CHAPTER Nine
Camille hated to leave Ross the next morning, but after a string of passionate kisses at her car, she headed back into town to get cleaned up, spend some time on her computer, and make arrangements to talk with Kelcee Meyer’s parents.
Her blissful state, created by her incredible night with Ross, was quickly interrupted once she was up above the tree line and back on the main road.
Back in range, her notifications started dropping in, and her phone was going crazy.
Not having cell service at Ross’s was both a blessing and a curse.
She loved the brief detachment from reality, but when it all came crashing back, it was overwhelming.
And when Camille noticed she had four missed calls and ten texts from Ike, her blissful mood turned sour.
Before she could respond, another call came in from Ike. She decided she had to deal with him to end this obsessive behavior, so reluctantly, she answered.
“What do you want, Ike? I told you I don’t have consistent cell service, so don’t start yelling at me.” She was unmistakably annoyed.
Ike had not anticipated her anger and cold greeting. When he found his words, he was more irritated than ever.
“Don’t answer your phone like such a bitch. I was just concerned about you,” Ike snapped.
“Right!” Camille countered. “Is that why every single text is nothing but bitching me out?”
“So, you did read my texts. You just chose not to respond.”
“I just now read them, dumbass. I’ve been out of cell range all night.”
The minute Camille said this, she wondered if Ike would make a connection, and he did.
“So, where the fuck have you been? I’m pretty sure your motel has cell service.”
Camille felt a little trapped, and then her strength came roaring to the surface.
“Look, Ike, we are not a couple anymore. I am on a job. I don’t owe you any explanations.” She was calm, and her tone was firm.
Again, Ike was thrown by her response, but his spiteful nature returned quickly.
“Great,” he began. “So, what you’re saying is you’re already fucking somebody.”
“As I said, I don’t owe you any explanations.” Camille was a little surprised. She didn’t expect to feel guilty. To prevent more of this senseless arguing and to ease her guilt, she hung up.
Ike was pissed, but mostly he was worried that she meant business this time.
He had always assumed she would be there for his convenience, and even though Camille had also started to see their arrangement as mere hook- ups, Ike still felt as if he had control.
But this time, he saw his relationship going down the drain, and suddenly, he was more interested than ever in reviving his spark with Camille.
“Damn it, Camille!” he yelled. And then it hit him. She had neither
denied nor confirmed his allegation. He merely mentioned her being with someone out of spite. He really didn’t believe it—until now. Now, he really was worried.
Maybe she is fucking somebody.
That thought had some sting behind it.
Damn it!
Camille had too much on her mind to add Ike to the mix.
She was over him, and eventually, he would get the hint and move on.
As she pulled into the motel lot, she was eager to take a shower and get a little more shut-eye, but before she did, she noticed a red, king-cab truck parked across the street.
It was empty, which alarmed her. If that was Shane Simpson’s truck, that meant he could be waiting for her somewhere.
How would he know about me? Maybe I’m overreacting.
That might not even be his truck.
But Camille recognized the skull-and-crossbones decal on the window.
They were the same ones on the truck she saw in the parking lot when she visited Sam Jenkins.
It was Simpson, alright, and this was more than a coincidence.
Camille drove through the lot and pulled out onto Highway 54 instead of parking and getting out. Now she was officially freaked out.
Camille ran through all the places and people she had talked with regarding this case, and other than Ross, there was just Sam Jenkins and Nolan Mosser, Ross’s lawyer.
She would never forgive herself if she gave information to the wrong person, harming the chances of finding the real killer and freeing Ross.
Maybe Ross was right. Maybe Jenkins was dirty.
Camille knew the bigger picture here was that now she had a killer after her.
This little detail was going to slow her down considerably.
Not wanting to lead Simpson right to Ross, Camille drove on to Camdenton, not noticing anyone following as she drove around for a while, hoping to lose a tail if there was one.
Once convinced she was safe, Camille pulled into Best Western and booked a room, making it clear at the front desk that her privacy was a priority.
Camille didn’t have a change of clothes, but at least she could shower and use her phone.
She decided to call Jenkins for an update, then feel him out about Shane Simpson’s sudden interest in her.
“Sam, this is Camille,” she began.
“Oh, good, I was just about to call you.” Sam seemed eager. “I spoke with Chief Thomas, and he’s excited about the information you’ve dug up. He’s agreed to keep the case hush-hush until we dig up a little more. He definitely wants to do things right this time.”
“And there’s something else he told me,” Sam added. Camille was intrigued.
“He said he always had the feeling Paine’s lawyer was tanking it on purpose. There was so much he could have argued and refuted, but he was pretty lackadaisical instead.”
