"We can't just sit here." Mike sounded like he was only half paying attention as he dug his fingers at what he thought was a crack. Nothing. "And he doesn't work like other criminals. He's...something different." Even after feeling the man's real strength, he was still having trouble convincing himself he was something not human.

Hopping off the bed, Mike turned to the floor. Getting on his knees and searching along the baseboards. "Staying here isn't an option. Either he lets you go and the house is burned, or he keeps watching you to use against me at a later time." Sitting up on his knees, he finally looked at Briggs. "He knows more than any man in his position should. There's no way to come out of this clean. But I'm not going down without a fight."