Chapter 8 #2
I don’t tell him I’ve found 404, he’d expect me to drag his ass out of here and deliver him directly, while I’ve still got questions to ask.
Eventually, we move to a table, since the bar stool is a little uncomfortable, and I don’t want to get into sensitive subjects out in the open. Besides, his laptop case has been sitting on the floor for a while, and people keep tripping over it on their way to the bar.
404 starts talking computers, and I don’t really understand a single damn thing. The man’s got zero game, but he does have a very sharp sense of danger.
“So, tell me, Brynn, what brings you to this bar… and to my table?” he asks, arching an eyebrow like he’s on to me—just when I thought things were going smoothly between us.
I don’t think I blew my cover completely, but he can probably tell the difference between me and the kind of women who usually approach him—if any do that at all.
I’m definitely not telling him that his boss is hunting him down.
So, I go for the sympathy card. “I’m looking for a friend,” I lower my voice.
“He’s been missing for almost a year. And I was hoping maybe you could help me.
” I don’t tell him I already know Elias is dead.
I’m not sure if he knows, or how involved he is in this shit.
But I suspect he knows something, especially since he’s scrambling for a way out just a couple of weeks before Halloween.
I show him a picture of Elias and me. It’s the only photo I keep of Elias, and it’s hidden in a secret folder so that no one would know about our connection if they go through my phone.
It’s a selfie we took at a carnival fair.
He used to love going there. Said it had something to do with the fact that he never visited one as a kid. Funny since I used to work at one.
I can’t hide the pain in my voice as I ask 404 if he’s seen him. That makes everything much more real, and I think that’s the reason why he decides not to lie to me.
That, and the fact that I suspect he’s a terrible liar.
“I know him, but I haven’t seen him in almost a year.” His expression changes, but we’re on drink number four, so I raise the stakes just enough to get him talking a little. He’s not the kind of man who’d share sensitive information. Still, if he knows that I know, maybe the rules change.
“Listen, I’ve been doing some digging. I know it’s connected to some kind of game, like a competition that happens on Halloween.
” I confess, and he looks at me like I just triggered a damn heart attack.
“Please, I need to know where he is… if he’s gotten himself into trouble or… whatever happened to him.”
404’s eyes suddenly fill with something, grief maybe, I can’t tell yet, but he tries to push it back fast. “I can’t help you more than this.”
“Please, I’m desperate. Please, tell me what you know about the game.” I all but beg, because this time, I really am desperate. But looking at him, I realize there’s something more. Like my pain is reflected in 404’s eyes.
“Elias is….” He trails off… “We had a thing.”
I knew Elias swung both ways, I just never figured he’d go for someone like 404. Which leads me to believe the man sitting in front of me knows a whole lot about what’s happening behind the scenes with Kharon.
“Then help me figure out what happened to him. He must’ve told you about me. Try to remember. Does my name sound familiar?” I play the emotion card again because I know Elias never shut up about me. I was his nymph, his nemesis, his go-to person, and as close as he ever got to family.
404 looks at me, realizing that my name does ring a bell. Which makes it a lot easier to get information out of him. “Jesus, you’re right. I do remember.” He scans me from head to toe. “I can’t believe I didn’t figure this out earlier. You’re exactly like he described you. He trusted you so much.”
I bite the inside of my cheek to hold back a tear. “Then you know that I’ll do my best to find out where he is and what happened to him. Please, please tell me whatever you know.”
He hesitates for a second, but I can see in his eyes that Elias meant something to him, and that he wants the truth––or justice—as much as I do. “I work for some people. Really dangerous people. Like the fucking mob running this city.”
I want to push for names, but I just let him talk for now. And I already know Ares is looking for him, so it’s not that hard to guess who he's referring to.
“You’re right. There’s a game. Every Halloween, the most ruthless and influential people in this city gather to hunt.
A fucking human hunt. I provide a list of possible targets.
That’s my part in all of this. I look for convicted criminals who got away with serious charges after serving little to no time.
I need to assure myself that they’re all guilty first. No traces of doubt, just mistrials or payoffs to the right people.
And the prize… fifty million dollars—a hell of a lot of money for anyone involved. ”
I want to interrupt and ask more questions, but I let him go on for now.
