The Second Chance Trap

a week tearing my apartment apart, searching for listening devices. I scanned my laptop and phone with every anti

est its limits. I needed a subject so completely

nded on Ba

nt his days nursing a single cup of black coffee while ranting to anyone who would listen about chemtrails and the lizard people runnin

him his coffee with a warm smile. "Barney, I w

h falling open sligh

es," I lied smoothly. "I find them

him hold my hand during a walk through the park while he explained that pigeons are actually government surveillance drones. I made sure we were seen. I

just had to wait for

ter the morning rush when Molly stormed into the coffee shop.

you're doing?" she hissed,

it look like?" I replied calmly

s. "Barney Duncan! Are you serious? The app is linking me to him! Do you have any idea ho

t her own social image. She couldn't stand being associated with someone as repu

said, looking her straight in the eye. "You're the

rage. "You bitch! You're

rab me. My manager, a burly guy named Fran

Get out of my

, screaming at me. "You'll regre

end of the counter. He calmly walked over, took in the scene, and slapped a citation fo

reat at me before she stormed off. The stakes ha