Norah stared at the note, her heart pounding. She tried to think logically. She had a different last name than her grandfather, so it was unlikely that the people who had seen her at work had found her.
So, was she being watched simply because she was staying in her grandfather's house? Did they know he had been investigating something and wanted to see if she had figured anything out? If that were the case, then everything in the emails and documents she had found was true.
The thought sent a shiver down her spine. But this was too much speculation. She needed answers, not paranoia. It was possible someone was just messing with her.
She decided to check out the community center tonight after everyone had gone home from the Saloon. When no one would be around to see her.
But first, she needed to fill up her grandpa's fridge. Unfortunately, he didn't have a real kitchen—just a mini fridge—so she'd have to buy things that didn't need to be cooked.
God, how had he lived like this? Did he eat at the Saloon every night?
Norah shook her head and went to Pierre's to pick up fresh vegetables, bread, and some deli meat for sandwiches.
Then, it was time to get to work on the farm. She only had a week to get it cleaned up before the funeral. She changed into overalls and a jacket she didn't mind getting dirty, then headed out to the shed behind the house.
Inside, she found an axe. She searched for an electric saw or something more powerful, but there was nothing. Just the plain old axe. Ugh, Norah sighed. This is going to take forever.
She got to work, quickly deciding she didn't need to clear the entire farm—just a section near the back by the river, where the grass was soft. They would bury her grandfather there.
It took her half the day to cut down just three trees. By then, her muscles were screaming, ready to give out. Years of typing on a computer had left her with zero upper body strength. She leaned the axe against the porch and went inside to clean up.
After showering, she pulled on jeans, a T-shirt, and a sweater. Then she headed out, to maker her way to the Saloon. Norah nearly tripped stepping out of her house because she hadn't noticed someone sitting on her steps.
"Ouch," Sebastian muttered. She had accidentally kicked him.
"What are you doing here?" she asked as he stood up.
"Thought I'd come walk you to the Saloon," he said, grinning.
She stepped toward him, so close they were almost touching and looked up at him. His face immediately turned red.
Now that she had his attention, she said, "I don't know what game you're playing, but I don't want any part of it."
"Fine, you got me," he said, stepping forward.
She instinctively backed up—right into the door behind her. Sebastian leaned down, his lips close to her cheek.
"I don't like you," he murmured. "But I did love your grandfather. And he made me promise to keep you out of trouble if anything ever happened to him." His voice was low and unwavering. "I intend to keep that promise. So I'm not going anywhere, whether you like it or not."
He pulled back just enough to look her in the eye. Norah's face burned—with anger.
She put her hands against his chest and shoved him away.
"I'm not a child. I can take care of myself!" she snapped.
Then, without another word, she brushed past him and strode toward the Saloon. A smile twitched at his lips as he watched her go.
She didn't need to look back to know he was following—she could hear the crunch of gravel under his boots.
When she reached the Saloon, she stepped inside and tried to slam the door in Sebastian's face. But he was stronger. He caught it easily with one hand and smirked.
Norah scoffed.
Before she could retaliate, Abigail suddenly appeared and threw her arms around Norah.
"I'm so glad you two are getting along now!" Abigail gushed.
Norah could not fathom how Abigail had come to that conclusion based on their most recent interaction. But she said nothing.
Instead, she forced a smile as Abigail gleefully dragged her toward the pool table where Sam was waiting.
"Hey," Sam said, smiling at both of them but his gaze settled on Norah.
Sebastian walked over and gave him a light punch on the shoulder.
"So, are we playing?" he asked.
"Yeah, of course," Sam said, walking over to set up the table.
"Should I let him win for once?" Sebastian wondered aloud, then immediately shook his head. "Nah," he said, winking at Norah as he walked away.
She really wanted to wipe that smug look off his face.
Just then, she felt a tug on her sleeve. Turning, she saw Abigail, who for the first time since Norah had met her actually looked nervous.
"Do you like Sebastian?" Abigail asked.
Norah stared blankly for a second, trying to decide how to respond. She decided not to tell Abigail how much she wanted to punch him in the face and instead settled on, "He's fine."
Abigail frowned. "No, I mean… do you want to date him?"
Norah had just taken a sip of beer, and it took everything in her not to spit it out.
"Fuck, no," she said after swallowing.
Abigail looked alarmed by her response, so Norah quickly added, "I just mean… he's not my type."
Abigail smiled, her cheeks turning slightly red. "Okay, cool. 'Cause he's sort of my type," she admitted before turning and heading over to Sebastian, who was waiting for Sam to take his shot.
Sam noticed Norah sitting alone and glanced at Sebastian.
"Why don't we play doubles?" Sam suggested.
"Oh, I'd love to!" Abigail said, then quickly added, "Dibs on Seb."
