Chapter 6: Under the Seat
Nobody moved.
The luxury car sat in the center of the showroom with its driver's door slightly open.
The cream leather interior glowed beneath the overhead lights.
Jordan whispered, “That wasn't open before.””
Vanessa shook her head.
“No.””
Marcus looked at the key fob.
The red light remained solid.
He stepped toward the vehicle.
Vanessa immediately said, “Don't.””
Marcus stopped.
“Why?””
She looked at the open door.
“I don't know.””
Marcus glanced at her.
“You do.””
“I don't.””
Jordan stepped closer to Vanessa.
“You told everyone to leave.””
“Yes.””
“You locked the doors.””
“Yes.””
“And now that thing opened by itself.””
Vanessa's breathing became shallow.
“Yes.””
Jordan stared at her.
“And you're still saying you don't know what's happening?””
Vanessa didn't answer.
Marcus walked toward the car.
Jordan moved beside him.
“What are you doing?””
“Looking.””
“At what?””
“Whatever she doesn't want us to see.””
Vanessa stepped between them.
“You cannot touch that vehicle.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Why?””
“Because it's not ready.””
“For what?””
She hesitated.
Jordan caught it.
“For what, Vanessa?””
She looked away.
Marcus reached the driver's door.
He didn't touch it.
He simply looked inside.
The red light beneath the driver's seat continued glowing.
He crouched.
Vanessa's voice sharpened.
“Marcus.””
He looked up.
“You know my name.””
She froze.
Jordan looked at her.
“You said you didn't know him.””
“I don't.””
“You just called him Marcus.””
Vanessa closed her eyes for a moment.
Marcus stood.
“Who told you my name?””
She opened her eyes.
“I heard it.””
“From whom?””
Silence.
Marcus took another step toward the car.
Vanessa moved backward.
“Don't.””
Marcus pointed toward the floor.
“Then tell me what's under the seat.””
“I can't.””
“You can.””
“No.””
Jordan looked at her.
“Why can't you?””
Vanessa's eyes filled with panic.
“Because I was told never to open it.””
Marcus stared at her.
“By the owner?””
She nodded.
“When?””
“Today.””
Marcus's expression tightened.
“Before I arrived?””
“Yes.””
Jordan looked at the locked entrance.
“So the owner knew he was coming.””
Vanessa didn't respond.
Marcus crouched again.
The red light beneath the seat suddenly went out.
The showroom fell silent.
Then the car's dashboard lit up.
A small screen displayed one word:
*CONNECTED.*
Jordan took a step backward.
“Connected to what?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa whispered, “No.””
Marcus looked at her.
“What?””
She shook her head.
“He said this couldn't happen.””
“Who?””
Vanessa stared at the screen.
“The owner.””
Marcus stood.
“What did he say?””
“He said…”
Her voice cracked.
Jordan stepped closer.
“Say it.””
Vanessa swallowed.
“He said if that light ever turned solid, I was supposed to call him immediately.””
Marcus looked at the phone in her hand.
“So call him.””
“I tried.””
“When?””
“Before you came.””
Marcus's eyes narrowed.
“And?””
“He didn't answer.””
Jordan's phone vibrated.
He looked down.
Another message.
His face went pale.
Vanessa noticed.
“What?””
Jordan slowly raised his phone.
The message was from the same number.
*DO NOT TRUST VANESSA.*
Vanessa stared at the screen.
Jordan looked at her.
“You need to explain that.””
“I can't.””
Marcus looked at the message.
Then at Vanessa.
Then at the car.
The pieces still didn't fit.
That was the part that bothered him.
The owner knew Marcus was there.
The owner had instructed Vanessa not to let him leave.
The doors had locked.
The car had opened.
And now Jordan had received a warning about Vanessa.
Marcus reached into his pocket.
His fingers closed around the old key fob.
The red light remained solid.
He pressed the hidden button once.
Nothing happened.
He pressed it again.
A small mechanical click came from beneath the car.
Vanessa gasped.
Marcus looked down.
A narrow compartment beneath the driver's seat had opened.
Inside was a black envelope.
No name.
No logo.
Just one handwritten word on the front.
*MARCUS.*
Jordan stared at it.
Vanessa covered her mouth.
Marcus didn't reach for the envelope.
He simply looked at it.
Then his phone rang again.
This time, the screen showed a number he recognized.
He answered.
A man's voice came through.
“Marcus, listen carefully.””
Marcus said nothing.
The voice continued.
“You need to get out of that showroom before—”
The call abruptly cut off.
Marcus slowly lowered the phone.
Vanessa was staring at him.
Jordan whispered, “What did he say?””
Marcus looked at the black envelope beneath the seat.
Then at the locked glass doors.
Then at Vanessa.
“I think,” he said quietly, “someone wants me to open this.””
The envelope shifted slightly.
May you like
Not because anyone touched it.
Something inside had moved.
