James froze mid-step on the walkway leading to his apartment building, his head tilting slightly as Echo tensed beside him. Something was wrong—a barely perceptible electronic hum that didn't belong, pitched just at the edge of his heightened hearing range.
"What is it?" Maya asked, noticing his sudden alertness.
"We're being watched," he murmured, keeping his voice low. "There's surveillance equipment near my door. New installation—wasn't there this morning."
Maya instinctively reached for her portable scanner, but James touched her arm, stopping her.
"Don't," he whispered. "Act normal. If they see us detect it, they'll just replace it with something more sophisticated."
They continued walking, James guiding Echo forward with practiced commands while maintaining a casual conversation
