Chapter 7 · Continued
Chris
“I know I didn’t take you out before,” Jane continued lightly, “but today is the day.”
She held his gaze. “Are you able to do that?”
Jane already knew the answer.
That wasn’t the point.
“Yes, Jane.”
“Okay, then. Let’s get ready. We’ll take my old pickup to get the plants—and maybe some fertilizer too.”
Jane grabbed her purse and paused long enough to pet Seymour, who was snoozing on the bed, entirely unbothered.
When she returned, Cam was already waiting beside the front door.
Jane stopped for half a second.
That was new.
They went outside and descended the front steps.
“Wait here,” Jane told him. “I’ll pull the truck out of the garage, and then you can get in.”
“Yes, Jane.”
As she crossed the yard, Jane felt the prickle of someone watching her.
She glanced toward the house across the street.
The neighbor was staring.
He wasn’t even pretending otherwise.
Jane looked away and continued walking.
She pulled the truck from the garage, gravel crunching beneath the tires, and reached across the cab to unlatch the passenger door. It opened a few inches.
Jane gave Cam a small wave. “Come on.”
Cam approached the truck and stopped directly in front of the partially open door.
He did nothing.
Jane watched him for a moment, then sighed.
Of course.
She switched off the engine, climbed out, and walked around to the passenger side.
“Here,” she said, keeping her voice light. “You pull the handle like this.”
Jane demonstrated, then swung the door open fully.
“And then you get in.”
Cam nodded once. “I will remember, Jane.”
He climbed carefully into the truck.
Precise.
Jane closed the door and returned to the driver’s side.
Across the street, the neighbor was still watching.
Jane backed out of the driveway and headed toward town.
Cam sat beside her with perfectly straight posture and his hands resting exactly where he had placed them.
Watching everything.
At the first intersection, the light turned amber just as Jane reached it.
“Ah—damn—”
She hit the brakes.
The truck lurched.
Cam reacted instantly, shooting one arm forward and bracing his hand against the dashboard before his momentum could carry him any farther.
Controlled.
Efficient.
Not remotely human.
Jane glanced at him. “Sorry, Cam. I should’ve told you to buckle up.”
He turned toward the seat belt and examined it without moving.
Jane stopped at the red light. “Pull it across your body and click the metal piece into that slot.”
Cam followed her instructions. The buckle clicked into place.