Page 27 of Poisoned Pawn
The news site is littered with reports about the shooting at Gambino’s earlier and speculation about a turf war. I scroll through the comments and pictures but most of it is nonsense. Then one user’s comment catches my eye.
User arkham666 has posted a picture from inside the restaurant as Star leaves the table. The angle shows her face as clear as day and can only have been taken from behind me. The caption reads,
Most Wanted - 1M bounty dead or alive.
“Jesus fucking Christ!” I open a private message to Koda and copy the link to the comment and send to him.
Eliminator69 Since when has this been a thing? You need to remove it. Every fucker in the city and beyond is going to be looking for her.
I impatiently tap my fingers on the desk as I wait for Koda to reply. Anxiety kicks up a notch when the little dots show he’s typing. When they stop and no message appears, I slam my fist down on the desk.
I type out another message and go to hit send as my phone rings.
“What the fuck, man?
“I know, but there’s jack shit I can do about it.”
“What do you mean you can’t do anything about it? It’s your site,” I ask slowly, my tone fearful.
Koda’s heavy sigh heightens the dread in my gut. “Someone hacked my server. They have complete control over it all. I’ve spent the last two hours trying to get back in and find out how they got in in the first place. Trust me, man, I’m just a pissed as you.”
“No, Koda, I don’t think you are.” I scrub a hand across my face when something else occurs to me. “Can they access personal details?” My question is met with silence. “Koda, can they access personal details,” I enunciate each word making sure he understands the seriousness of my question.
“Yes,” he says.
That one word is said with such disappointment and apology, yet it does nothing to relieve the absolute rage his simple yes has induced.
“The folder is encrypted, Carter. It will take some time to gain access.”
“But they will get in, right?”
“Yes. Someone this smart will definitely get in.”
“How long?”
“I…I do—”
“How fucking long, Koda?” I yell, my patience unravelling.
“A couple of hours. Twenty-four at the most. I’m sorry,” he quickly rushes out.
I take a deep breath. “It’s not your fault. I need you to look after—”
“It’s already done, Carter. Everything you need is at the storage facility.”
I’m nodding and planning in my head. After I left the Shadow Guard, I no longer had their protection or resources and needed a plan in case I ever had to disappear. Koda helped me, although he doesn’t know where I’ll go. That little gem of info is something I’ve not shared with anyone. No point in going off grid if people know where you could be hiding.
“Thanks. I’ll check in when I can. Be safe.”
I pull open the drawer in my desk and take out the small tablet I keep in there along with a charger and a remote. Then I log out of Tor and activate the remote self-destruct feature. Koda set up my computer with a high-end security system like his own that uses two-factor authentication. The fact that I won’t be using my computer means if I get an alert then someone else is trying to access it. This particular system has a self-destruct chip than can be activated remotely. Koda’s server has been hacked which means destroying his own system won’t do anything to prevent them from still having access.
I take what I need and exit the office. I grab the bag I left in the corridor earlier and pack the tablet and charger in it and pocket the remote. From the cupboard I take a small cool bag and pack up some water and food. I don’t want to stop unless I absolutely have to. Getting from here to the storage facility is going to be hard enough. And stopping means more chance of being spotted.
“Let’s go, princess,” I say as I barrel into the bedroom without so much as a knock. If I was expecting to startle her, I’m shit out of luck because she’s sitting on the bed with her knees up, forearms resting on them, and leaning against the headboard.
She doesn’t respond or make any move to follow my order. “Get up. We need to leave.” I walk to the side of the bed and reach out to grab hold of her arm, but she pulls away.
“No.”