Page 165 of Smoke and Fire
Dahlia:Let me know if text messages are easier when you're out.
GIF
A short clip of a woman chewing her fingernails and looking uncertain followed. I had to stop myself from writing a too-emphatic NODONTEVERSTOP response.
I typed out a quick:
Bastian:Videos are great. Thank you for keeping an eye out.
It felt too impersonal and a bit standoffish, but whatever. Just as I clicked the phone off to save battery, a call came through. My neighbor, Mrs. Cortez. I answered it, ducking my head as the truck pulled onto the highway.
“Hello?”
“Bastian? Oh, thank heavens. Listen, I’m so sorry but I broke my hip when I fell in the shower last night. I can’t watch your cat, I’m in the hospital up in Jackson City.”
Her voice cracked, like she was about to cry.
Awkward.
“Oh. No problem. Hope you’re okay.”
“I left the key on the nail like always, and I called around to find someone else to help but no one is answering. There’s enough food for a few days. I—”
Her teary voice started to cut out. We still had over a week left out here, so I couldn't leave Psycho to herself that long.
“Don’t worry about it, Mrs. Cortez,” I said. “I’ve got someone that can cover it. I hope you feel better soon.”
Mrs. Cortez started to break up as the buggy sped away.
“You . . . sure? I . . . find . . .”
“Thank you Mrs. Cortez. I appreciate you letting me—”
The call cut out as we sped toward the dark plume in the distance. I typed out a quick message to Dahlia, even though I wasn’t sure she’d get it.
Bastian:Care to save my ass again? My neighbor busted her hip and can’t take care of my cat, Psycho. Just need someone to check the food, water, and litter box. Key hangs on the doorframe.
After that, I sent my address. My teeth worried my bottom lip as the circle below the messages spun around for a while. Finally, in a vaguely-more-open spot on a forest road, it sent. I let out a long breath. Ten seconds later, all reception cut out.
Hopefully, she got it.
I plugged my phone into the port to charge while we drove, rested it on my pack in the seat next to me, and looked out the window.
Two days left until the book launch, and I’d officially found my first real-life stalker.
Weird.
No doubt my hotshot crew would be turned right back onto the same fire after our 48 hours of rotation out. Who knew if this inferno was going to turn on us and roar with sparky rage?
If Jess could just push through another launch or two without being revealed, then everything could fall apart without impacting Inessa and Dad.
That's all I needed.
15
DAHLIA
Despite myself, I couldn’t wipe the stupid grin off my face.
