Chapter Ten
Riglan
I asked him to trust me. Gave him instructions about retaining devices and any evidence remaining on them.
Told him to get a burner phone partly so he would be able to use it without constant trauma, partly because I planned to have him turn his current one over to the person helping him with it.
And partly so he wouldn’t get any more phone calls.
Also because I wanted to see if the stalker might manage to find that number. It wasn’t easy to do, but someone with enough skills could manage it. If they did, then I, or rather the guy helping this human, would know what he was dealing with.
And since it was no worse than chatting online, I told him I would call him on the phone.
He started to tell me his number, but of course I already had it.
Without even having to look somewhere like the dark web.
His information was everywhere on the net and whoever was after him could find it as easily as me.
He filled me in somewhat, and I made notes in the secure program I used for such things. His voice had a familiar ring, and my ferret was riveted to it. Making little purring chirping sounds. I was starting to wonder exactly what the beast thought was going on here.
This is just a job, and not even for me, I chided.
For us, he snapped back, leaving me even more unsettled.
“Why don’t we meet face-to-face,” I finally suggested. “Oh…I’m not sure.” Hesitating? After begging me for help?
“You aren’t? I thought you wanted someone to figure out the situation and how you can get out of it.”
“I do, but if you’re not even going to be the one who does it, wouldn’t it be more practical to meet with the other party?”
He might be frightened, but he was still thinking.
And he had a good point. “I need more information before I can be sure of who the right contractor would be. They are all very specialized.” True, but under no circumstances would I send him to someone who I didn’t trust—as much as any of us mistrustful SOBs trusted anyone.
“I see. And I can’t just tell it all to you on the phone?”
Yes, he could.
Why didn’t I just walk away like I should?
I knew a couple of people who could probably take care of his problem and who would do it for a price he actually might be able to afford.
They more or less worked on a sliding scale if they thought they could help someone.
Way more philanthropic than I’d ever been.
“I can tell more by seeing your expressions and body language. Often, people know a lot more than they realize they do, and teasing out those facts is my specialty.” Something I usually did in FaceTime.
“So, if you bring the devices and any other evidence for me to take a look at, I can get you started with your own personal hacker.”
“I’m nervous about meeting you.”
He was honest, which made things easier than if he’d been trying to hide from me. “I understand. But I wasn’t going to suggest we meet in a deserted parking lot on Skid Row or some other dangerous place.”
“You do understand.”
“Of course. I had in mind a very nice café right in the middle of downtown. Lots of foot traffic and not so many other customers on most days that we can’t speak privately.”
“Where?”
I named it.
“I know where that is,” he said. “All right. When?”
We set up a time and disconnected, but I wasn’t sure he’d show up. The guy was spooked.
And who could blame him?