Page 61 of Puck Struck
He's not demanding Cam leave tonight. Relief washes over me, but it's not long before it’s replaced by a rush of anger.
Another message follows.
I'll require your presence when I return in two weeks. You'llunderstand my need to focus on business first, I'm sure. After all, I've spent three years rebuilding what your little restraining order stunt cost me.
Two weeks. He's giving us two weeks.
"Why the extension?" I ask, suspicious. "What changed?"
Cam shakes his head. "I don't know."
A final message vibrates the phone, this one with an attachment.
Something to keep you motivated in my absence. In case you're considering backing out.
Cam’s finger shakes before he stabs the screen to open it, and we both suck in a sharp breath at the same time.
It's a video of a younger Cam in a hotel room. His hair is much shorter, his eyes harder. But he's not alone. The video is grainy, dimly lit, but unmistakable in its implications. It looks like a fucking porn shoot.
"Jesus," I mutter.
Cam's hand trembles as he locks the phone and sticks it into his pocket. "There's more where that came from."
The defeat in his voice sparks something fierce in my chest. I'm not a violent man by nature, but in that moment, I want nothing more than to find psychopath James and beat him within an inch of his shit stain of a life.
"He won't get away with this," I say instead, fists clenched at my sides.
"He already has." Cam's laugh is hollow. "For three years."
"Not anymore." I grab my own phone. "We're calling Mike."
"Who's Mike?"
"An old friend of mine. He’s a cop." I'm already scrolling through my contacts. "He'll know what we can do legally. How to gather evidence, build a case."
"A cop?" Panic laces his words. "Logan, I can't let this get out."
"We're not filing a report. Not yet." I find Mike's number. "I already spoke with him without saying names. Now we're just getting advice."
Cam doesn't look convinced, but he doesn't stop me either.
Mike answers on the third ring. "Shaw? Twice in one week. I'm flattered."
"Listen, I need more advice on that hypothetical situation," I say, putting the phone on speaker. "How would someone gather evidence of blackmail? Legally admissible evidence."
"Still asking for a friend, huh?" I can hear the skepticism in his voice. "Well,hypothetically, like I said, you'd want to record conversations. California's a one-party consent state, so as long as one person in the conversation knows about the recording, it's legal."
"What else?"
"Document everything. Screenshots of texts, emails, photos. Times, dates, locations. Any witnesses to threats or harassment. The more detailed, the better." Mike pauses. "Logan, you sure you’re not in some kind of trouble?"
"Not me," I say, watching Cam. "My friend."
"Right. Well, your friend should be careful. Blackmailers can be dangerous when cornered. If there's any physical threat, don't mess around. Call 911."
"Got it. Thanks, Mike."
After I hang up, the kitchen falls silent, both of us processing our circumstances.
