Chapter 92

Claire satin the living room, jaw set tight as she nodded again. "I want to do it," she insisted. Dana and Jake exchanged looks which only annoyed her further. "I said, I want to help," she repeated, enunciating each word.

"Maybe take some time and think about it," Jake recommended.

"I don't need time, and we don't have it, right?" Claire asked, turning her attention to Agent Richter.

It was obvious Dana and Jake had asked the BAU agent to take the lead in proposing this plan to stop the Reaper. Claire wasn't sure if it was Richter's calm demeanor that won her over or the fact that it was a neutral party asking rather than Dana or Jake.

Either way, she had difficulty denying the logic. Even with her help, they still might not find what they were looking for, but Claire didn't want to be the reason more people suffered. Especially Max. What she didn't understand was why Jake and Dana were suddenly fighting her when she finally agreed to cooperate.

Dana's voice interrupted Claire's thoughts. "We understand what we're asking is a lot?—"

"No!" Claire erupted. "It's not. Not if it proves Max is innocent."

"Even if it means going under hypnosis again?" Dana clarified.

Claire nodded. "Yes, but …"

"What is it?" Jake asked.

Claire fidgeted with her sleeves, pulling the hems past her fingers against the sudden chill. "I'll do the hypnosis, but you don't need it to find Max."

Jake leaned forward in his chair, but Richter spoke first. "Tell us how we can help him, Claire."

She winced, closing her eyes against the pain divulging the truth caused. "I hate betraying him."

"You're protecting him," Richter said. "That's admirable. But there comes a time where hiding him hurts him more than it helps."

"He didn't do anything wrong," Claire insisted, her voice cracking.

"The best way to prove that is to bring him in and clear his name." When Claire still didn't answer, Richter said, "The longer he stays in hiding the worse this looks for him."

She nodded. "Okay, I'll tell you, but only if Jake is the one to bring him in."

"I'm suspended," Jake started to argue, but Richter held a hand up.

"I'll make a few calls. See if I can't make that happen. Either way, I'll have to go with Jake. Is that okay?" Richter asked.

Claire hesitated, a single tear betraying her internal struggle. Finally, she nodded. "Max is at my storage unit. I met him and Betty two nights ago and gave them my key. I haven't heard from Max since."

Richter stood, phone already to his ear. He squeezed Claire's shoulder as he walked by her. "You're doing the right thing, Claire."

More tears slipped down her face, "Then why doesn't it feel like it?"

Jake was by her side. "I'll make sure he's treated fairly."

She looked up at him. "They deserve justice. Him and Betty both."