Chapter 4: An Unlikely Connection
The streets of Northampton bustled with life, as holiday shoppers darted in and out of stores. Rebecca stepped out of the bank where she worked, her mind elsewhere. Wayne, her husband, had been distant and erratic, his gambling debts mounting to dangerous levels. She sighed, adjusting her scarf, trying to focus on the chilly December air rather than the chaos waiting at home.
She didn’t notice the car speeding toward the curb until it was too late.
“Look out!” a voice shouted.
Before Rebecca could react, a pair of hands yanked her back. She stumbled, gasping, as the car screeched by, missing her by inches.
“Are you okay?” her rescuer asked, steadying her. He was tall, with sharp eyes that scanned her quickly, as if assessing for injuries.
“I… I think so. Thank you,” Rebecca stammered, her heart still racing.
“Close call,” another voice said, this one lighter, friendlier. Rebecca turned to see a man with a camera slung over his shoulder, adjusting the strap as he approached.
Rebecca looked between them, still catching her breath. “Thank you both. I didn’t even see it coming.”
The first man gave a small nod. “I’m Adam,” he said, his voice steady, but Rebecca noticed a flicker of intensity in his gaze.
“And I’m Tanim,” the second man added with a warm smile. “Glad Adam saw it in time. I was too busy fumbling with my camera.”
Rebecca glanced at Tanim’s camera and then at Adam’s bag, which also carried gear. “Are you both photographers?”
Tanim nodded. “Yeah, weddings mostly. I was out shooting some street scenes when I bumped into Adam—literally. We just met.”
Adam gave a faint smirk. “Photographer might be a stretch for me. I shoot weddings occasionally, but it’s not my main gig.”
“What is, then?” Rebecca asked, curiosity sparking despite her shaken nerves.
“Private investigator,” Adam replied, his tone matter-of-fact.
Rebecca blinked. “A private investigator and a wedding photographer? That’s... unusual.”
“You’d be surprised how much overlap there is,” Adam said dryly.
Tanim chuckled. “Yeah, I mean, weddings are a bit like mysteries. Who’s late, who’s missing, who’s hiding from the photographer…”
Rebecca managed a laugh, her tension easing slightly. “Well, I’m glad you two crossed paths today. Seems like fate worked in my favor.”
“It definitely wasn’t your day to get hit by a car,” Adam said, the corners of his mouth twitching upward.
Rebecca smiled and adjusted her bag. “Thank you again. Not all heroes wear capes, I guess.”
“Some just carry cameras,” Tanim said, earning a soft laugh from Rebecca.
As Rebecca walked away, she glanced back once. Adam stood still, his gaze following her as if trying to piece together something unspoken. Tanim noticed and nudged him.
“You always this intense, or is that just for strangers you save?”
Adam smirked. “Just wondering what her story is.”
“You’ve got a good eye,” Tanim said, extending a hand. “I know we just met, but something tells me we might make a good team. If you’re ever up for some work that’s less mysterious and more celebratory, give me a shout.”
Adam shook his hand. “We’ll see. But I’ve got to admit, I don’t mind the chaos.”
Tanim laughed. “Well, if weddings aren’t chaotic, I don’t know what is.”
The two walked off, their banter light but filled with unspoken potential. Neither realized that this chance meeting—like Rebecca’s near-miss—would set into motion events that would intertwine their lives in unexpected ways.
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