A leaf trailed into Belโs eye. She rubbed it away, knocking elbows with Ash.ย โWatch the camera,โย he hissed, dodging a branch. They were hidden in the trees that lined Madison Avenue, opposite Grandpaโs squat white house.
โWhat time is it?โ
Bel checked her phone.ย โEleven-oh-one. I told Rachel eleven-thirty. We wonโt have long to set up.โ
โWe wonโt need it.โย Ash turned the camera, catching the nervous look on her face.
โHurry up, Yordan,โย she whispered, watching as Yordanย ๏ฌnally got Grandpa into the passenger seat of the yellow car. He folded up the wheelchair and put it in the trunk, before climbing in himself. The engine started.
โEnjoy your walk, Grandpa,โย Bel said as the car backed out, drove past them.ย โLetโs go.โ
They crossed the empty street, Bel, camera, Ash. A darkened line before the front yard; a shadow from the telephone line overhead. They crossed that too, no going back.
Beside the steps to the front door was a wooden barrel of plasticย ๏ฌowers, and an ugly ceramic toad, holding aย ๏ฌshing rod.
Bel picked the toad up by his head; a small silver key waited there, in its dirty outline. She scooped it up.ย โEveryone knows Grandpa keeps the spare key under the toad, always has.โ
She was counting on Rachel knowing that too.
โBudge,โย she said, knocking Ash out of her way on the steps. She slotted the key into the front door and pushed it open.ย โNeed to remember to put the key back before we leave.โ
โRoger.โ
โThe toadโs called Barry, actually.โย She walked ahead into the sti๏ฌing, airless heat of Grandpaโs house.ย โCarter named him.โ
โNo, I meantโฆ,โย Ash began, falling for it.ย โYou know what I meant.โย Un-falling.ย โFuck, itโs hot in here.โ
He closed the door behind him, fumbling with the camera.
โThis way.โย Bel beckoned him down the hall and into the living room, even warmer somehow.ย โYordan caught Rachel sneaking around in here, the living room,โย she said for the cameraโs sake.ย โOver by theย ๏ฌreplace.โย Bel traced her steps that way, looking around, from the basket of logs beside it, to the TV stand, to the sideboard beneath the window on the far wall.ย โWe need to know what sheโs looking for. Itโs important, I know it.โ
She waited for Ash to join her across the room. Sheโd told him to dress incognito, which, for Ash, meant a thin yellow turtleneck and denim overalls. Like a Minion.
โBest place to put the camera is on the bookshelves.โย Bel pointed to the double-framed bookshelf, hundreds of books piled sideways and up, in an order only Grandpa understood. Lots she recognized, from when he used to read to her.ย โSheโs less likely to spot it there, right? Do you have the small camera?โ
โOf course.โย Ash dropped his backpack, unzipped it one-handed.ย โBut has no one ever told you itโs rude to ask a guy about the size of his camera?โย Bel snorted, then regretted it, because Ash was smirking, too pleased with himself.ย โHurry up,โย she snapped instead.ย โRachel was still at home
when I left, but we have no idea when sheโll turn up.โ
โHurrying.โย He pulled out a small black square with a tiny lens eye, trailing a black cable. All of it no bigger than his hand.ย โSmall enough for you?โ
โItโll do.โย She ironed out her face, taking it from him.
โForย discreetย ๏ฌlming, Ramsey said. Letโs set it up,โย Ash said, placing the handheld camera on the co๏ฌee table to free his hands, still recording, pointed at them.ย โWe need a plug.โ
โThereโs one behind the bookshelf, I think.โ
Ash knelt down, pulled out a few hardbacks on the lowest shelf.ย โHere it is. Perfect, we can chase the cable behind all the books. Where shall we put the camera?โ
He took it back from her without asking,ย ๏ฌngers brushing hers.
โI am the camera assistant,โย he explained, at the sour look on her face.ย โAnd I am the brains.โ
โWeโll see about that.โ
Ash placed the camera on the second-highest shelf, about head height, tucked between two horizontal piles of books. The spines were dark, mostly black, and the camera blended right in, lost in their clutter. Youโd only see it if you were looking for it. And Rachel wouldnโt be looking for it, sheโd be looking for something else.
โGood?โย Ash said, checking. Bel nodded.
โIโll just chase this wire down the back here.โย His tongue between his teeth, concentrating.
โLike when you felt up my top the second time we met,โย Bel said, trying to make him uncomfortable, because it was fun, and she needed a distraction from the knot in her gut.
