Page 7 of Lady and the Camp
Talents. The word felt like an insult, especially around these three who worked in successful careers. Jillian, a PhD Neuroscientist with a fancy new job in Detroit, Marcy, an accountant, and Noah working in insurance at a high-rise in downtown Chicago. The type of jobs parents could name at a dinner party and not get questioning looks from their friends.
Time for more humbling self-reflection. “I can’t blame the evil ex for everything. I got swept up in a life that matched the image I wanted. Especially when he paid for everything.” I’d literally been wined and dined and had lapped up every morsel. I cringed. “Now I have attorney fees. To keep me, you know...”
“Out of the clink?” Noah filled in.
Marcy burst into laughter. “The clink! No one says that.”
“I was trying to lighten the mood,” she said.
I took out my phone. “They suggested I take a break from social media. I’ve never had to do that before. Please don’t make fun of me, but I’m not sure how.”
“I do no phone Sundays twice a month,” Marcy said. “I put the phone in a drawer for the day, or at least out of sight. If it’s a real emergency, my family knows where to find me.”
She didn’t get it. Ilivedonline. “It’s already been rough not responding to the trolls.”
“Ugh, never respond to the trolls,” Marcy said.
Jillian nodded toward my phone. “I could respond to posts on your behalf. Let you know what needs to be followed up on and do that for you.”
The idea of someone else controlling my brand, even a friend like Jillian, made the horror of my situation sink in further. I really, really didn’t want to let go. No, Icouldn’t.
I shook my head, determined now that I’d at least made one decision. “I’ll monitor my accounts. But other than the prepared statement, I won’t post anything. It’s too hard knowing I can’t say what I want.”
My phone lit with a text. An unknown number.Ugh, block.Either a telemarketer or worse. Anyone I needed to answer a text from I’d saved as a contact.
Another text came in.
Kelly Q. Pierce:Call me when you get this.
“My attorney.” I held the phone out. “I need to take this.”
I stepped into the kitchen and called. “Yes?”
“Hey. Where are you?” Kelly Q asked, all business.
“Michigan. With friends.”
“Good. Out of abundance of caution, please stay there and don’t post your location online. Turn off your GPS and all that.”
My heart thundered. “What? What’s going on?”
“We’re examining a few online threats related to the case, but please don’t worry. None are directly focused on you, and we are taking every precaution. I’ll let Agent Shoney”—Mulder— “know you left the state.”
So many questions. So many. I asked them, rapid fire, and came away with not much more information than when I’d started. Lay low. Let the agents do their investigation.
The call ended, leaving me numb.
“Hudson?” Jillian found me staring at nothing.
Quickly, she returned me to the living room where I recapped for the group. “I’m thinking a job with a caterer for public events might not be the best idea. And if I’m supposed to be offline, I basically can’t do any of the things I know how to do.” This was the pits. “I don’t know what to do with myself.”
The room quieted.
And I had no idea how I’d keep my mitts off my phone. I’d reached for the stupid thing six times since I’d set it aside.Six times.
“Maybe you should get a burner phone,” said Noah.
Marcy nodded. “Yeah, like a flip phone. I’ve got a cousin who still uses one. Can you imagine?” She cackle-laughed until suddenly she stopped. “Hold up.” She reached for her own phone and winced my direction. “That phone reach is such a subconscious instinct. I swear I have a reason.”
