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At six forty-three, Mercer opens the front door.

I straighten.

He steps outside wearing the same jacket as yesterday. Different jeans. A coffee in his hand.

He gets into his car and starts it.

My phone vibrates. My eyes drop to it automatically.

Chaos: Good morning.

Something in my chest loosens. Which pisses me off immediately.

I pick up the phone.

Me: Morning.

Three dots.

Chaos: Still weird?

I almost smile.

Me: Still annoying?

Chaos: Yes. Thank you for asking.

There she is.

I shake my head.

Mercer's car pulls away.

Time to work.

I set my phone down and prepare to follow him.

My phone buzzes, and I instinctively grab it.

Chaos: Busy today?

I look up at Mercer disappearing around the corner.

Me: Yes.

The dots appear.

Chaos: Okay.

That's it. Just okay.

I don't like that either.

I’m fucking hopeless.

I pull onto the road, following Mercer as he heads toward town.

The next two hours confirm what I suspected.