angel came out of hiding,” Smut said. He shook his head and folded his arms. “The plan is too risky.”

“But he’s been so careful,” Geek argued. “The man has made himself impossible to find. He’s been five steps ahead of us since the Visticorp explosion, covering his tracks impeccably. He doesn’t want us to know where he is, or what he’s up to. The man has a plan and he’s not ready to implement it yet. Whatever he’s up to is huge, and he’s not going to risk blowing it by getting in a fight with the military.”

“Agreed,” Tex said, staring at the table as he rubbed the stubble on his chin. “He’ll try to be subtle, sneaky, and smart. It’s been his way so far, minus the sloppy smash-and-grab in Dr. Rajeet’s office, and I suspect that only happened because he got so close to his prize and wanted to make sure he beat us to her.”

Major Wilks had been pacing the front of the room as he listened to his team hash out the possibilities, but he stopped and faced us, nodding firmly. “He’ll send the doctor after her. He’ll try to tempt her with promises of giving her her memory back.”

My heart fluttered at the possibility. “Could he really do it—give me my memories back?”

My question earned me a roomful of sympathetic looks, effectively popping my hope bubble. “I’m sorry, Angel,” Dr. Haggerty said quietly. “I just don’t see how that could be possible.”

“He’ll still tell you he can, though,” Blake said. “It’s obvious that you’re desperate to remember your life. It’s your biggest weakness. Donovan will exploit that weakness. It’s what he does best.”

The emergency lights in the room flickered as I started to lose a grip on my emotions. Ryan grabbed my hand again and leaned over to place a soft kiss on my cheek. “You can still have your life back, Jamie, even if you can’t remember it. I’ll remember it for you, and we can make new memories. We’ll fill your head so full of them you’ll forget you ever had amnesia.”

I closed my eyes against a sudden sting. His offer was so kind, so sweet, but it wasn’t the same thing. There was a story hidden in everything he said, knowledge in every look he gave me, and feeling in every touch. I wanted to understand everything he did, remember the things he did. I wanted to feel the love he felt. I wanted our history.

The room was quiet for a moment as everyone waited for me to regain my composure. I was embarrassed that I couldn’t keep it together, and tried to shake it off as quickly as possible. Forcing myself to get back to business in an attempt to distract the attention from me, I pulled my shoulders back and met Major Wilks’s stare. “I’ll do it.”

Several people argued at once. “Angel, it’s too risky,” Shortstop said. “We’ll be right there with you, of course, but like you said, against an army of superthugs…”

It didn’t matter. I shrugged. “It’s going to come to a fight eventually anyway.”

“But we need to know what we’re up against before that happens,” Johnny G argued, “and it needs to be on our terms.”

Geek slapped a hand down on the conference table. “But he won’t fight us! She’ll be in public. She’ll have a full military escort. Even if he could beat her, she’s proven she can put up enough of a fight on her own that it will be a battle. If you guys are there too, any attempt to take her by force will be an all-out war. There’s no way he’d risk that.”

“He’s right,” Blake said. “Donovan may know the military is onto him and be willing to risk a fight with them, but not if it’s public. I promise you, he doesn’t want the world to know that superpowered people exist yet. It’s the ace up his sleeve for whatever scheme he has planned. He’ll want to make a spectacle of it when that news is finally revealed.”

Next to me, Ryan sighed. It was a small, quiet action, but it gained the attention of the entire room. “I know how to make it work.” He looked skyward, as if he hated the idea he was about to suggest. “We need to go to New York. It’s time for Jamie to meet Carter.”

“The reporter?”

We all waited for Ryan to explain. He let out a heavy breath and grimaced. “If what you’re saying about Donovan is true, then there’s no way he’d act if Jamie had media attention. We need Carter to make her front-page news.”

“Of course!” Blake gasped, excitement taking over his body as understanding hit him.

I, unfortunately, was completely lost. That had been the last thing I’d expected to hear. But, whatever his intention, the answer was still easy enough—no way. Major Wilks cringed, also not thrilled by the idea. His hesitation to put me on TV warmed him to me just a little bit more.

“If we run your story, you would be instantly famous,” Ryan said. “Donovan couldn’t just show up with a bunch of superpowered soldiers and snatch you when the whole world was watching your every movement.”

I couldn’t believe what he was suggesting, but at least his face looked sickly at the thought of it. I rubbed my head. It was suddenly pounding worse than it had yesterday. I didn’t need my memories to know I’d hate being famous. I tried to be objective, though; this was not about me. “He’s right. It would work. He’d send the doctor after me for sure. He’d try to lure me away from the media.”