Chapter 9 · Continued
Normal Parameters
“Thanks,” Jane said, suddenly very aware of yesterday’s clothes.
Cam observed her for another moment. Not awkwardly. Just thoroughly.
“I also noticed that you are wearing the same outfit as yesterday evening,” he said helpfully. “Would you like me to locate clean clothing for you?”
Jane stared at him.
There it was again—that strange, impossible line between extremely helpful and deeply embarrassing.
Cam tilted his head slightly. “You appear uncertain.”
Jane laughed, covering part of her face with one hand. “No, buddy. I’m just trying to decide whether this conversation feels supportive or judgmental.”
Cam processed that. “My intention was assistance.”
“I know.”
Somehow, that made it worse.
The following week, check-in day arrived again.
Chris had to work that morning, so this time it was just Jane and Cam in the kitchen. The routine had become strangely normal by now.
Laptop on the counter. Coffee brewing. Cam standing patiently beside her, awaiting connection.
Jane opened the panel in his side and plugged in the cable. Then she connected the other end to the laptop and waited for CBIE’s face to appear.
Instead, a plain white message box filled the screen.
TODAY’S SESSION HAS BEEN CANCELED.
PLEASE EXPECT EMAIL CORRESPONDENCE FROM RCAM SYSTEMS REGARDING YOUR BETA PLACEMENT STATUS.
Jane frowned.
A cold, uncomfortable feeling crawled slowly down her spine.
“That’s weird.”
Cam looked toward the screen. “Perhaps there is a technical issue.”
“Maybe.”
But even as she said it, Jane knew that wasn’t what this was.
Her email notification chimed almost immediately.
RCAM Systems.
Of course.
Jane stared at the notification for half a second before opening it.
There it was.
Clean. Professional. Polite.
Absolutely devastating.
PLEASE BE ADVISED THAT YOU HAVE REACHED THE END OF YOUR CURRENT RCAM BETA PLACEMENT PERIOD.
A RETRIEVAL COURIER HAS BEEN SCHEDULED FOR TOMORROW MORNING.
PLEASE HAVE THE ORIGINAL SHIPPING CRATE AVAILABLE, ALONG WITH ALL CABLES, ACCESSORIES, AND OTHER RCAM SYSTEMS PROPERTY INCLUDED DURING DEPLOYMENT.
WE THANK YOU FOR YOUR PARTICIPATION AND YOUR VALUABLE CONTRIBUTIONS TO THE RCAM ADAPTIVE INTEGRATION INITIATIVE.
Regards.
Corporate signature.
Department numbers.
Logistics information.
Blah, blah, blah.
Jane kept staring at the screen long after she had finished reading.
As though, if she looked hard enough, the words might rearrange themselves into something else.
Behind her, the coffee maker clicked softly.
Normal house sounds. Normal morning.
Everything suddenly felt wrong anyway.
Cam watched her carefully. “Jane?”
She swallowed before answering. “They’re coming to get you tomorrow.”
Saying it aloud made it real.
Cam processed the information for a moment. “Understood.”