Judy was no slouch at putting things together.
“Nadine is my grandmother.”
“And that adorable baby?”
“Layla.She’s my mother.That’s why I’m here.”
Reed’s voice cut in.“Avalie is trying to stop me from taking Nadine back to the future, where she belongs.”
I shifted my gaze toward the kitchen.There he stood in the doorway, holding two bottles and some glasses.Our eyes locked, and a palpable tension hung in the air, intensifying the room’s temperature.
“But that’s not all that you do, is it?”I said coolly.
He glared at me, clearly not thrilled to offer a more candid portrayal of his job.I could do it for him.I am an assassin.Directives are handed down, and I execute them to the letter.When I arrive, there is no negotiating.You either comply with my orders or you die.I’m a tool of authority...reason and common sense be damned.
A mask had settled over Reed’s face.This was not the man I first met, not the man I shared intimate moments with, and even entertained romantic thoughts about.At this moment in time, it was impossible to know which way he was leaning with regard to Nadine.Or Judy, for that matter.
“So tell me, son.Whatdoyou do?”
The word ‘son’ almost cracked me up, but I resisted the urge to laugh.Judy’s face remained serious, and the same tone and attitude she’d directed at me were now focused on Reed.
“I correct the problematic blips in history,” he said, coming over and depositing the bottles and glasses on the table.
“And how do you do that?”she asked.
However, before he could respond, Judy’s phone buzzed once more, shifting her attention.She read the message; her brows drawn together in obvious concern.Then, she glanced up at the two of us.
“I don’t understand these messages.He emailed me earlier, and now he’s bombarding me with texts.Do either of you happen to know someone named Vaughn?”
I didn’t.However, that didn’t carry much weight, given that outside of this room, my family was the sole connection I had with this period in time.
Reed’s reaction was quite different.His face flushed with evident anger as he reached out his hand.“May I see it, please?”
Without hesitation, she handed him her cell.
“Who’s Vaughn?”I asked him.
“My handler,” he responded.
“Your handler?”Judy asked.“What does that mean?”
Reed and I exchanged a glance, both of us reluctant to share more information at the moment.To me, it was evident that he was as perplexed by the texts as Judy was.
“Why does he keep contacting me?How does he even know me?”
“That’s what I’m trying to figure out,” he said under his breath.
I appreciated this noticeable shift in Reed’s attitude.Despite his lingering anger, for once I didn’t appear to be the cause of it, and his frustration wasn’t directed towards me.
“How does he know Judy?”I repeated her question.“Why does he have her number?What is he saying?”
Earlier, Reed looked like he’d seen a ghost when he came into his apartment.He’d clearly had no clue about my intentions or about Judy being here.So then, how could his handler know about us?
Unless...
I knew Payam had been hacked.That was one reason that I ditched my phone.But my AI assistant knew about my plan to meet up with Judy today.Payam also had Judy’s contact information.
“What do the texts say?”I asked, pushing to my feet.
