Chapter 28
Twenty-Eight
Brian
Brian tapped his fingers on his desk as he waited for Cody to return his message. Tabitha had come home and gone straight to her room. She’d said hi as he came out of the shower but that was it.
Cody, are you there? I need to talk to you, now.
Cody hadn’t even opened his last message.
It was as if he’d vanished into thin air.
Blood pulsed through his veins, sending him slightly woozy.
Cody had encouraged him to take the path.
As a friend, Cody could’ve warned him that OpenMeSmiler videoed newbies to the tavern in their bedroom.
He fought the urge to heave again as he ran through how he’d bring all that up with Cody.
Did the same happen to him or was he some sort of big joke?
Was the woman who had gone missing in that video? She couldn’t be.
This was serious and the police – they’d been to speak to him that day. Ugh, he had no idea what to do. He flinched as someone knocked on his door. He reduced his screen as Tabitha barged in. ‘Tabby. What do you want? And don’t just come into my room.’
She looked up at him under her fringe and shrugged. ‘Just seeing what you were up to. What you doing on there?’ She pointed at his screen.
‘Nothing.’
‘So why are you sitting in front of your computer?’
‘Tabby, you’re not my nagging wife.’
‘Sexist, much.’ She scrunched her nose up at him. ‘You didn’t report Abel, did you?’
‘What do you care? You’re not with him anymore and he’s a dick.’
‘I do care. Just tell me.’ Her eyes watered a little. She sniffed and looked away for a few seconds.
‘No, Tabby. Leave me alone and stop hanging out with losers.’
She sat next to him. ‘I miss you, Bri. We used to be close.’ She laid her head on his shoulder and he reciprocated.
He’d been mean to her and he wanted to spend time with her and hug her but he needed her to leave so he could message Cody again.
‘Are you okay? You’ve been tapping your feet on the floor non-stop.
I feel like I’m leaning on a road drill. ’
‘Well don’t lean on me.’ He paused. ‘Sorry for saying you were like a nagging wife. I was a douche and it was sexist.’
‘Are you okay? It smells… I don’t know… ill?’
‘Yes.’ He’d had a shower. What was his sister, a sniffer dog?
‘Actually, it’s your room. It smells kind of sicky in here.’
Okay, he’d disposed of the vomit but his sister was on his case now.
‘Oh that. Don’t tell Aunt Claudia. I’m not ill.
I had a few drinks in the night when you went to bed and woke up sick.
I didn’t go to work.’ He couldn’t tell her that he’d been so disgusted on seeing himself on video that he’d instantly lost his stomach.
‘I got your back, bro. Just remember that when you think of spilling my secrets. I’d keep yours to the ends of the earth. But.’ She held a finger up for attention and smiled. ‘I’d go downstairs and nick one of those stinky reed diffusers and put it in your room, or Aunt Claudia will guess herself.’
‘Thanks, Tabby. I’ll get one in a minute.’
Tabitha smiled and left. He opened up his screen, needing to see a message. Still no Cody.
A minute later, Tabitha barged back in again with a reed diffuser. She hugged him after plonking it on his desk.
‘Thanks.’
Aunt Claudia made them both jump. ‘Right, I’m off. Did Brian tell you about my training?’
Tabitha looked at him. ‘No.’
‘I mentioned it this morning.’
‘Oh that.’ Tabitha smiled.
‘I have to go tonight for a couple of days. I’m about to learn how to sell the perfect smile.’ She raised her brows and showed her perfect white teeth.
Brian had zero interest in what Aunt Claudia did for a living, something to do with selling dental equipment but the word smile did get his attention.
He looked at her. Had she looked through his computer while he was out?
Smile – why say that exact word now? She never spoke about her work normally.
He looked away and the hairs at the back of his neck prickled.
Aunt Claudia was nothing like Mum and Dad who both had manual jobs, preferred crafting and were artsy.
They could barely operate a tablet or phone but Aunt Claudia had built her own computer websites, and had maintained server rooms in the past. She was a wizard.
Uneasiness crept up his arms, landing at the nape of his neck and sending him into a barely visible shiver.
He couldn’t trust anyone at the moment because he had no idea who was behind the masked face on OpenMeSmiler.
Aunt Claudia beamed as she left his room. ‘Oh, Brian, don’t forget to collect my prescription when you get five? Bye, kids. Be good. Remember the neighbour is watching and I have the video doorbell so I’ll know who’s been coming and going. Also, no trouble, I’m always watching.’ With that she went.
Tabitha jumped up and down, clapping. ‘It’s just us, bro. House to ourselves. Pizza and chocolate for dinner?’
‘Cool. I’ll be down in a bit. Get the biggest pizza you can find out of the freezer.’
Tabitha left his room excitedly. There was no way he’d manage pizza or even chocolate with that video on his mind. He needed Cody to answer his messages.
Cody, I’m going out my mind, mate!!!!! Where are you???
Three dots came up and a message from Cody followed.
I can’t talk here again. I’ve been hacked. I have your number. Look out for my message. We have to meet. DO NOT TRUST ANYONE!