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"What?"
"She returned home while you were out. I called, but you didn’t answer."
"Damn." I took out my cell phone and turned it back on. I hadn't wanted to be interrupted while George and I enjoyed our meal, but I also hadn’t thought Celia would be returning to her dorm so soon.
On the split screen, two images—live video feed from her apartment. On one side, the fish-eye camera showed the tiny living room from the vantage point of the main doorway. To the right, her bedroom. To the left, a metal desk. Flanking the main window, a small love seat and arm chair. A tiny television on a table beside the love seat. The telescope in the alcove of the bay window itself.
"When did she get back?"
"Around four o'clock."
"What's she been doing?"
Richardson pointed to the screen. "Nothing much. Sitting at her desk, reading textbooks."
Sure enough, when I bent down to check out the video feed, I saw her sitting at her desk, her back to the camera, reading and taking notes.
She was wearing a long white robe of some sort, slippers on her feet. She sat on the chair with one foot tucked under her.
"What's she listening to? Can you turn up the volume?"
Richardson handed me the earphones so I could listen in. Something folksy that I didn’t recognize.
"You're recording this somewhere?"
"Yep. You can access it on your own computer. I've sent you the link to the archives. Once you've watched it, you can delete it or save it."
"You can't really see her well," I said to George. "But come here."
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George came to my side and looked at the monitor. "She looks delicate."
"A delicacy."
George shook his head. "So now, you read her diary, you watch her every move in dorm room…" George patted me on the back. "Poor girl. I feel sorry for her."
"Hey, she asked for my help. She said she'd do anything."
"She didn’t want this, I think."
"Yeah, well, I didn’t want a lot of things. Shit happens." Irritation with George built in me. As fond as I was of him, I didn’t need the man's subtle innuendo. "She needs to be protected. Her stupid brother got her into trouble and now I have to clean up his mess and make sure she's safe."
The three of us watched as Celia disappeared from view. I had no idea what she was doing, but then she emerged in only her bra and panties.
"That's more than enough," I said. "You don't need to watch this."
Richardson smiled and clicked off the feed.
"Well," I said turning to George, taking the diary out again, holding it up. "I’m going to my apartment to do some… reconnaissance.”
“Poor girl,” George said, shaking his head, a grudging smile on his face. “She won’t know what hit her.”
“Oh, she’ll know.” I walked to the door, inexplicable anger filling me. When I got there, I turned and watched George for a moment as the man went over to the bed and ran his hand over the luxurious cover.
Finally, I softened just a bit. "George," I said. “It’s good to have you here.”
“Is good to be here.” George nodded. “Is pretty little bird coming to you for fun tonight?"