Sam grinned and handed Norah a cue stick.
"Good luck," Sebastian said looking at Norah.
"I don't need luck," She replied firmly.
And then, the atmosphere got tense. For someone who had only played pool once, Norah was surprisingly good. She had a knack for visualizing the geometry of the shots and she was fueled by rage. After sinking five balls in a row, she glanced at Sebastian. He looked irritated.
"Beginner's luck," he muttered.
"Is that so?" Norah raised an eyebrow. "I'd like to see you do better."
"Watch me," he shot back.
Sebastian stepped up to the table and also sank exactly five balls in a row.
Norah smiled, pleased that she had done just as well as this so-called veteran pool player.
He glared at her.
It was Sam's turn, then Abigail's, but neither of them sunk a single shot.
Norah took her turn again, sinking the rest of the stripes. Now, all she had to do was land the eight ball.
She lined up her shot.
Right as she went to hit the cue ball, Sam sneezed.
She hit the cueball wrong and it went flying off the table. She had scratched on the eight ball. Which meant… she lost.
Norah's jaw dropped. "That doesn't count!" she yelled at Sebastian.
He smirked. "Rules are rules."
She was ready to climb across the table and rip his head off.
Sam placed a hand on her shoulder. "I'm so sorry. I didn't mean to mess up your shot."
Norah took a deep breath, her anger fading as she looked at him.
"Absolutely no worries," she said, her voice softening. "You can't control when you sneeze." She smiled at him.
"So, should we go again?" Sebastian asked.
"No!" Abigail and Sam yelled in unison.
They were clearly worried that Sebastian and Norah were moments away from destroying the Saloon.
"Oh, thank god," Abigail muttered as she spotted Emily bringing over a couple of pizzas.
"Let's eat!" Abigail cheered.
After eating, Sebastian and Sam played a few more rounds of pool while Abigail chatted with Norah about various things.
Norah, however, wasn't really listening. Her mind was elsewhere, thinking about what she might find at the community center later.
Finally, the Saloon was closing.
She planned to wait for everyone to head home, then sneak up to the community center under the cover of night. At least that was the plan. Except Sebastian was following her. Which meant she had to walk all the way home.
"Why are you following me?" she asked without turning around.
"Like I said earlier, I promised your grandpa I'd keep you safe and out of trouble," he replied, staying just a few paces behind her as they walked.
"What kind of trouble do you think I'm going to get into just walking home?" she asked, annoyed.
"You never know," he said casually.
When they finally reached her house, he followed her all the way to the door.
"I hope you don't think I'm going to invite you in," she said, raising an eyebrow.
"Wouldn't dream of it," he replied with a grin.
She put her hand on the doorknob, about to step inside, when a thought occurred to her.
"Are you the one who left the note?" she asked.
Sebastian's demeanor immediately changed. His body tensed.
"What note?" he asked, his voice sharper than before.
"It's not important—" she started, but he cut her off, pushing past her into the house.
"Hey!" she protested, but he ignored her.
His eyes landed on the note sitting on the table. He strode over, snatching it up.
"You don't know who sent this?" he asked, suddenly looking worried.
"No, but it's probably just a stupid prank, right?" Norah said, trying to brush it off.
Sebastian didn't answer.
Instead, he asked, "Did your grandpa leave you anything in the will? Any documents? A note from him?"
"No… he just left me the farm, basically, and some money," she said.
"He really didn't leave you anything else?"
Norah hesitated.
She thought about the documents she had found but wasn't ready to show anyone until she confirmed her suspicions at the community center.
So, instead, she said, "No, he didn't leave me anything else."
Which wasn't technically a lie. She was pretty sure her grandpa hadn't meant for her to find those papers.
"Why? Was there something he should have left me?" she asked, studying him.
"No, I just—" He cut himself off. "I should go. Lock your door behind me."
And with that, he turned and left. Norah stood there, trying to process his reaction. He knew something. Did he know what her grandpa had been up to? And if so, how involved was he? I'll figure it out later. One thing at a time. She thought
She waited a good thirty minutes to make sure Sebastian had time to make it home. Then, she grabbed her flashlight and slipped out into the night, heading for the community center.
She had barely passed the opening to the bus stop when a hand grabbed her sleeve. On instinct, she swung—but he caught her wrist before she could land the hit.
Under the dim glow of the bus stop light, she saw his face.
Sebastian.
"You really need to take some self-defense classes because that was weak," he said, releasing her hand.
"What the hell are you doing here?" she asked, irritated.
"I'm just out for a stroll," he said casually, pulling out a cigarette. "Robin asked me not to smoke so close to the house."
"So you came all the way to my house to do it?" she accused.
"We're not at your house," he pointed out, gesturing to the bus stop. "The real question is… where are you going?"
"Nowhere. Just for a walk," she replied, forcing a neutral expression.