โThatโs not what happened,โย he said coolly.ย โIโm far too awkward for that.โ
โPlayed with my ass too.โ
โBel, Iโm trying to concentrate,โย he said, feeding the plug head down.ย โIโll need the Wi-Fi password to set it up. You goย ๏ฌnd that.โ
Sending her away, because he couldnโt send himself.
โFound it,โย she said, because she already knew where to look. On the TV stand was a piece of paper with Dadโs handwriting, double its usual size:
Wi-Fi Password: PatPrice123
Bel stroked herย ๏ฌnger across his words, something he had touched.
Ash replaced the books in front of the socket, standing back to admire the setup.ย โPretty good spies, we are. The nameโs Maddox, Ash Maddox.โ
โThe nameโsย Hurry the fuck up and turn it on.โ
โAll right, grumpy,โย he said, voice pitching higher.ย โShouldnโt speak to your spy-husband like that.โ
โYou bring it out in me, darling.โย She gave him a sickly grin, still trying to push him away, even though there was a tiny part of her that no longer wanted to.
โAh, because youโre soย tough,โย Ash said with a knowing look, pulling out an iPad.ย โTough girl that eats feelings for breakfast.โ
โAnd lunch,โย she added.
โChildren for dinner,โย he said, voice deep and rolling.
Bel smirked but she didnโt like that; that Ash thought he knew her. Knew her well enough to know the thing that she did.
โPassword?โย He opened the settings on-screen.ย โPatPrice123.โ
He typed it in.ย โHold on.โ
He pressed a button on the small camera. It beeped, just once, no LED light to give it away.
โWeโre connected,โย he said, eyes down on the iPad screen, bringing it over so Bel could see.
They stood shoulder to shoulder, looking down at two people standing shoulder to shoulder, looking down at an iPad. One dressed like a Minion. The other with a secret smile.
Bel waved, the miniature version of her copying after a one-second delay.
โThatโs us,โย she said. You could see most of the living room, from theย ๏ฌreplace at the far end over to Grandpaโs armchair and the TV, the picture quality better than sheโd hoped.
She glanced up from Ash on the screen to Ash just inches away, eyes circling his.ย โWeโre going to catch her, arenโt we? Proof, on video. Ruin her documentary too.โ
โWell.โย Ash scratched his nose.ย โItโs notย herย documentary.โ
โThe Reappearance of Rachel Price?โย she said, voice hardening, because Bel didnโt su๏ฌer fools, and Ash was de๏ฌnitely a fool.
โOh thanks, I know what itโs called.โย He smiled.ย โThe documentary isnโt about Rachel. Itโs about you.โ
Bel blinked at him.
โRamsey said he realized after yourย ๏ฌrst interview that there was something about you. That actually, even after Rachel came back and everything changed, you were still the subject.โ
โWhat do you mean?โย Her gut tightened, forgetting about the knot.ย โYouโre the heart of it, Ramsey says, and heโs the expert.โย Ash paused,
biting his lip, looking at hers.ย โYour name might not be in the title, but the subject is the person who will be most changed by the story. Ramsey says thatโs you.โ
Belโs heart thudded in the base of her throat, skin alive and electric with it, sparking where Ashโs arm brushed hers.
โEw,โย she said, trying to ruin it. She failed.
Belโs eyes fell to the iPad, and she saw the way Ash looked at her, the soft curve of his open mouth, the slow burn in his eyes. Ridiculous, wasnโt he? On-screen, one of Ashโs handsย ๏ฌoated toward her. Bel watched herself reach for the front of his overalls, pulling him in.
She looked up. Their eyes met. Then their lips.
Ashโs warm hand cupped the back of her neck, a di๏ฌerent kind of shiver, one that moved down instead. Belโs bottom lip slid between his, parting, like this was the easiest thing in the world. It didnโt feel pointless, it felt like everything had always been building to this, a glow that made her forget the knot ever existed. Ashโs nose bumped against hers, the hard corners of the iPad pushing against their bellies.
Bel pulled awayย ๏ฌrst, eyes heavy, lips stung.
โUh-oh,โย Ash whispered, breath brushing against her cheek.
His voice brought her back into her skin, into this too-hot room, and Bel remembered how unguarded she was, how defenseless, how stupid. She wished for the knot to return and it did, hollowed her out.
โYouโre right.โย She stepped back, not looking at him. Why should she look at him? He would be leaving soon, leaving her behind. Caring was the stupidest thing she could do. And she didnโt care, trust her.ย โWe shouldnโt have done that.โ
Ashโs eyes clouded.ย โThatโs not what I meant.โ
Bel wiped her mouth on her sleeve.ย โI was just messing with you,โย she said.ย โYou know how we do. Mutual unpleasantness.โ
โThat wasnโt unpleasant for me.โย She stared him down.
