He left the jail, wishing there was something more he could do. The team had made sure Dyson's house was safe and secure. His stuff was safe, and they'd make sure it stayed that way. Sending books to him would be easy. He'd let the team know it's what Dyson wanted. He wasn't sure how much longer he'd be in jail, but if it was more than a week, he'd make sure he got some books. He also had another idea that he knew would really boost Dyson's mood.
Once in his car, he grabbed his phone and called Bryon.
"Hello?" Bryon answered on the first ring.
"Hey, I'm just leaving."
"How is he?" Bryon asked.
"He looks depressed. He's lost weight. Can't blame him for being a bit scared and nervous that we won't come through for him. It's got to be hard to sit in there without any information."
"I wish we had a way to talk to him. Did you manage to tell him anything?"
"He knows we're working on things. I couldn't say much more. It was impossible to talk without people listening. I did tell him that he had support. In exchange for the info I asked for, he asked me to check on his house, and to send him some books to read. He didn't care what books."
"I'll have Carter order a bunch as soon as I hang up. I'm hoping to have him out within a week or so, but we have to wait for everything to be right. I can't take risks on this. If anything goes wrong, we'll lose him for sure." Bryon sighed. "He's really okay?"
"Yeah, he is. As good as he can be for where he is. I dropped a hundred dollars on his books. Anyone will assume it was for information. I was also thinking, I told him that the public is behind him, and that those he saved in the past were speaking out, telling their story about how he saved them. So I was thinking, could we have Faith write to him? Act like she's just contacting him as someone who he saved years ago. She won't be able to say anything personal, but I mean, she's sixteen, she can go on about how her life is now and how good it is because of him. Little hints of what she's been up to the last while. It's just something simple that would help his mood a bit."
"That's actually not a bad idea. I'll talk to Matt about it. It's got to be his call, because that will draw attention, but I don't think the police are smart enough to look at it as anything more than someone reaching out to thank him. It will do Faith good too. She's been having some trouble accepting everything that happened."
"We all have." Noam pulled out on the road. "How long until we get him out, Bry? We can't leave him in there."
"I'm working on it, I swear. Every piece of this has to be ready. I can't do this half-assed. When we do this, we do it all. He's not going to like my plans, but it’s the only way. We'll get him out. But when we do, that's when the real hard part begins."
"Still not going to let us in on what your plans are?" Noam asked. Bryon promised that Dyson would be safe once he was out, and that he could go on, have a normal life, but he wouldn't give them any of the details.
"I'm not going to have you guys trying to change my mind. A few of you might not like what I have to do, but it's the only way. I'm mostly worried about Xander. This is all hitting him hard."
"Yeah, I talked to him a couple nights ago. He's having a hard time waiting for us to get him out, and not working is also taking its toll. I suggested they get away for a few days, but he refuses to leave. Anyway, do you want me to talk to Faith? I'm headed over to give Xander an update now."
"Yeah, let her know we need to read everything she says. We can't risk letting on that they know each other."
"I'll make sure. Thanks, Bry."
"No, thank you. I'm glad at least one of us can get eyes on him. Give me a call if you hear anything more or if there is any new information from the police on his case."
"I will. I'll let you know what Faith says. Kasey and I will be by later tonight. Tell everyone we'll bring dinner." Noam was sure most of the team would be there. They were most nights. It was like they couldn't stand to be apart while they waited. Other than Beau and Parson, the whole group spent the night in the game room of the house, trying not to think about what happened, and what they could be doing if they were allowed to work.
It was hard knowing kids were being hurt, and the cases that Carter and Trenton found that could be passed on to Noam's team were, but that meant most of the really bad offenders – the ones who did much more than try to pick up teens online - weren't getting caught.
Determined to somehow see this through without all of them losing their minds, Noam headed over to Matt and Xander's. Faith would be out of school soon, and he wanted to talk to them before he talked to her. This had to have her fathers' approval.
Somehow, this was all going to work out, even if as of right now, he just didn't see how.
