"We need to look into Jake's files and see if what he's saying is true," I say. "The biggest red flag is that all our clients have dementia. Not headaches."
Sun begins typing on the computer. "I found his file," she says. "Apparently, Dr. Langer's office referred Jake to us for a diagnosis so that part of his story is true. And right here is your signature, Jake. You signed off on the intrusive exploratory therapy, among other things."
"I didn't know that intrusive exploratory therapy was letting my classmates into my brain," Jake says. "This is some sick prank."
"I don't have time to worry about Jake and his stories," I cut off their conversation and begin turning off the equipment. "If that assassin's dream we just entered is accurate, this murderer is thinking about shipping my dad off on a plane to who knows where. I have to go to the airport and see if I can find whoever took my dad before they leave."
Sun rewinds the data from our visuals of the dream. "The airport you saw in the dream is Orlando Executive Airport."
"We don't know if that dream is what he was planning on doing or already did," Tony points out. "Or it could be just wishful thinking."
"I know, I know," I huff. "Dreams are just expressions and ways our minds deal with things. But it's our only lead. We've got to try it." Then I head for the door, saying, "I'm not sticking around for a second longer. I'm finding my dad."
"Wow." Jake sucks in a deep breath. "You people sure take dreams to the next level."
"I'm coming with you," Tony says. "You're not going there alone."
"No." I pause. "We nearly lost you in the Dreamscape because we didn't have backup technicians or a nurse at our sides. This is all too dangerous, and I don't know who or what I'm going to run up against. I'm not risking your life for this."
"Dr. Hale is like a second dad to me." Tony backs up to the hallway, arms out. "I'm coming."
"Are you all insane?" Jake says. "We need to call the police. This is way out of our league."
"Absolutely," Javier says. "As soon as we think this through. First off, we need to move the killer's body out of the sleep pod."
I nod. "Erase evidence of what we've done."
"We also need to remember that when the cops get here, everything will be taken into their custody," Javier adds. "We should take Dr. Hale's laptop with us."
"On it." Sun closes Dad's laptop and slips it into the carry-on bag. "And all of the gear," she adds. "Just in case."
The realization of what they're saying hits me. We gained information from the sleeping intruder about my dad. If we don't find my dad at the airport, we may need to go back through the data to find another lead. Or we may need to enter more people's dreams to learn more answers.
Slowly, I nod. "Good idea. Whatever it takes to get my dad back."
Instantly, Javier begins collecting the Temazepam, which we could use if we don't have our pods or access to the Sound Oasis, and emergency meds. Sun grabs the sound wave frequency earplugs and the Sound Oasis microchip, which when activated into the system, sends out sound wave frequencies that tricks the brain into sleeping.
"I'm taking the NightFlash, too." I slip the long bar that projects pulsing blue light into the air. We rarely use it, because people don't connect to the Dreamscape as well with it, but if someone still can't fall asleep with the Sound Oasis and we don't want to use Temazepam, it's our emergency backup. "Just in case."
"Whoa, whoa, whoa." Tony holds out his hands. "You're talking about more than just a run to the airport. This is a crime scene. We can't just take the stuff and jet. How will that look to the cops?"
"They won't know." Next, I grab everyone's sleep masks and put them in the case with the sound devices Sun collected. "Not if we don't tell them."
"Trust me," Jake says. "They'll figure it out."
I glare at him. "Then we'll find my dad before they put the pieces together."
Meanwhile, Tony and Jake move the assassin out of the sleep pod, tie him up and dump him back in the hallway.
Sun scans the room. "I think we're ready."
"Don't you dare call the cops until we've been gone for five minutes," I tell Jake. "This guy here is responsible for killing two of our techs in the next room and kidnapping my dad. Once we're gone, you can believe whatever you want. Just don't contact me."
"I'm coming with you," Jake says. His face is serious and focused as if he, too, has come to a new realization.
"Like hell, you are," I shoot back. "You nearly killed me."
"Take me or I'll tell the cops everything." He crosses his arms. "You know that if your patients found out that their dreams could be stolen, you'd be sued and shut down in seconds."
"You're blackmailing us now?" I snap. "Way to build team confidence."
"Listen, if you didn't scam the Federal Reserve Bank, then someone else did. And this 'therapy' you guys have got going on is the closest link to the crime I've got to proving that my dad is innocent. You have a dad that needs you and so do I. Maybe if we can work together, we can help both our dads."
I huff, hating that he's right. "Fine. Whatever. Just don't cause trouble." I flash him a warning look. I don't have time to deal with his needs because I need to focus on saving my dad. I turn to the group. "We got everything?"
"He's coming with us?" Javier frowns. "I don't like it."
"Oh yeah, I'm coming." Jake holds up his phone and pushes play. Our voices come over the speaker. "Otherwise, I'm going to play them this recording where you talk all about how you are stealing evidence from a crime scene."
"See." Javier glowers, his face darkening. "This is exactly why we can't trust this guy."
"We need to hurry," I say. "Every second we wait, the farther the kidnappers get from us."
"Fine," Javier concedes and points to Jake. "But I'm watching you."
There's a moment of hesitation where we stare at each other, wide-eyed, hearts pounding as we hold packed bags full of resources to do something we swore we would never do—enter people's dreams without their permission. To use the Dreamscape for our own gain.
I push those thoughts away and instead focus on the task at hand. Rescuing my dad.
"Good. Then let's go." I stride out the door.