โOK, Bel.โย A weak, one-sided smile, eyes drawn.ย โYouโre right. Iย ๏ฌnd you thoroughly unpleasant, but I have to put up with you because itโs a job and Iโm helping my brother-in-law.โ
โGood.โย That was better, much better.ย โWe should go outside; Rachel could be here any minute.โ
Ash tucked the iPad under one arm, shouldered his backpack and picked up the camera. Bel could o๏ฌer to carry something, but she was trying to be unpleasant, to undo what theyโd just done. Besides, heย wasย the camera assistant. And Bel was the heart, which was stupid now she was thinking with a clear head. Ramsey was wrong; she wasnโt going to be the one to change. In fact, if Bel had her way, everything would go back to the way it was before these cameras showed up. Rachel gone, just Bel and Dad, the way it was supposed to be. Heโll see.
Bel closed the front door and followed Ash down the steps, circling around to replace the key under the ceramic toad. Ready for Rachel.
They crossed the road again, scrambling through the bushes and trees that lined the other side, under the constant hiss of cars from Main Street.
Ash dropped his backpack when theyโd clambered in far enough.
โCan you hold the iPad?โย he said, not making eye contact, passing it over.ย โSo I can record you watching it?โ
โSure, Iโm theย heart,โย she said, no eye contact either.
The screen showed the empty living room, waiting. Bel and Ash must be there somewhere, tiny and hidden, through the pixelated wall of green out the front window.
โWhatโs the time?โย Ash asked.
Bel checked the top of the screen.ย โTwenty-nine past. Lucky we didnโt waste any more time,โย she said, another stab, and Ash staggered back.
Her eyesย ๏ฌicked from the image of the living room to the time in the upper corner, counting the minutes on.
โSheโs going to turn up, I know it.โย Eleven-thirty.
The knot spiraled, eating away at her. Was she wrong? She couldnโt be wrong, come on, Rachel.
Eleven-thirty-one, and a shushing sound of tires peeled toward them, breaking away from Main Street. Ash breathed in and Bel breathed out.
Please donโt be Grandpa and Yordan, she thought, hoping she didnโt see bright yellow through the leaves.
She didnโt.
She saw silver. A silver Ford Escape, with mean eyes for headlights. The fuzzy shape of Rachel behind the wheel.
Yes.
Bel and Ash exchanged a look, a wicked smile she didnโt share with him.ย โGuess you know her pretty well,โย Ash said, and Bel couldnโt tell if he
was trying to be unkind back.
Rachel parked, two wheels on the grass in front of Grandpaโs house.
Ash turned the camera, zooming to capture Rachel as she stepped out of the car and closed the door.
Bel strained her eyes, heart pulsating behind them.
Rachel approached the house, not checking over her shoulder, acting like she belonged. She dipped around the handrail, toward the ceramic toad.
She bent down, out of view, blocked by the silver car, but when she straightened up, her hand was curled around something small.
โShe has the key,โย Ash whispered.ย โWell done, Barry.โ
Rachel took the steps up two at a time, slotting the key in and pushing the front door open. She snaked around and shut it behind her, the noise not reaching them across the street.
โSheโs in.โย Bel dropped her eyes to the iPad instead, tilting it so Ash and the handheld camera could see.
The empty living room.
Bel counted ten seconds until Rachel appeared in the frame, walking past Grandpaโs leather armchair.
She paused there, reaching up to tie her hair into a ponytail, opening her collar.
She started moving again, beyond the sofa.
โWhat do you want in there, Rachel?โย Bel asked her through the screen. A feeling deep down that whatever it was might be the beginning of the end for Rachel. For all of them.
Rachel grew larger on the screen as she walked toward the camera. Right toward the camera.
Her face and eyes turning,ย ๏ฌxing that way.ย โFuck, she hasnโtโฆ,โย Ash began.
Rachel paused, one hand in the air. She moved another step closer, head tilting as she stared right at them, through the hidden camera. Eyes locking on.
โFuck, she has,โย Bel replied, a shiver as she and Rachel stared at each other through the screen. No, no, no. How could she have spotted it so soon? It was well hidden.
Rachel frowned, her face engulfed by her hand as it grew monstrously large, reaching out for the small camera. Covering the lens with the glowy pink ofย ๏ฌesh, taking over the screen.
The view tipped up into blackness, the dark underside of the shelf above. Sheโd found it. It was already over.
