Page 59 of Just Now

Cami couldn’t believe how deeply she’d slept last night. Now, at ten a.m., she felt ready to face the challenges that today would bring. Starting with the coffee date with Jacenta. She’d set that up for the afternoon, but as she walked to the bus stop, there was another destination she had to visit first.

She felt intensely nervous about the meeting ahead, but hopefully it would be a chance to get more information, and a better picture of what was happening.

She was off to see Liam Treverton. He’d replied in the night, messaging back on the command console of his smart home, and the answer was short and simple.

“We can talk. But u need to be careful, they r watching me. 11 am today, Coffee House down rd frm my place? Inside table.”

“Will do.”

Cami reread the message, with paranoia surging inside her again. Liam was scared, and she knew he was scared for a reason.

Coffee house. She’d be there.

But then, as Cami checked it again, the message was erased. As she watched.

The lettering was removed, word by word. And a new message appeared.

“Change of plan. Come here. To my house. Same time, 11 am. I’ll be inside.”

Cami frowned down at the words.

He was changing the plan, to his own house? Was he scared of being seen in public at all? What was happening? Why his place?

She guessed it was for the best, and that he’d figured out this was the most secure venue, but even so, it felt odd to her.

Was it just her? Was she being unreasonable?

Wanting to bounce her feelings off the other person who was interconnected with this case, and get his input, Cami quickly called Kieran.

“Hey, Cami,” he answered, picking up almost immediately. “What’s happening? Any news?”

She sighed, feeling conflicted again about this message.

“Kieran, it’s weird. He did write back on his command console.”

“And what did he say?”

“He first said he’d meet me at the coffee house down the road from where he lives. That message came through last night sometime, when I was asleep. I was helping with a case the whole of yesterday.”

“Okay.” Kieran sounded thoughtful. “So that was the plan. And then? Has something happened since then?”

“Yes,” Cami said. “As I was reading the message, it was erased, and he said he wants to meet at his house instead. Same time. Eleven a.m.”

“You think there’s something off about that?” Kieran asked.

“I don’t know,” Cami said. “It just feels strange. I mean, why change the plan like that? And why erase the first message? It’s like he’s trying to hide something.”

“Do you know where he lives?” Kieran asked.

“Yes. I’ve been there.”

Inside. To steal a laptop. Better not to bring that up right now.

“Be careful. If you’re not comfortable meeting him at his house, then don’t.”

“I don’t feel comfortable, but I’m not sure if it’s just me being paranoid,” Cami said.

“It could also be him, feeling that it might be more secure in his house,” Kieran suggested. “But you need to be cautious, Cami. We’re all on edge about this, and there’s a reason. There’s something bad going on, that’s for sure.”

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