Page 53 of See Me

I can’t hold back the giggle that bubbles out. “I hope you’re taking notes. This will make one hell of an article one day.”

“Only if I close this deal.”

“Well, let’s get on with it then. Dick Cabin, here we come.”

We slowly wind around slick roads, with no railings I might add, until we come to a sprawling landscape with a giant snow-covered luxury cabin set back off the road. It looks like a Christmas card come to life. It’s a giant modern cabin with soft, warm light spilling out the windows lining the front entrance. A spiral of gray smoke trickles up out of the stone chimney and snow blankets every peak of the roof and trees around it.

I duck down, eyes bulging, to take in the expanse of the estate. “Wow. These hookers have a nice house.”

Cassie whistles. “I don’t think we could afford this dick even if we wanted it.”

She navigates the car slowly into the driveway and before we get more than ten feet, a man dressed in black appears out of nowhere and Cassie slams on the brakes to avoid hitting him. Without leaving his spot, he motions for her to roll down her window. He has a hand on his hip, and the stance makes me think either he has a weapon or is accustomed to having a weapon.

“This is private property. Put your vehicle in reverse and back out of the driveway, please.”

Cassie leans over to speak out of the cracked window. “I’m sorry. We’re looking for someone who works here.”

“Sorry.” He keeps one hand on his hip and gestures for us to leave with the other. “We’re currently closed to clients.”

I keep my eyes on the man and whisper to Cassie, “I think he has a gun.”

She waves me off dismissively. “Probably just security.”

“Security with a gun, who looks like he’s trained to use it,” I whisper.

“He isn’t going to just shoot us.”

“How do you know?”

The man waves through the windshield to draw our attention.

She scoffs. “We aren’t a threat,” she whispers to me.

I point to him through the windshield. “He doesn’t know that. Why do you think he has a gun?”

She looks at me like a parent trying to convince a child the park closes for naptime. “It’s for show.”

“It’s not for show. Look at this place.” I point past the man at the cabin behind him. “His job is to protect it.”

“Right, from threats. We aren’t a threat,” Cassie says, motioning between us.

He knocks on the hood. “Get a move on. Last warning.”

“He looks angry.” I lean down to get a good look at his face through the windshield. “Maybe we should leave.”

She throws her hands up, and I see the man back away and take two steps toward Cassie’s door. “We drove all the way here. We can’t leave now.”

I look back at the man and swallow harshly. “Umm, Cass.” I point and when she looks over she stiffens in her seat. The man has made it to her side of the car and is wound so tight I can feel the ripples of anger and warning, his eyes alert and bouncing, assessing, while never leaving us at the same time.

She turns back to the window. “I guess I should’ve explained. I’m an art scout. Looking for an Adam?”

He releases a breath and relaxes to a standing position. “Are you insane? I could’ve killed you.”

I smack her on the arm. “I told you.”

She swats my hand away and shushes me.

“I’m sorry.” She rolls the window down so she doesn’t have to speak through the crack. “I didn’t mean to alarm you.”

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