Page 14 of Stars and Scars

0 for 2. I really am bad at this. I’m better at playing a role, and pretending to be someone else. Being myself and reassuring at the same time seems impossible.

Her phone rings. Her eyes narrow as she takes the call.

“What’s up, Steve?”

I can hear a voice on the other end, but I can’t make out what they are saying. Whatever it is, it frightens Charlotte.

“When? On all of my accounts? Jesus Christ, I thought we changed all the security and passwords and everything!”

She lets out an exasperated grunt.

“Fine. I’m going to look right now. Give me five minutes to see it and then take every last bit down.”

Charlotte practically assaults her phone with finger pecks as she navigates to her many social media apps. She brings up one of her accounts. My eyes widen slightly when I see that the profile pic has her wearing a skimpy red bikini.

She navigates down to the most recent posting, which looks like a black screen at first. Then the video begins to play.

I pull off onto the shoulder so I can watch, too. Traffic zips past us, stirring her midnight black mane as her eyes are glued to the screen.

“We are the Order, and we will not be ignored. Charlotte Gilroy has failed to comply with our just and moral directives. If she does not comply, we will escalate.”

The video changes from a black screen to a lightning quick cut of a blindfolded hostage being shot in the head. It melts into an image of a nicely appointed house on Rodeo Drive.

Charlotte shakes so badly, she drops her phone.

“Are you all right?” I ask. What a stupid question. She just saw a disturbing, threatening video. Of course she is not all right. Who would be?

“That was…”

She swallows audibly before she can continue, her eyes filled with fear.

“That was my house. They were outside my house.”

“Probably not. They most likely used Google Earth or a random search to find it.”

I can tell I’m doing a shit job reassuring her again. In the CIA, I couldn't overstate threats enough. Now I’m going to have to learn to mitigate them with words, if nothing else.

“Look–” I begin.

Charlotte interrupts me, holding up her index finger and then showing me her phone. A call from ‘Mom’ lights up the screen. I nod and pull out my own phone to give her some privacy. But I can still hear the frantic tone that comes through from the other end.

“Hi Mom, no, I’m okay. You saw it? No, the hostage video wasn’t real. I’m safe. Yeah, it’s a little freaky, but it’s going to be ok. I’m with my bodyguard now.”

After another minute of comforting words, Charlotte wraps up the call and turns toward me.

“I’m worried about my parents. They have practically zero social media presence, but the Order could think they’re guilty by association, right? Can you have someone keep an eye on them?”

I nod. “I’ll text Jax about it and see what he can do.”

“Thanks,” Charlotte says.

“Look,” I begin again, putting my hand on her smooth, bare shoulder. “Maybe it’s a bad idea for you to stay at your place. We should grab your things and then move you somewhere more secure. Somewhere the Order doesn’t know about.”

“I have all of my stuff at my place! My lights, my recording equipment, my microphones…”

“If you pack it up, I’ll put it in the Jeep for you. Assuming it all fits, of course.”

She gives me a look like I’m not helping, and then hides her face in her hands.

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