Chapter 2: The Red Light
The vibration came again.
Bzzzt.
Vanessa looked down.
Her phone was still on the reception counter.
She didn't pick it up.
Marcus did not move.
The tiny red light on the old key fob continued blinking between them.
Once.
Twice.
Three times.
Jordan walked back toward the reception desk.
“What is that?”” he asked.
Vanessa didn't answer.
Jordan looked at her face.
“Vanessa?””
She finally reached for the phone.
Marcus watched her fingers.
They were steady at first.
Then they weren't.
She picked up the phone and turned the screen toward herself.
Her eyes moved across it.
Something in her expression tightened.
Marcus noticed.
“You wanted me to leave,” he said quietly.
Vanessa looked up.
“I didn't say that.””
“You pointed to the door.””
“I was trying to help you.””
Jordan glanced between them.
“What's going on?””
Vanessa locked her phone.
“Nothing.””
Jordan frowned.
“Nothing?””
“Go back to the floor, Jordan.””
“But—”
“I said go.””
Jordan hesitated.
He looked at Marcus again.
For the first time, the smugness was gone.
Marcus picked up the key fob.
He turned it over in his hand.
Jordan stared at it.
“Is that some kind of tracker?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Jordan stepped closer.
“Who are you?””
Vanessa snapped her eyes toward him.
“Jordan.””
“What?””
“Stop.””
Jordan looked confused.
Marcus placed the key fob back on the counter.
The red light continued blinking.
A customer nearby pretended to examine the stitching on a leather seat, but his eyes kept drifting toward the reception desk.
A staff member quietly moved farther away.
Vanessa noticed all of it.
She leaned toward Marcus.
“You need to understand something.””
Marcus waited.
“This is private property.””
“I know.””
“You can't just walk in here and start—”
“Start what?””
Vanessa stopped.
Marcus's voice had never risen.
That made it worse.
Vanessa lowered hers.
“Whatever you're doing.””
Marcus looked at the key fob.
“I'm not doing much.””
Jordan let out a nervous laugh.
“Then why is that thing flashing?””
Marcus turned toward him.
“Maybe you should ask Vanessa.””
Jordan looked at Vanessa.
She didn't respond.
The phone vibrated again.
This time, Vanessa immediately grabbed it.
She read the screen.
Her face went pale.
Marcus watched her.
“What does it say?””
“Nothing.””
Marcus gave a faint nod.
“Of course.””
Vanessa slipped the phone into her jacket pocket.
“I'm asking you to leave.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Again?””
“Yes.””
“Why?””
“Because this isn't appropriate.””
Marcus glanced around the showroom.
“What's inappropriate?””
Vanessa's jaw tightened.
“This.””
She pointed at the key fob.
Marcus picked it up.
“You're afraid of this?””
“No.””
“You look afraid.””
“I am not afraid.””
Jordan looked at Vanessa.
“You're shaking.””
She turned sharply.
“Jordan.””
He stopped.
Marcus watched them both.
There was a strange rhythm to the room now.
Every time the red light blinked, somebody looked at it.
Blink.
Look.
Blink.
Look away.
Marcus finally slipped the key fob into his palm.
“Let's make this simple.””
Vanessa stared at him.
“I ask one question.””
“What question?””
Marcus looked toward the newest luxury car.
“Who owns it?””
Vanessa's face changed again.
Just for a second.
Marcus caught it.
Jordan did too.
“I don't know what you're talking about,” Vanessa said.
Marcus nodded.
“That's interesting.””
“What is?””
“You answered too quickly.””
Vanessa stepped closer.
“Sir, you need to leave.””
Marcus smiled faintly.
“Still?””
“Yes.””
“Then call the owner.””
“I don't need to.””
“Why?””
Vanessa opened her mouth.
Nothing came out.
The phone in her pocket vibrated again.
Bzzzt.
This time, the sound seemed deafening.
Jordan looked at her.
“Vanessa…”
She pulled the phone out.
Her thumb hovered over the screen.
Marcus watched.
“Go ahead,” he said.
She looked at him.
“Go ahead and what?””
“Read it.””
Vanessa's eyes hardened.
“You have no right—”
Her phone screen suddenly lit up.
A new message appeared.
She read it.
And the color drained from her face.
Marcus saw her expression.
He didn't need to see the message.
Not yet.
He simply looked at the phone.
Then at Vanessa.
Then at the blinking red light in his hand.
“Interesting,” he said again.
May you like
And Vanessa whispered one sentence that made Jordan stop breathing.
“That's impossible.””
