"No, nothing," George replied. "I think this is all some big mistake."
Christopher was shaking his head, though. "It doesn't matter if you can't think of a reason why he would want to hurt you. All that matters is that Adam can, even if that reason is only in his head. He's broken out of the institution that was holding him, and he might be coming for you, Mr. Riker."
Paige saw the older man swallow at the thought of that. He wasn’t in denial about this part, at least. He obviously knew exactly what his nephew was capable of. He must have read the news about the killings.
At last, he seemed to be taking the threat that Adam posed to him seriously.
"So what do you suggest?" George asked.
Christopher gestured to the car. "Now you have a choice, sir. Option one is that we take you into protective custody until all of this is over."
George didn't look happy about that option. "And option two?"
"You stay here," Christopher said.
George Riker's eyes widened. "But that would be crazy. What if he does come here? I'd be sitting here, just waiting for him to kill me."
"And we'd be waiting too," Christopher said. “Ready to intercept him the moment that he attempts to do so.”
"You want to use me as bait?" George Riker asked incredulously. "You want me to sit here and wait for my nephew to come here and kill me?"
Christopher nodded. "It's the best way for us to catch him, sir. We want to stop him from coming for you, but we can't catch him without your help. I know I’m asking you to take a risk, but it’s one that could save lives."
George Riker looked from Christopher to Paige, then back again. "So… my only choice in all of this is to be bait?"
Paige bit her lip. There was something sickening about the whole idea. But Christopher was right. They needed this man, if they were going to catch Adam.
"I'm sorry," Paige said. “But I think it’s the only option.”
George Riker asked. "You think that's a good idea?"
"It's better than anything else that we have," Paige said. “It gives us a chance of actually stopping Adam, and if we don’t, he could, he will just keep killing people.”
Paige saw her words hit home with George Riker, who sat there staring at her. After several seconds, he looked over at Christopher.
"What are you going to do if he comes?"
Christopher looked determined, and when he spoke, it was in an obviously reassuring tone. "We'll be waiting. I'll have a whole team watching the house, and we'll arrest him before he gets anywhere near you."
George Riker nodded. "I understand. If it's the only way to catch my nephew, then that's what I'll have to do."