Disclaimer: I do not own Now You See Me or any of its characters. If I did, there would be more of Jack
Chapter 2: Family
"Where is he?! He was supposed to be back two hours ago!" Merritt McKinney growled as he paced the apartment the Horsemen had been staying in to lie low.
"I'm sure he's fine. Probably just got sidetracked," was the sleepy response from J. Daniel Atlas, stretched out on the couch.
Henley piped up from the kitchen, "Danny, maybe Merritt's right. Four hours is way too long for a grocery run, even if you are buying for four people."
"We need to go look for him. What if he was recognized? What if the FBI caught him? Even worse, what if Bradley caught him?!" Thaddeus Bradley had been released from prison several weeks prior, and no one seemed to know where he had disappeared to. "We can't just sit here without knowing if he's ok!" Despite the age difference, Merritt had grown close to the young sleight in the months after the heist. They were regularly left alone together while Daniel and Henley went off to discuss… whatever it was they discussed. After a few awkwardly silent instances, Jack had tentatively asked Merritt if he could teach him mentalism. Merritt had agreed on the condition that in return, Jack would teach him how to throw cards. In a few weeks' time, Jack could pretty well read a person, and Merritt could hit the target 20% of the time. He was broken out of his thoughts by the sound of Daniel's cell phone going off. Merritt froze, and turned to watch, as Henley trotted out of the kitchen, never taking her eyes off Daniel as he sat up and grabbed his phone from the stand next to the couch.
"Hello? Dylan? ... He what?! … Do you have any idea who? … Fine. Fine, alright. Yeah, I'll tell them." As soon as he hung up, Henley and Merritt peppered him with questions.
"Quiet! Atlas demanded, silencing them. "That was Dylan –"
"Yeah, we gathered that!"
"Let him finish, Merritt!" Henley scolded.
"Thank you, Henley!" Daniel began,
"That doesn't mean dawdle!" she snapped.
"Fine! Like I said, that was Dylan. He said his partner, Agent Fuller, saw Jack at the grocery store, and followed him onto the street, where he saw some guys stuff Jack in a black van, and take off. They don't know yet who's responsible, but my money's on Bradley."
For several moments, it was quiet, before Merritt burst out, concern lacing his voice, "Well, we've got to do something!"
"Dylan said to stay put, and not to do anything rash. He doesn't want us to be recognized. He said he would do everything he could to find Jack and that he would keep us updated."
"He can't seriously expect us to just sit around waiting for news!" Henley cried indignantly.
"Jack's family. You don't just abandon family!" Merritt added, shoving down painful memories.
Daniel raised his hands in a placating gesture, smirking. "I never said we weren't going to do anything! I only said I would tell you what he said."
"Well, I guess we need a plan," Henley said, grinning at the men.