She looked up, amused. “I don’t think he’d go for a baby sling like Daisy wears to carry Brutus.”

“Then take him in the carrier.” Rafe picked it up from the floor and opened the latch. “If anyone hassles you, tell them that the cat was the old lady’s and you brought him to visit.”

“It’s not a bad idea,” Liza said. “Animals are often used in therapy with seniors, and this facility allows pets if they’re supervised. I checked their website while we were on the road. I say go for it.”

“Does the cat get a wire?” Farrah asked with a smile. “Because if so, it needs to be a magical medallion.”

“If the cat gets a wire, then I definitely should have one,” Liza said cheerfully. “I think it’s only fair.”

That Liza would be accompanying Mercy had been news to everyone—and neither Gideon nor Rafe had taken it well, but Mercy saw the wisdom. Liza worked with dementia patients every day. If anything went sideways, hopefully Liza could pull the conversation back on course.

If there was any conversation to be had. The FBI had sent nurses in to talk to Mrs. Franklin on three different occasions in the six weeks since they’d discovered Ephraim’s true identity, but the woman had refused to talk to any of them. Mercy hoped the photo in her locket would be enough to spur the woman into talking with her.

Tom chuckled. “The cat does not get a wire, but you do, Liza.” From his pocket, he drew a chain from which a pendant dangled. “Also a camera, video and audio. I can toggle whose feed I’m watching at any given time. And you’ll both wear earpieces, so I can communicate with you if needed. They’re small and not visible unless someone sticks a scope in your ear. Which better not happen.”

“No scopes,” Liza repeated obediently. “Is that a dragon camera? Because . . . cool.”

Mercy was aware that Liza was keeping it light on purpose, and she appreciated it.

Tom made a face. “I’m glad at least one person here isn’t mad at me.”

“I’m not mad,” Mercy said soberly. “I’m just nervous. I have to remember to call him Harry, not Ephraim. And his brother is Aubrey, not Edward. What if Ephraim or DJ or even Pastor has an inside person in the home? I don’t want to trip any alarms. The FBI has kept Eden out of the press until now. What if this brings it all to light and Molina loses the element of surprise? What if Ephraim feels cornered and . . .”

Rafe slid his hand around the back of her neck and pressed his lips to her temple. “Stop. Stop borrowing trouble. You’ll do your best. If we get nothing, then we’ll regroup and come at it from a different angle. Finding Ephraim Burton does not rest entirely on your shoulders, Mercy.”

Gideon sighed. “He’s right. You have to let us take some of the responsibility. And Molina’s prepared for whatever we do or do not find. But I doubt you talking to Mrs. Franklin will expose Eden. It’s not like anyone in the nursing home would know that her son’s connected to a cult.”