Chapter 2: The Red Light
The red light blinked again.
Once.
Twice.
Then again.
A tiny pulse against the black plastic.
Nobody spoke.
Jordan stared at the key fob.
“What is that?””
Marcus held it loosely at his side.
“Nothing.””
Jordan stepped closer.
“That wasn't there before.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Wasn't it?””
Jordan glanced at Vanessa.
She hadn't moved.
Her arms were still folded, but the confidence in her posture had changed.
Her shoulders were tighter.
Her eyes were fixed on the key fob.
Marcus noticed.
He always seemed to notice small things.
The slight movement of Jordan's jaw.
The way Vanessa's fingers pressed against her sleeve.
The employee behind the reception desk suddenly looking away.
The showroom continued operating around them.
A car door closed near the entrance.
Someone laughed near the service counter.
A Black couple walked past the glass doors outside.
Everything looked normal.
But the space around Marcus had become strangely quiet.
Jordan pointed at the device.
“What exactly did you just turn on?””
Marcus looked at him.
“I pressed a button.””
“I can see that.””
“Then you have your answer.””
Jordan's face hardened.
“Turn it off.””
Marcus raised an eyebrow.
“Why?””
“Because this is private property.””
Marcus glanced around.
“I'm standing on the floor.””
Jordan stepped closer.
“You know what I mean.””
Marcus said nothing.
Vanessa finally spoke.
“Jordan.””
He stopped.
“Back away.””
Jordan looked at her.
“Vanessa—”
“I said back away.””
Jordan took one step back.
Marcus watched them both.
Then he placed the key fob on the reception counter.
The red light continued blinking.
Vanessa's eyes followed it.
Marcus leaned slightly against the counter.
“You have security cameras here.””
Vanessa's voice was controlled.
“Of course.””
“So you shouldn't have a problem with one more.””
Jordan stared at him.
“One more what?””
Marcus didn't answer.
Vanessa did.
“Sir, whatever game you're playing, it needs to stop.””
Marcus looked at her.
“Game?””
“Yes.””
“I asked for the owner.””
“And I told you he's unavailable.””
“Is he?””
Vanessa's expression tightened.
“Yes.””
Marcus nodded.
“Then you won't mind if I wait.””
Jordan laughed.
“You're not waiting here.””
Marcus looked toward the showroom entrance.
“Why?””
“Because you're disrupting business.””
“I haven't touched anything.””
Jordan opened his mouth.
Marcus glanced at the sedan.
“You stopped me from touching the car.””
Jordan's face reddened.
“You weren't supposed to.””
Marcus turned back to him.
“Why?””
Jordan didn't answer.
Vanessa stepped between them.
“Let's keep this professional.””
Marcus nodded.
“I agree.””
“Then leave.””
Marcus looked at the old key fob.
“No.””
The word was quiet.
Vanessa stared at him.
“No?””
“No.””
Jordan moved toward him again.
Vanessa raised a hand.
“Jordan.””
He stopped.
Marcus remained perfectly still.
The red light blinked.
A young Black employee behind the desk stared at it.
Marcus noticed her.
She quickly looked down at her computer.
“What does that do?”” Jordan asked.
Marcus smiled faintly.
“Ask Vanessa.””
Jordan turned toward Vanessa.
“What does it do?””
Vanessa's eyes stayed on Marcus.
“I don't know.””
Marcus tilted his head.
“You don't?””
“No.””
“Interesting.””
“There you go again.””
“Doing what?””
“Saying that.””
Marcus smiled.
“Saying what?””
“‘Interesting.’”
He looked around the showroom.
“I notice things.””
Vanessa's voice dropped.
“You're making a mistake.””
Marcus looked directly into her eyes.
“Maybe.””
Her phone vibrated.
This time, she pulled it out immediately.
She glanced at the screen.
A message.
No name.
Just a number.
She read it.
Her face remained still.
But Marcus watched her thumb stop moving.
“What does it say?”” he asked.
Vanessa locked the screen.
“Nothing.””
Marcus nodded.
Jordan looked between them.
“Who was it?””
“No one.””
Marcus picked up the key fob.
The red light blinked.
Vanessa's phone vibrated again.
She flinched.
It was tiny.
Almost invisible.
But Marcus saw it.
So did Jordan.
He looked at her.
“Vanessa?””
She didn't respond.
“Vanessa, who keeps texting you?””
“It's handled.””
“What is?””
“Nothing.””
Marcus stepped away from the counter.
He walked toward the luxury sedan again.
Jordan immediately moved to block him.
Marcus stopped before reaching the car.
Jordan's voice was low.
“I wouldn't.””
Marcus looked at him.
“Wouldn't what?””
“Push this.””
Marcus looked past him at the vehicle.
“I'm not pushing anything.””
“You're recording something.””
Jordan's words landed harder than he intended.
Vanessa looked sharply at him.
Marcus turned.
“Recording what?””
Jordan froze.
“I didn't say that.””
“You just did.””
“I said you're recording.””
“With what?””
Jordan pointed at the key fob.
“That thing.””
Marcus looked down.
The red light blinked.
“Why do you think that?””
Jordan hesitated.
Vanessa cut in.
“Jordan, enough.””
Marcus slowly looked from one to the other.
“You two seem nervous.””
“We're not nervous,” Jordan snapped.
Marcus smiled.
“Okay.””
Vanessa's phone vibrated a third time.
This time, she didn't look.
Marcus did.
“Shouldn't you answer that?””
“No.””
“Why?””
“Because I'm busy.””
Marcus nodded.
“With me?””
“Yes.””
He smiled.
“Then maybe it is important.””
Vanessa's expression hardened.
“Sir, I'm giving you one final opportunity to leave this showroom voluntarily.””
Marcus stared at her.
“Or?””
“Or security will escort you out.””
Marcus looked toward the ceiling.
The cameras were there.
Every corner.
Every entrance.
Every polished reflection.
He looked back at Vanessa.
“Call them.””
Jordan's eyes widened.
Vanessa didn't move.
Marcus waited.
“Go ahead,” he said.
Vanessa's phone vibrated again.
She looked down despite herself.
The message on the screen contained only four words.
Her face went pale.
Marcus couldn't read the message from where he stood.
But he saw her reaction.
He took one step closer.
Vanessa immediately turned the phone toward her chest.
Marcus stopped.
“Bad news?””
She swallowed.
“No.””
“Then why are you shaking?””
Vanessa looked at her own hand.
She was.
Barely.
But she was.
Jordan noticed too.
“Vanessa…”
She looked at him.
“Don't.””
“What's happening?””
“I said don't.””
Marcus picked up the key fob.
The red light blinked against his fingers.
Then he pressed the hidden button again.
The light changed.
From one small pulse…
to a steady red glow.
Vanessa stared at it.
Marcus looked around the showroom.
Then he smiled.
“Interesting.””
Her phone vibrated one more time.
This time, she answered.
“Hello?””
A man's voice came through the speaker.
Vanessa listened.
Her face drained of color.
She slowly looked at Marcus.
Marcus watched her.
“Who is it?”” Jordan whispered.
Vanessa didn't answer.
The voice on the phone said something else.
Vanessa's eyes widened.
Then the call ended.
She lowered the phone.
Marcus waited.
“What did he say?””
Vanessa's lips parted.
But before she could answer, her phone lit up again.
An incoming message.
The sender's name appeared clearly across the screen.
*SHOWROOM OWNER*
Vanessa stared at it.
May you like
Marcus saw the name.
And this time, he smiled.