Camille’s senses flared. “You mean, like he wanted Ross to lose?”
“Yeah, I think so,” Sam replied.
“Oh no!” “What’s wrong?”
“This morning, when I went back to my motel, Shane Simpson’s truck was sitting across the road.
I thought it had to be more than just a coincidence, so I drove on and never stopped, worried that he was waiting for me.
I began thinking about who knew this information, and the only person other than you is Nolan Mosser, Paine’s lawyer. ”
“Now this is getting good,” Sam answered.
“Yeah, story-wise, but now I have a killer after me.” Camille was not easily spooked, but there was panic in her voice.
“Are you somewhere safe?” Sam asked. “Yes.”
“Good, lay low, and I’ll dig around,” Sam promised.
Now, Camille was stuck at her motel in Camdenton. For her own safety, she needed to do as Sam said—lay low. She was distraught, however, that she could not contact Ross and let him know she had to stay out of sight for a while.
Fuck! What a mess, Camille thought. She didn’t even have her computer. Deep in thought, Camille jumped when her phone rang.
“Ms. Hargrove, this is Julie from the front desk at The Nest.” “Yes, Julie?”
“I’m afraid I have some bad news. Someone broke into your room, and your things are a mess, and the police need you to come here and see if anything is missing.”
Camille was furious but not surprised. “Yes, Julie. I’ll be there in about twenty minutes.” She hung up. “Great!” Camille said out loud.
Getting to her car, she called Sam and told him the news. He agreed to meet her at The Nest and see the damage for himself.
Camille was irritated when she pulled into the motel lot.
Two squad cars were there, and a small crowd was forming around the perimeter.
The whole ordeal was frustrating, but the worst part was that her computer was missing.
The good news was that Simpson was only able to ransack her room and take her computer, not ambush her.
“Well, at least I don’t have to hide out now. Maybe he was just after my computer.”
Jenkins wasn’t convinced.
“You don’t know that. He could have come here for you and got impatient, so he did the next best thing,” Sam responded. “I’m worried about you, and I’m pissed that he took all of your information.”
“I’m not worried about that,” Camille replied. “I can get a new computer and then download everything I had from the cloud, which is exactly where I’m going now. I have to have a computer. Wanna ride with me? I think we
need to get a plan.” “Sure,” Sam replied.
“Let me take care of something first,” Camille said, dialing her phone. “Hello, this is Camille Hargrove. Please use my credit card on file and check me out of my room. Thanks.”
“What was that all about?” Sam asked.
“I canceled my room in Camdenton. I’m not hiding out. I’m more determined than ever to get this bastard. I’m convinced Mosser is dirty, and we’re gonna prove that too.”
“Maybe I’ll pay him a visit?” Sam said, hoping to help.
“No, he knows we’re working together,” Camille said dejectedly. And then a lightbulb went off in her head. “But he doesn’t know I’m working with Ross!”
Sam was puzzled. “What?”
“Ross could meet with his lawyer and try to get some information, or leak something false, and we could see if Mosser takes the bait.”
Sam hadn’t heard a bit of it. He was focused on one detail. “You’re working with Ross Paine? Why didn’t you tell me?”
“Well, I didn’t have a reason to until now,” Camille defended. “What’s the big deal?”
“What’s the big deal?” he said, rather annoyed. “If the public knows you are working for Paine, they’ll assume your story is biased.”
Camille had not thought about that fact.
“He didn’t retain me. I just met him for an interview, and I believed every word he said, so I guess it feels like I’m working for him,” Camille explained.
Sam thought about it for a minute and then spoke. “Well, I guess that can’t harm anything. It’s not like you have a relationship with him or anything.”
Camille’s stomach dropped, and Sam saw her noticeable shift in mood.
“Well …” she started.
“Jesus!” Sam couldn’t believe his ears. “Pardon my inquiry, but I feel I need to know as your partner in this—are you sleeping with him?” Camille’s scrunched face told him the answer he dreaded.
“You have to distance yourself until this is over, or the whole thing is in jeopardy. The public has already condemned Paine. If we want a chance at turning that around, he can’t be sleeping with the woman investigating his case.”
Camille knew he was right, but she had not thought about it until just now. She was heartbroken at the thought of ending what she had with Ross.
After getting her new computer and some other things, Camille went back to The Nest and dropped Sam off at his car. The way they left things, she was going to stay away from Ross until all of this was over. She had never been in such a funk.
She decided to gather her belongings, check out, and find a new motel, all while looking for a big, red truck that might be stalking her. But her safety was not the only thing on her mind. She had to separate herself from the sweetest, sexiest man she ever knew, and it hurt. It really hurt.