"Uh-huh," he said, clearly unconvinced.
"Anyways, have a good night," she said, walking past him.
She could hear him following.
Whipping around, she snapped, "Are you seriously following me? Don't you have anything better to do?"
"Yes to the first. No to the second. Any other questions?" he asked, smirking.
Norah let out a frustrated growl.
Whatever.
There was no reason she couldn't check out the community center with him there. It's not like she actually believed the emails. Or the pictures. It was probably all fabricated. For what purpose, she didn't know. She was just checking out this building to ease her mind.
They walked in complete silence until they reached the community center. Norah stopped in front of the door.
A padlock.
"Don't suppose you know how to pick a lock?" she asked, glancing at Sebastian.
"I don't have my lockpick set with me. Sorry," he said.
She couldn't tell if he was joking. He sounded sarcastic… but he definitely seemed like the kind of person who would have that skill set.
"But," he continued, "I do have something better."
"What?" she asked.
Sebastian pulled out a key and walked past her. He slid the key into the lock, turned it, and pushed the door open.
Norah blinked.
"I can't believe I'm saying this… but I'm actually glad you're here," she admitted, stepping inside.
Then she froze.
"Wait. Why do you have the key—"
"No questions, please," he interrupted, ushering her in.
Before she could protest, he glanced around outside, then stepped in and shut the door behind them.
Norah's heart pounded as she walked through the abandoned building. She wasn't sure what she expected to find—something strange? Something obviously suspicious?
But… it was just an old, run-down structure.
No secrets. No hidden horrors.
The little hut from the photo? Nowhere to be seen.
"Huh," she muttered under her breath.
"Expecting to find something?" Sebastian asked.
"No. I was just curious about what was in here." She paused. "Why was it abandoned? Do you know?"
"No idea. Probably because Lewis is too cheap to fix it up," he said. "Same reason he sold that property north of Clint's shop to Joja Corp."
Norah whipped around.
"What? He sold that property to Joja?" she asked, concerned.
"Yup. They break ground on the site tomorrow."
Her stomach twisted.
"What are they using the property for?" she asked, a sick feeling settling in her gut.
What if her former employers found her? Would they 'take care of her' for knowing too much? Wait—that's crazy. They wouldn't do anything to me. I don't even know anything She thought
Right?
Her gaze flicked to Sebastian. And suddenly, something clicked.
Standing there in the dim light, his black cap casting a shadow over his face—he looked familiar. She hadn't really thought about it before… but now she was remembering that night.
The masked man.
The adrenaline had blurred everything back then, but…
Sebastian waved a hand in front of her face. "Earth to Norah."
"What?" she said, realizing she had zoned out.
"I was answering your question. They're turning the property into a store," he said.
"Oh… that's it?" she asked, slightly relieved.
"Why, what did you expect? A giant evil laboratory?" he teased.
Yes, she thought. But instead, she said, "No, of course not."
Then, figuring she had nothing to lose, she asked, "Are you the masked man?"
Sebastian frowned. "What does that even mean?"
"The guy who showed up at Joja and then took me on his motorcycle," she clarified.
"I have no idea what you're talking about," he replied.
Norah studied his face, searching for any sign that he was lying.
Nothing.
But the more she thought about his mannerisms, the more convinced she became. It had to be him. She just needed proof—then maybe he'd explain everything about that night. And maybe even the documents her grandfather had left behind.
"Well, I guess we should head out," she said casually. "I do have questions, though… like how you got that key."
Sebastian smirked. "It's late. Let's talk about it another time."
"That's just code for you're never going to tell me," Norah muttered.
She turned toward the door and opened it. Sebastian followed close behind—but then, out of the corner of his eye, he saw something. A flash of green. Norah noticed him pause.
"What is it?" she asked.
"Huh? Oh, it's nothing," he said quickly, shaking his head and nudging her out the door.
He shut the door and locked it back up.
"Lead the way," he said, gesturing toward her house.
"You're not seriously going to walk me home," she said, narrowing her eyes. "Your house is in the opposite direction."
"I take my promises very seriously," he replied. "I told your grandfather—"
"Blah, blah, blah—protect me. Yeah, I get it," she interrupted. "But we live in a small town full of trustworthy people. Do you seriously think something is going to happen to me on this ten-minute walk?"
"I'm not changing my mind," he said firmly.
Norah sighed but didn't argue further. She started walking, Sebastian keeping pace behind her.
When she finally crawled into bed that night, she lay awake, mind racing. How could she prove Sebastian was the masked man? There had to be a way to make him come clean.
She thought back to the brief flicker of surprise on his face when he had first shown up at her doorstep. It had to be because he had recognized her from that night.
She was going to prove it.
And once she did—
She'd find out everything he knew about Joja Corp.