“Dane, look at this,” I called, and I started the video again to write down the spots to show him.
He stood up from the couch. “What’s up, princess?”
“Watch this on the video.” I held the screen out so we could both see. “There! Did you see it?”
He waited as I sped it up to the second spot. “Where did you get this video?”
“I took it last night.” It was clearly from our tour. How did he call himself a specialty-trained operative if he didn’t notice that?
Dane huffed. “Obviously, princess. But how did you get the video?”
“Oh.” I turned off the video and held my phone like I had last night. “It looks like I’m taking pictures of the sights, but it’s a video. You’d think a government spy would have figured out that trick.”
“What do you think the black spots are?” he asked as the third abnormality came into view while ignoring my insult. That meant he was focused.
I went back to speeding up the video to see if there were others. “They aren’t ghosts.”
“That’s a relief. You and the ghost theory were scaring me. I considered recommending an evaluation.”
“You’re so annoying. I have an idea what it is, but I need a better angle.”
He took a spot across the table from me, giving up whatever he had on the television. “Why do you record everything?”
“A-B-R. Always be recording. It’s rule number one.” The first video ended without another incident.
The second video started as he said, “Are you recording now?”
“Why?” I paused the video and popped my head up. “Are you planning on doing something interesting?”
I didn’t have dreams of being TikTok famous, but I wouldn’t turn down the opportunity to try.
“No,” he said as an absolute bore.
“Then no.” The video started again. “Let me know if you change your mind.”
It took me a second as I processed our interaction before I paused the video and stared at him. His attention was on my phone, which gave me time to stare at his perfect jawline. It had to be criminal for it to be this chiseled. He’d beat John Hamm in a chin-off.
“What?” he asked when he caught me staring.
I waved my phone at him. “How would I be recording while I’m holding my phone to show you a video?”
Seriously, this was my super-trained spy? I wanted a refund.
“I’m just always suspicious of you.” He waved his hand at me. “Keep watching.”
It took less than three minutes for the next incident. “There!”
I paused, pushed the video line back, and watched it again.
“What is that?” Dane asked, leaning in super close to my screen.
“You don’t remember him?” I asked.
Dane shook his head, but then his eyes widened. “Wait, that’s the guy in the black hoodie.”
“Yeah!” I set my phone on the table. “He bumped into me at least once too. This had to be intentional.”
“Now who’s being suspicious?” Dane tilted his head to the side. “Who would know you’re here researching William’s death and that we’d be on this tour?”
