“Got a little further. It turned into a cat-and-mouse game. Whoever this is, they’re playing.” He hesitates, dragging it out. “But I was able to send amessage back this time.”
“Yeah? Maybe we will get something back, even if it’s bait.” I’m halfway to the door when his computer pings. I lean over his shoulder as the notification pops up. It’s an email.
“Umm, Sterling?” Cam says, fingers hovering over the trackpad. He opens the email.
Incoming Email:
Ghost, I know you’re watching. These sins are not yours to claim.
It is not without reason.
Leave it alone.
-Shadow
Who the fuck is this person?“Cam, how did they find us?” My mind scrambles. In the nine years I’ve been doing this, no one has ever gotten this close to figuring out who we are.
“I have no idea. I have twenty programs constantly bouncing our IP. This shouldn’t be possible.” Cam is typing furiously, trying to figure out how they knew my code name.
“Fuck!” I drag in a deep breath. “Let’s not get too ahead of ourselves. They might have my name, not our location.”
“Well, I’m going to find the fuck out. Let you know when I have more.” Cam drops his gaze back to the screen and gets to work.
I head to the kitchen and rummage through the fridge for something to make. Steaks are thawing on the bottom shelf.Cam must have set them out this morning.I set them on the counter and step outside to fire up the grill. It’s in the high sixties, probably one of the last good nights before fall sets in. Propane stingsmy nose as I turn the burners on. I close the lid and head back inside for the meat. Grabbing my favorite seasonings, I throw together a quick blend of herbs and spices. I chop up some potatoes to make my tinfoil cheesy cowboy potatoes.These things are fucking delicious.Snagging a beer, I haul everything out to the grill. Cam steps out a moment later with his own beer. “What you got going?”
“Steak and cowboy potatoes. And before you start bitching, no, I’m not burning your steak. Medium rare or medium—those are your options.” I point the tongs at him.
He rolls his eyes at me. “Sir, yes, sir.” He snaps off a mocking salute.Smartass.“I’ll take medium rare tonight. Anyway, the program results came back. They didn’t trace us. I still don’t know how they got your name.”
“Well, at least there’s that.” I pull the steaks off the grill to rest and check the potatoes. A few minutes later, they’re done, and we settle at the patio table. I fork up a big bite of potatoes. “God damn, these hit the spot every time.” Cam nods, cheeks puffed out with food, humming his agreement around a mouthful.
Lying down, I pull up the camera feed. Lila and Kiera are curled together on the couch, a horror movie flickering across the screen, snacks scattered within easy reach. I grab my laptop and pull Kiera’s number from the files.Let’s see how you react.Opening an anonymous texting app, I tap out a message and hit send.
Me: Hi, Thorn.
Kiera’s phone lights up on the camera feed. The color drains from her face like she’s seen a ghost. She glances at Lila, still cuddled with the blanket pulled up to her nose, then her fingers start to move.That’s it. Take the bait.My phone buzzes.
Kiera: How did you get this number?
Me: I have my ways.
Kiera: Leave me alone.
Me: And why would I do that?
Kiera: Because it’s creepy and unwanted.
Me: You saying you didn’t enjoy our night?
Kiera: If you call a random man cornering you,
sure, I had fun! So much fun, in fact, that I went
and got tested.
Me: Ahhhh, so you thought of me.
The typing bubble blinks in and out. I got into her head. On camera, she just stares at the phone, then tosses it to the far end of the couch without replying. I smile, firing off another short text.