Chapter 9: Signals in the Dark
Adam sat on the edge of his motel bed, staring at the note Trench Coat Guy had slipped him. The words seemed to pulse on the page, heavy with implication. The pale glow of the bedside lamp cast long shadows across the room, and the muffled hum of traffic outside filled the silence.
He unfolded his phone, feeling its reassuring weight in his hands.
Adam frowned. "Not yet. I need to figure out what this guy meant first. 'Be careful who you trust'—what is that supposed to mean?"
Adam sighed, rubbing his temples. "Thanks, Captain Obvious. Got any practical advice?"
"Right."
He got up and began methodically checking the room. He lifted the phone receiver, inspected the lamp, even peeked under the bed. Nothing seemed out of place.
"Nope," Adam said, sitting back down. "Either they're really good at hiding or I'm just being paranoid."
Adam hesitated. "Could be anyone. Chambers? Someone trying to warn me about Chambers? Hell, maybe Sophie knows something."
Adam's jaw tightened. He hated the idea of not trusting Sophie. She was sharp, resourceful, and had helped him navigate the convention. But the note had planted a seed of doubt he couldn't ignore.
He leaned back on the bed, staring at the water-stained ceiling. "Okay, let's say Sophie is trustworthy. How do I even bring this up without sounding like a lunatic?"
"Side projects. Great. That doesn't sound suspicious at all."
Adam shut off the lamp and climbed under the covers, the phone still clutched in his hand. Sleep came in fits and starts, his mind replaying the day's events like a broken record.
The next morning, Adam arrived at Sophie's office, a cramped but cozy space tucked into a corner of the convention center. The walls were covered in posters of tech expos and startup summits, and her desk was buried under a mountain of papers.
Sophie looked up from her computer as he walked in. "Morning, Adam. You look like you didn't sleep at all."
"Long night," he said, forcing a smile.
"Everything okay?"
He hesitated. "Actually, I wanted to talk to you about Chambers."
Her expression shifted, curiosity tinged with caution. "What about him?"
Adam chose his words carefully. "Do you know much about his... other ventures? Stuff he doesn't talk about publicly?"
Sophie leaned back in her chair, crossing her arms. "Why are you asking?"
"Let's just say I got a... feeling that there's more to him than meets the eye."
She studied him for a moment, then sighed. "You're not wrong. Chambers has a reputation for being... secretive. A lot of people think he's connected to something bigger, but no one's been able to prove it."
"Bigger like what?" Adam pressed.
"Corporate espionage, government contracts, you name it. The guy's a ghost—he covers his tracks too well."
Adam's stomach churned. If Chambers was that connected, going up against him would be like poking a bear.
"Why are you so interested in him?" Sophie asked, narrowing her eyes.
Adam forced a laugh. "Just curious. You know me—always chasing the next big story."
Sophie didn't look convinced, but she let it drop.
As he left her office, Adam's phone buzzed.
"You think?" Adam muttered under his breath.
"And I'm stuck in the middle of it," Adam said.
Adam sighed. "I'm gonna need more coffee for this."
End of Chapter 9