“The thing is, there’s only one winner. The last one left alive gets the prize.
It’s all hush-hush. No one knew who the contenders were except me and the one pulling the strings.
He does this to entertain different politicians, or even mafia lords, and keep his businesses running.
But most of all, I think he enjoys the hunt himself. ”
“Who are you talking about?” I ask, but he shoots me an annoyed look just as another one of Ares’ texts shows up on my screen. Speaking of the devil…
Tic Toc
Fuck you! I don’t text that back, though. Just reply:
I have him.
I have no idea why I just let him in on that, because I’m seriously considering not delivering 404 to him, especially after all the questions I’ve been asking him. He might talk.
“Jesus, I have to go to the bathroom before my bladder explodes,” 404 says with a tightening expression on his face. “Please watch my things.” He points at the laptop case, so I keep an eye on it, then rushes to the bathroom, his hand clutching his crotch, probably so he doesn’t piss himself.
Well, the man downed like five beers, and he left all of his stuff behind. So, I don’t get suspicious.
Hell, even I need the bathroom after all those drinks.
I glance at the bar, from where Josh sends me a wink, then raises his glass, asking if I want another drink. I smile but wave him off with a flat hand. I can’t have another drink right now. I need to be focused on what 404 has to tell me.
My phone lights up with an incoming message. I swear to God, if this is Ares, I’m gonna lose my shit.
I unlock my screen, and it’s definitely not Ares. The dick pic shoots up on my screen.
Ewww, I just knew it.
Who the fuck even sends a picture of their dick when the damn thing looks like that?
It’s like looking like a houseplant someone forgot to water. Gravity isn’t his friend, and neither is this camera angle. They should make dick pic courses, especially for this guy, to avoid whatever that… deflated balloon situation is supposed to be.
I blink hard, hoping I can get that off my mind as soon as possible then check the time on my last text with Ares.
Five minutes ago. Which also means 404 went to the bathroom five minutes ago.
That’s not extremely long, and I take another look at his laptop case, which is still sitting on the chair.
I give it another three minutes before impatience creeps in and a bad feeling settles over me. I stick my hand in the laptop case and realize it’s fucking empty.
Fuck when did he grab his computer?
I know for sure it was full, because I noticed its weight when he picked it up from the floor at the bar.
Damn you, Ares, and your fucking texts, because that’s the only time I took my eyes off him.
I jump to my feet and rush to the bathroom, but as I suspected, there’s no one there, and the window in the men’s room is wide open.
Who does he think he is? This isn’t a fucking movie.
I hurry outside, but there’s no sign of 404, and I know he’s long gone by now, especially since he’s a hacker and probably really skilled at covering his trail.
Fuck, I can’t believe I lost him.
I return to the bar for another Brynn. Most chances are it’s the last drink of my life, might as well enjoy it.
“Hey, you okay?” Josh asks, noticing the desperation etched on my face right now.
“Not sure,” I say, my gaze now lost, unfriendly. I managed to fuck things up once again. It seems to be the story of my life lately. I’ve lost 404 and all chances of getting more information along with him. And dumb me texted Ares that I had 404.
Can’t say I’m impatient to know how that shit show’s going to play out.
This was my last chance, so I probably lost that lead too.
Josh offers to take me home once his shift ends, and as much as I could use his company—or his body—I’m already fucked right now.
I go outside to my car, not even sure where I’d drive, when my phone starts ringing—Ares.
The air gets sucked out of my lungs, maybe I’ll just drop dead and not have to deal with all this shit.
“Where the fuck are you? Why aren’t you here already?” he grunts, his voice so raw it’s almost unearthly.
“I,” I tried to summon the strength to say the words out loud. “I lost him,” I breathe fast, like ripping out a band-aid.
“You fucking what?” he shouts, leaving behind an echo in my ears. “I knew I shouldn’t have sent you there.”
“I’ll get him, just give me another day,” I say, with no real idea how to track him down.
“Elysium. Now!” he orders, hanging up on me.
I guess there’s no extra day or third chances. For a second, I contemplate whether I should bolt just as 404 did. But if there’s even the slightest chance I can avenge Elias, then it’s worth risking my life for.