“What the hell? We haven’t edited shit. You told us not to, and we haven’t. You get every piece of raw, boring footage we record.” Jazz’s indignance matched the rest of the Wind Riders’.
I locked eyes with Noah, who mouthed,oops.
Charles crossed his arms and faced my team. “Unfortunately, that can’t be said for everyone.”
“What the hell, Ozrik?” Olivia chided. “You can’t follow a simple rule?”
“Shut up, Windrow. I don’t know what you’re talking about, Charles.”
“Yes, you do, and Dennis picked up on your little stunt and called it out.”
I pressed my lips together and exchanged glances with Lex, Vern, and Noah.
“To be fair,” Noah said, “the last batch of footage wasn’t edited.”
But only because we had run out of time due to the flooded road and downed power lines. That and my encounter with Gale in the Jeep had left me unsettled, and I had wanted to escape my team as quickly as possible once we were home.
Charles grinned. His entire focus was on me. “Oh, I know. And it was golden. We need more footage like that to build a solid narrative. Our audience is entitled to anhonestandpurelook at what happens out there.” I didn’t like the malicious tone in his voice. “But we don’t trust you to deliver anymore, so we’re taking over.”
Panicked chatter followed his statement.
“What does that mean?” I asked.
Ignoring me, Charles spoke to Becca. “All four vehicles get a camera. Give up your keys, folks. They’re professional. No damage will be done.”
Arty approached with his hand out, but I refused to comply. “We aren’t taking my car on chases,” I said to Charles. “It doesn’t need a camera.”
“It’s getting one anyway. You agreed to a competition-style game, Devereaux. In fact, it was your idea. Signing that contract gives me every right. Your lives are mine, and nothing is sacred anymore.Allthe vehicles get cameras. Be happy I’m not putting one in your hotel rooms.”
“That’s an invasion of privacy,” Maggie said.
“You signed away your rights to privacy, and since we aren’t getting the footage we need, we’ll record our own.” Again, he smiled with an edge of something I didn’t like. “Keys. Now.”
So much for having the producer on our side. Charles was turning into a real asshole.
“Give him your keys, Ozrik,” Olivia snapped. “This is your fault.”
I gave up my keys and stole a glance at Gale, who handed his to Arty, appearing equally defeated. For a second, our gazes clashed, but he looked away before I could find a subtle means of acknowledging the previous night and all I couldn’t say.
With our privacy compromised, I wasn’t sure when or if we’d get a chance to talk.
Charles continued speaking, drawing my attention from Gale.
“We’ve rented six rooms for the week. Nineteen B is your official base of operations. We’ve cleared it the best we can and added two desks. Unpack your shit and try to get along. Or don’t.
“The last five rooms will be for sleeping, changing, and showering. That’s it. If I think you’re spending too much time hiding from the cameras, you will lose that privacy. Don’t test me. I’ve assigned two people to a room.”
Every person present expressed some form of protest.
“Assigning?”
“We’re sharing?”
“No fucking way.”
“Are you kidding?”
“Not happening.”
