Memory Man by David Baldacci

again?”
    “If the place turns up empty and nobody saw the guy leave, then the shooter has to be someone who was in the school. A teacher or a student or an admin. All custodial folks accounted for?”
    She nodded. “They’re older and all have big guts. But I see your point.”
    “Can I see the video footage of the guy?”
    He followed her to the library. After they passed through the double wooden doors, Decker could see that the library had become the opposite of a quiet sanctum. The FBI had their corner, the state police their spot, and Lancaster and her crew were relegated to the far back left slice of the place.
    Lancaster started walking to where her colleagues had set up shop, but Decker just stood there at the entrance to the library. He had been away from this world for a while now, but it suddenly felt like forever. He did not like crowds. He did not care to walk in here and join this large group of investigators even if they all had the same goal. Part of him wanted to slink back to the Residence Inn, close his door, shut his eyes, and let his cast of colors envelop him. And what good would he be anyway? He couldn’t find his family’s killers. How would he have a shot to find this one? He eyed the door. He could still escape.
    “Amos!”
    He looked over and watched in silence as Captain Miller headed his way. He had on his police uniform this evening. He held out a hand, which Decker shook unwillingly.
    “Thank you for helping us, Amos,” said Miller. “We can use it.”
    Decker eyed the manpower in the library. “Looks like you have all the help you need.”
    He tried to pull his hand away, but Miller kept hold of it, his gaze locked on his former detective.
    “Looks can be deceiving. And I want you involved. You see things. I mean, you see things, Amos. And we have to catch this guy. We have to make this right. We have to give closure.” He continued to keep his gaze directly on Decker’s face until the latter looked back at him. “Amos, we need closure. You understand that. I know you do.”
    “I do,” said Decker. “I understand it, if only because I never got it.”
    Miller let his hand go. “Why don’t you go over and join your ‘partner’? Good to see you two together again.”
    Decker said nothing. He just turned and walked over to where Lancaster was waiting for him.
    His opportunity for escape was now gone. And more than a part of him believed that Miller knew exactly what he was thinking when he’d been standing over by the door. And the police captain had decisively cut off his retreat.
    Decker settled his large bulk next to Lancaster at a table in the middle of the local cops’ command center. Laptops were set up across the length of the table. Multiport outlets littered the floor connected to extension cords, and computers, printers, and scanners were plugged into them. People moved around with files, papers, electronic tablets, all bearing an air of quiet desperation, Decker noted. He also knew that many of the cops had kids in the school. Not that they needed any extra incentive to nail the shooter.
    After Miller had called out his name, several suits and a couple of uniforms had recognized Decker and given him nods or grim looks, but none had spoken to him. He had not left the department under the best of circumstances, yet he doubted anyone really held it against him.
    But he was here now, and so he might as well get to work.
    He looked at Lancaster. “The video?”
    Lancaster hit the requisite keys, and a few seconds later Decker was staring at the grainy footage.
    “There’s the son of a bitch,” said Lancaster.
    He glanced at the time stamp. “Eight-forty-one. When did classes start?”
    “Eight-thirty sharp. Everyone needs to be in their class by then.”
    “You said he came in through the rear doors? That’s where this image is from, right?”
    “Yes.”
    “Aren’t the exit doors kept locked?”
    “They’re supposed to be. But they’re also not hard to