Page 27 of Leo

“There’s someone else following me, and I’m not sure who it is. Gemma called and said she was in trouble, and I thought maybe I was the cause of it all. She asked me to meet her at a café, and I agreed. When I got there, the café was completely empty.”

“A café?” asked Eric. “Where is this café?”

“P-Paris,” she stuttered, realizing she’d just given away her location.

“You flew all the way back to the states and then turned around and flew back to Europe?” asked Tillie.

“Yes. I knew that Nahm would be looking for me in the states, especially around my apartment. I snuck in, got clean clothes and a few things I needed, and then left again.

“Look, I know you don’t have to help me, but when I saw that café empty, I knew something was going on. Gemma wasn’t anywhere around, so I didn’t go inside. I stood in the alleyway across the street and waited to see if anyone would show.”

“What do you know about Gemma?” asked Tillie. “We can’t find anything on her, and it looks like she forged her papers as well.”

“I-I know Gemma. I mean, not really well, but let’s just say that we traveled in some of the same circles. When I found out who Fred really was, I approached her and told her that we could work him together. She refused.”

“Why?” asked Leo.

“I wasn’t sure at first. Then we were up late one night, and she said she had something better going on, something bigger. She said if I helped her, we’d both be rich. I had so much going on with my other issue I didn’t want to take anything else on. Plus, I knew that Fred wasn’t interested in me.”

“So, what you’re telling us is that Gemma is also a con artist.”

“Hey! I’m not a con artist. I’m an opportunist,” she said.

“An opportunist? Is that what they call blackmailers, thieves, extortionists, and cons these days?” frowned Eric. She stared at him, then looked away.

“A girl has to make a living. I wanted to travel the world, and this was a way for me to do it.”

“Well, congratulations,” said Tillie. “You’ve traveled the world, and now you may die because of your methods in getting you there. Has Gemma contacted you since the missed meeting at the café?”

“No. I thought she might call since we didn’t connect. I figured she’d be pissed because I didn’t show up, but I haven’t heard anything from her. I don’t want to see her again, but I’m not keen on her dying either. I just don’t know what to think.”

“Jewel. Echo,” smirked Leo, “was Gemma at the dig site in Laos where Fred was?”

“A dig site? I’m not sure. I don’t think so. A dig site doesn’t sound like her thing. She was more into the take it quick and hightail it out of there type. She did hint that she had something that would make us both rich.”

“And what was that?” asked Leo.

“I’m not sure. She just said it was part of some silly game, and she found the winning pieces. I’ve seen these games before, and they never pay out. I mean, you’ve got kids, gamers that do this shit full-time playing. That’s all they do. They don’t have real jobs.”

“You mean real jobs like you?” frowned Hex.

“Hey, I’m trying to help you. I know I’m not perfect like Tillie, but I just need a little help now and then.”

“Please,” said Tillie, rolling her eyes. “Don’t pull me into this. I’m not perfect, and I don’t have all the answers, Jewel, orEcho, or whatever you’re calling yourself this week. Do yourself a favor and turn over all your photos and videos to Nahm. If you do that, you won’t have to hide from him.”

“And what do I do about Gemma? She wants me for something!”

“You were rooming with her,” said Leo. “Did you see anything in her luggage, anything in the room that felt out of place?”

“No. I mean, she was pretty protective of her stuff. She didn’t even want me to move it for her. That damn backpack she had must have weighed a hundred pounds. I wouldn’t have tried to move that anyway.”

“Her backpack was heavy?” asked Tillie.

“Yeah. It was ridiculously heavy. When the camp was overrun, and we knew we were going to be taken, she made damn sure that thing was hidden in the ceiling tiles of our room. She actually pulled a chair over and lifted that thing herself and put it up there. I just figured she was partial to her personal things.”

“Shit,” muttered Leo.

“We need to find her. If she calls you again, let us know where she is,” said Hex.

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