Elliott just shook his head. "You did amazing," he said giving her a small smile. "Totally sounded like you meant that and everything."
"Good... it was hard to say. If I hadn't said that in the first place, I might not be in this position."
"If you hadn't said that in the first place, he might not be so damn set on getting you back, and we would have a hell of a time tracking him down," Elliott pointed out.
Cadence nodded. "I suppose you're right. I just hate lying to him."
"Cadence, he's a killer. He's not the Jack you think he is. That Jack is gone. I'm sorry to have to keep reminding you of that, but there's nothing you can do to get him back," Elliott said, squeezing her shoulder.
Refusing to cry again, she locked her eyes shut for a few seconds. "Logically, I know that. But, unfortunately, this doesn't make it any easier."
He nodded. "I know. But we'll get through it and then move on to the next." Cadence gazed away from him at those words, a distant look in her eyes, an expression that said there was something she was not mentioning. "What's going on?" he asked, his eyes narrowing in concern.
"I don't know," she said scratching the back of her head and looking away. "I just... I kind of feel like I need to get out of here for a while, you know, go see the world or something."
Elliott's eyebrows shot up. "What, and leave all this?"
"Not permanently," she assured him. "Just for a little while. Just until I figure out who I am..."
"Shit, I'm 75 years old and I don't have any damn idea who the hell I am. You think Aaron knows who he is? And he's what, 150?"
"Actually, he's 169," she murmured.
"See, and he has no clue who he is," he replied. "What makes you think you can figure out who you are, kid?"
"I don't know. But I feel like I need to try. I can't stay around here with... those two. I need to separate myself from that situation for a while. There are other things that I can focus my time and energy on. If I really am as talented as everyone thinks..."
"You are..."
"Then there are other Hollands out there, other Barbarosas that I can hunt down," she explained.
"On your own?" he questioned.
"I've talked to a couple of other Hunters about going. I don't know..."
"With no Guardians?"
"Do you want to go?"
He considered it for a moment before shaking his head. "I can't," he replied quietly.
"I guess we'll use local Guardians. I don't know. I haven't thought it all the way through yet. But it's something I'm definitely thinking about. I just suppose I'll have to have his permission if I want the financial backing," she admitted.
Elliott nodded. "Well, let's get through this first."
"Okay," she agreed. Returning to the task at hand she said, "So, I was thinking we would place Aurora and Christian at the northern end of the park over here," she said adding a couple of dots to the map through the IAC. "And then put Shane and Meagan at the other end. They can keep a lookout for Giovani from there, I think."
"That looks good to me," Elliott replied.
"Then, I'd put Laura and Laney with Hannah over here north of the hotel. If I meet Jack here, next to the pharmacy, they'll be close enough to get there if Giovani shows up, but not so close that Jack should be able to detect them."
"Sounds good," Elliott confirmed.
"Then, I want Jamie close by, but he's got to be where Jack can have no clue that he's there. If he notices him, it's game over," she explained.
"Well, I think this parking lot actually drops down here," Elliott said indicating the location on the map. They were looking at an aerial view, like Google Earth, so it was difficult to see the drop on the map. "If he's down there, it will be harder for Jack to see him, but he'll be a flight of stairs, and then some, away."
"That's perfect," Cadence replied. "And then, if we rented a room in the hotel, you could set up there. I would really like for you to be able to cover me."
"Well, if that's the case, I need to get into the pharmacy and set up on one of these upper level floors," he replied. "If you're going to meet him in front of the pharmacy, that will be the closest location."
"But how can you get into a closed pharmacy after hours?" she asked.
"I'm Dr. Elliott Sanderson of the CDC. I can get into wherever the hell I want," he replied with a haughty smile.
She laughed. "Okay, well if you think you can..."
"I know I can."
"When you do," she said snidely, "I want you to set up with a sniper rifle just in case."
"Just in case... what?"
"Just in case Giovani shows up. Or just in case... I can't do it," she replied with a gulp.
"And you think you won't hate me forever if I kill Jack?"
"That's not Jack," she replied in a mocking voice. He sighed and gave her a look that said, "you know what I mean," and she finally emphatically said, "No, no I won't hate you if you shoot Vampire Jack. I would probably be very grateful. But Aaron says it has to be me so..."
"He has his reasons, I guess," Elliott replied.
Cadence knew he didn't know the whole story, but she wondered if he knew the part about Kian. She didn't ask, however. "So, sound like a plan?"
"Sounds like a plan. We have about four days to make sure everything is in place. What are you going to do in the meantime?"
"I don't know," she replied, a distant look in her eyes. "Avoid Eliza and Aaron, that's for damn sure."
"I think he's pretty upset that he's not going," Elliott remarked.
She looked away. "I don't want him there. This is too personal. Besides, he picked his side. He can stay home with..." so many names popped in her head but she pushed them all aside and chose to be the bigger person, "her."
Elliott smiled. "I guess you don't know then," he said with a small chuckle as he pulled himself to his feet.
"What?" she asked, popping up and following him to the door.
"Ixnay on the irlfriendgay," he replied pulling the door open.
It took Cadence a minute. "What? They broke up?" Elliott nodded. "When?"
"Apparently, after she eavesdropped on your conversation last night," he replied.
Cadence was shocked. She was certainly not expecting that information. "Wow," she said crossing her arms and shaking her head.
"So, does that change your mind about leaving?" he asked still standing in the doorway.
She thought for only a moment. "No," she replied. "If anything, it confirms to me that I need to go."
He seemed confused but only nodded. "All right, kid. Let me know if you need anything."
