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understand. We were going to infiltrate the highest security events. Go right through the metal detectors. And then, you know, kaboom. Take out the people responsible for everything. We’d cut the head off the serpent, he said.”
    “Why?” Zach asked. He really wanted to know.
    “Hey. The world is dying,” Josh said. “Even I can see that. Something’s gotta stop it. I thought, sure, maybe that would be worth my life.”
    “Noble of you,” Cade said.
    Josh glared at him. Or tried to. He looked away after a fraction of a second.
    “What changed?”  Zach asked.
    Josh gave a little shrug, a small laugh. “Turns out it’s really hard to even get close to those kind of things. Most of the time you have to have an invitation. Or a security clearance. So Adam sent us out to find other targets.”
    “Like movie theaters and malls,” Cade said.
    Josh looked down, shame evident on his face. “It wasn’t supposed to be like this. That’s why I waited here. I knew someone would track me down. I’ll help you find Adam and Ty. Give me some paperwork, sign me up for witness protection, whatever. I’ll help you.”
    “Where are your friends now?” Cade said, moving closer to him.
    “I don’t know.” He shrank back from Cade. “Honest. I don’t. We split into three groups. That way if one of us got caught — ”
    “ — The others would still be able to carry out their attacks,” Cade finished for him. “Yes. I know. Where do you think they are? You know them. Where would they go?”
    Josh bit his lip. “If I could think of a place, I’d tell you.”
    “You have to do better than that.” Cade’s tone didn’t change, but the threat was loud and clear.
    “I don’t know. I swear. All I can think of is Adam really wanted people to get it. He wanted them to know they weren’t safe anywhere.”
    “What did he say? Think harder,” Cade said.
    Sweat popped out on Josh’s upper lip. “That’s it, man, seriously. Sheep, he said. Sheep huddled behind fences thinking they were safe from the wolves. He talked like that all the time.”
    Cade waited.
    “I swear, that’s all I know.”
    “Then we’re done here,” Cade said. He stepped close to the chair where Josh was seated and kneeled down to the young man.
    “What?” Josh said. “I told you. I’ll cooperate. I’ll even go to jail if I have to.”
    Cade didn’t respond. Zach saw Josh go still with pure terror.
    “Cade. Do you really have to do this?”
    “What do you suggest? A trial? So the world learns this is possible? Or prison? Where he could teach others? No. No one can know about this.”
    “He let us find him.”
    “His attack of conscience came a bit late for seventeen people.”
    Josh understood what was happening, even if he didn’t want to. He shook as if he was caught in the freezing cold. “Come on, man. I helped you,” he said.
    Cade didn’t respond.
    “I told you everything I know. Come on. That’s got to be worth something.”
    “I’ll make it quick,” Cade said. “That’s all I can offer you.”
    “Come on , man. What was I supposed to do?” Josh said, his voice nearly a shriek now. “What was I supposed to do?”
    “The right thing,” Cade said.
    Zach wondered whether he could order Cade to stop. Then it was already done.
    Zach didn’t see Cade’s hands move. He only heard the sound as Josh’s neck snapped.
    The young man’s body sagged to the ground. Cade was already at the front door.
    Zach stood there, watching as the corpse settled to the floor, eyes still open, staring at nothing.
    “He tried to do the right thing,” Zach said.
    “Yes he did,” Cade said. “Eventually.”
    Zach didn’t reply. He just kept looking at the body.
    “You said you wanted to be a part of this,” Cade reminded him, and walked out the door.
    A moment later, Zach followed.
     
    
     
    Cade drove, and let Zach stew with his guilt and his indecision. That was part of his job, after all.
    Cade wasn’t burdened with