“What the hell was that all about?”
“He was trying to get you to avoid the run for some reason.” Mina chimes in. “But what does he have to lose or gain if you don’t go?”
“He seemed overly angry for something so small.”
“It’s possible you are getting in the way of something he is trying to accomplish. Maybe he wants Tyler to get involved with another female and he’s distracted by you. Maybe you are keeping them from bringing in girls. There haven’t been any missing persons reports in a while.” Nickolas chimes in.
“Whatever it is, now I have to go, don’t I? It’s too suspicious to stay away.”
“Something is going down and either you are going to be in the way or a distraction or they don’t want you to see whatever it is that they are doing.” Osiston says. “Keep communication going with Tyler, make sure he knows you’re going tomorrow and don’t give him any reason to uninvite you.” The threat in that statement alone had me moving faster to get home.
I walk into a fully mobilized kitchen. The entire island is covered in screens and wires with five people I have never seen before surrounding it clicking rapidly through different camera views. I can smell coffee, fresh and slightly burnt which means William is here somewhere. He likes it thick like tar and there is always an acrid burnt smell for days after he’s been here. It’s both endearing and terrible.
“Hey Midge!” I turn to a familiar voice I haven’t heard in a very long time.
“Wyatt!!” I ran to give him a hug. I wrap my arms around him and hug him like the teddy bear he is. “What are you doing here?”
“Sounds like you got up to some trouble and need back up.” He winks at me.
“Are Lillian and Nathaniel here too?”
“Not here, but on this mission too, somewhere. I didn’t realize how big this op was.”
“I still don’t really know and apparently I’m in the middle of it.”
“Little One, over here.” Osiston calls me. I can’t even make the smile disappear off of my face knowing Wyatt, Lillian and Nathaniel are here for me. “What are we doing?” I ask.
“Getting ready. We think we have figured out where the concentration of this scent mask is coming from based on your runs and sensitivities to the block. It’s coming from the east of the forest preserve like you thought. We have scouts out now circling the areas the group runs in North of the campus though. They wouldn’t have two camps going in such close proximity, but there is a reason they run up there and keep a perimeter going at all times.” I nod my head trying to keep up with all of the information. “You need to message Tyler tonight, make sure he doesn’t change his mind. We don’t know what Robbie was up to trying to get you to not run tomorrow. He’s never been a huge fan of yours, but he also has never been negative or aggressive towards you either. Something is up and we have to plan for as many possibilities as possible.”
I nod again. “What can I do to help now?”
“You need to stick to your normal. Get ready for your evening run, we already know that Tyler follows you everywhere. I didn’t sense him near you when Robbie approached though, that is something that confuses me. Then you can meet Tyler in the morning to work out and do your regular class routine with him. You are going to go to the run solo though.” My mouth drops open.
“What?! Why? I can’t go without her, it will look weird. She’s always with me.”
“But they have targeted you and if my hunch is right they will make a move if they think that you are completely alone. She has a date tomorrow. She’s already been talking about it with girls on campus so many of them will be able to back up the story.”
