Chapter Four

Kermit sat in his Covair for a moment, as he dialed a phone number he hadn't called in almost—seven years. He waited for the answer, "Lupo," a voice on the other end answered.

"It's Griffin, I need a genius."

"Then you probably called the wrong person and the right town, what's up Griffin."

"Not over the phone, can you send a helicopter for me in an hour?"

"I'll have them send it now, this is going to cost big bucks Griffin."

"Our Tax dollars at work Deputy. And thanks."

Looking up at the building, Kermit made a quick mental note to keep it quick as he stepped out of his car.

Alex stepped out of her office to the sight of Kermit Griffin stepping into the waiting room. She felt her blood run cold, but to her surprise the first person she thought of was not her sister. "Oh God," she whispered softly.

Kermit, realizing his mistake shook his head, "Everyone's fine! I'm sorry, I'm so sorry Al, I just needed to talk to you, do you have time?"

Once she felt her heart rate return to a more reasonable level she nodded, "I can make time, Cheryl if I've got any appointments clear them until after lunch please."

The young intern nodded as she watched the mysterious man follow Dr. Campbell into her office. Alex closed the door behind Kermit and gestured to the chair. "What can I do for you Kermit?"

He sighed, "Three things actually, the first one is far more serious than the other two."

She nodded sitting behind her desk, "Okay, what's up?"

"We've got this case, maybe Peter told you about it; anyway it's a rash of bank robberies over the course of five weeks. Five banks, that we assumed were random, have been robbed. It appears they're not quite as random as we'd thought. It's the same two people, the reason I'm here is to ask a rather serious question. The last robbery, yesterday after we ran into you, two people were killed and another was injured. It's never happened before; Peter and I think maybe something is going on in the robber's mind. Or maybe he's getting nervous. I need to know what might motivate someone to start killing now."

Alex nodded, "Well to begin with anger, it's quite possible this time around the two bank robbers were at odds with one another. Perhaps one felt more restrained than normal and lashed out at the occupants of the bank. Although from what you're saying that's not the case. This doesn't sound like a crime of passion. The other option is fear. You said they've robbed four other banks and then the one yesterday?"

Kermit nodded, "Yeah, we're assuming they'll rob again."

"If they do, I doubt it will be the exact same time or date, what is probably happening is one of the robbers is the more daring of the two. The second one is probably suddenly realizing he's scared and that they are leaving a bit of a trail, fear is going to begin to grip his mind. He's going to begin imagining all the scenarios of how they get caught…"

"Including his death?"

She nodded, "If he's on any type of drug he may also be hallucinating, which may explain your two dead and one injured. If he's not on any drugs he could have a mental disorder, which is why I assume you came to me, in which case he could be hearing or seeing things that aren't really there. He snaps and begins shooting people, realizing what he's done he scrambles to get away."

"You said you didn't think it would be the same time and date, why?"

Alex sighed, "Let me try and explain this easily, let's say for the moment that you're the bank robber and Peter is your accomplice."

"Seem to be playing that role a lot."

She smiled and continued, "Okay, you've been doing really well, you've nailed four banks, so this one is a cinch, you've gotten away each time. But you're smart, smart enough to know how to get away four times without getting caught. That is until your accomplice shoots and kills two people, suddenly you're leaving behind the trail, if the cops didn't know before they certainly have a way to figure out what's going on. What's the first thing you're going to do? It's like a science experiment, there are variables, The bank robber is going to know that because the SWAT was forced to come in early, they're going to know there was a way out. He's probably already got all the banks chosen because of that escape route, so he can't change that variable otherwise he's going in blind. Plus he figures the cops on the case are smart enough to know who it is by now, probably. So he's going to change the only variable he can."

"Time," Kermit whispered as he closed his eyes and rubbed his face.

"Exactly, and my guess is you won't have nearly as long. Maybe a few days if you're lucky, he's likely to make it a shorter span of time that way you can't identify the bank as quickly."

"Jesus these guys are smart," whispered Kermit.

"Oh yeah," she replied steepling her fingers. "You said there were three things?"

Kermit nodded, "Yeah—second, look…Peter's had a rough life, him more than some of us. He's like my little brother, and I've certainly never interfered with any of his girls before now, but you're different. Plus I really like you—"

She held up her hand smirking, "Is this your 'if-you-hurt-him-I'll-kill-you-speech?"

He chuckled, "And make it look like an accident so your sister doesn't kill me, yes."

Alex smiled laughing, "Save it Kermit, he's the one that ruined a perfectly good date."

Kermit nodded, "I know he told me this morning, asked me what I knew about you. Surprisingly I think for the first time I told the kid everything I knew."

"And?"

Kermit shrugged, "I don't know Al, it's Peter, in all truth he probably does need a shrink but he's terrified to talk to someone—probably worried they'll actually tell him he really is only playing with half a deck. In all honest the kid is pretty damn smart, and he knows what he wants. Just give him time. I think he's doing a bit of a background check and other stuff on you currently."

"Thanks Frog," she smiled playfully, "What was the other thing?"

"Oh—yeah, well…I've been dating Karen for three years now…There's no question I want to marry her. So first I'd like to ask for her hand…and second would you be willing to go shopping with me tomorrow and help me pick a ring?"

"YES!" she giggled as she got up and threw her arms around his neck, hugging her brother-to-be-in-law. "I knew it!"

He laughed out loud as he returned the hug, "You marry Peter and he'd be my brother-in-law."

o0o

Kermit stepped into the glass encased office and smiled at his old friend as he held out his hand, "Henry, nice to see you again," he offered.

The older black man smiled in reply as he accepted the hand, "Yes it is, to what do I owe the pleasure?"

"I need to know about a device, that can either render the person using it invisible or stop time briefly."

Henry studied the younger ex-mercenary, "I haven't heard anything; I know of a device I created some time ago that could erase short bursts of memory, but— wow that was like ten years ago. It got destroyed."

"Is there anyway it could have been…recreated?"

"Not that I'm aware of, I only worked on it with one other guy, what's this all about Griffin?"

Kermit sighed, "Police business Henry, you keep your Section 5 secrets and I'll keep mine. If you find anything out, call me will you?"

"Of course, and I hope you solve your case."

"Thanks Henry."