Page 47 of Trick of Light
A tiny security camera.
21
“I suppose there’s no chance that belongs to Tamara?” Gabby said slowly.
Barnaby found the sudden shift from that wild lustful rush to the cold reality of a hidden camera disorienting. “No fucking way. She barely knows how to use her phone camera. Someone else put this here.”
They both stared at the tiny camera, which reminded him of a miniature mechanical eyeball.
“So someone’s been spying on Tamara. Why?” Gabby’s face was still flushed, her lips swollen from their kiss. But her tone of voice was one hundred percent journalist.
“Very good question.” He turned in a circle, scanning the rest of the kitchen cabinets. “This might not be the only one.”
“Oh shit. You’re right.” Gabby hugged her arms around herself and shivered. “Do you think someone saw us…you know…”
“Hey, we kept our clothes on. We’re good.” He tucked the camera in his pocket and climbed back onto the stair step to search for more little spy devices.
“Maybe I should have flashed that nosy bastard, whoever it is,” she said. “Dirty rotten nosy bastard.”
“It’s not too late.”
“Ha ha.”
He knew she was joking to steady herself, to regain a sense of control. He got it. A spy camera was a terrible invasion, especially in a place like Tamara’s little haven from the outside world.
They spent the next couple of hours searching the old cottage, and found three more cameras identical to that first one.
“I wouldn’t be surprised if there were more that we just haven’t found yet.” He dumped his haul onto the work table, which was covered with baggies filled with herbs. No wonder the house smelled so good right now—lavender and rosemary and elecampane. “I don’t think you should stay here tonight.”
“But I promised Tamara.”
“She didn’t know she was being spied on. She’d never ask that of you. Come on, let me take you back to the Lightkeeper.”
But Gabby surprised him. “No. I can’t break my promise to Tamara. She might never trust me again. Besides, cameras need light. I won’t get into bed until I’ve blocked all the lights in the room. Or I’ll sleep in my clothes. It’ll be fine.”
He clenched his back teeth, noting her stubbornness, respecting it, but really hating the thought of her sleeping around spy cameras. “Think about this, Gabby. We don’t know who put these cameras here or why. But whoever it is probably knows that they’ve been busted. They might decide to come here and collect their shit.”
He gestured at the cameras, which stared every which way in their little eyeball pile.
Gabby sank into the armchair and stretched out her legs. She’d taken off her shoes during their search, and put on a pair of indoor slippers. At least she’d come prepared for her stay at Tamara’s. Her feet were just as long and elegant as the rest of her.
“I’ll make sure the doors are locked. Tamara said I shouldn’t be worried about intruders because of the owl. Apparently he’s an excellent guardian. And if the owl is off hunting mice or something, there’s always the possum. She says he’s quite unfriendly to strangers.”
Barnaby rolled his neck. All this searching and worrying was getting to him, plus there was some lingering sexual frustration in there too. He checked the time. Two o’clock in the morning. Maybe she was safe to stay tonight, since it was so late already. But only if…
“If you’re staying, I’m staying,” he said firmly.
A tired smile touched her lips. “I’m probably supposed to argue with that, but I’d be happy if you stayed. Nothing against the possum, but an actual human protector sounds good to me.”
“Great. I’m better than a possum. I’ll take that compliment to my grave,” he said dryly. “It’s settled then.” Now for the dicey part. “You can have the bedroom. I’ll sleep out here on this couch. It’s where I usually stay when I’m here.”
She didn’t argue with that either, which, he had to admit, disappointed him a little.
Then again, would they get any sleep if they were in a bed together? Chances were zero.
“Well, good night then,” she said, in a very formal manner that he took to mean, ‘let’s pretend that hot kiss never happened.’
“Good night. Give a shout if you need—if anything bad happens.”
