29. Chapter 29
Chapter 29
Melanie
The next two hours pass in a blur as I recount my story, from the moment the box was delivered by Mr. Daggers to sitting here in Law's conference room. My voice trembles slightly as I detail Michael's threats, showing them the fabricated newspapers and explaining about the phone and tablet. When I describe the men at my mom and aunt's house, Evelyn reaches over and squeezes my hand. I push through, explaining how I'd sold my car and destroyed the trackers, learning to survive based on an eleven-year-old's wisdom and five minutes of crime TV.
Law and Farris exchange glances, their expressions so stoic they should play professional poker. Though their neutral faces make me nervous, Law's presence is reassuring and there's something about his contained power that makes me feel safer than I have in weeks.
“I vaguely remember Michael from high school, but not enough to say I could pick him out of a group of guys. Tell us about him, his work, hobbies, personal details,” Law says, his deep voice measured and calm. “Mrs. Whitaker, what do you know of him?”
Evelyn straightens in her chair, her normally warm features hardening as she recounts Michael's history with their family. Then she tells of his father's cruelty after his mother abandoned him, how Cameron always defended and protected him, his love for martial arts specifically karate, and finally, the way he leered at women when he thought no one was watching.
“Sounds like an ass,” Law states flatly. His matter-of-fact assessment draws a wan smile from Evelyn and an enthusiastic agreement from me. “Melanie, could you go over exactly what he said about the warehouse?”
“I wrote everything down,” I say, pulling out my carefully documented transcripts. “I made notes after each conversation while it was fresh in my memory.” I hand them over to Farris, who gives them to Law.
“Smart girl. If more people would write things down, our jobs would be a lot easier, wouldn't it, Farris?” Law's deep laugh rumbles through the room.
“It sure would,” Farris agrees with a grim smile.
“You should know Michael is a computer genius. In college, professors sang his praises. He's always been handy with electronics, but he now considers himself a hacker with supreme computer security.” I explain again how Michael said all the Whitaker phones were bugged and how he ended my call with Cameron.
“I'm not a computer genius like Michael, but I'm not a newbie either. I learned a lot through journalism, but I've searched everywhere online and found nothing concrete, just whispers and rumors about Michael.” I finish helplessly. “He's too good with computers. The only thing I could find that might have a connection to him is this Emperor Maikeru.” I pull out the paperwork I've amassed on him and hand it to Farris. “But no one knows exactly who he is, just that he's someone not to be messed with. I've seen references to him being an Emperor of Hell.” I shiver, running my hands up and down my arms.
“You're safe here, Melanie,” Law locks eyes with me. “You're with us now. I promise you're safe.” I fight the urge to cry again. There's something in his expression that makes me feel like I finally have people on my side and that for the first time in a long time, I really am safe. Law pulls out his phone, dialing quickly. “Mouse, Law. I need you and Keyboard now. Level nine. Fine, what are your terms?”
Farris slides him a notepad and pen. Law starts writing, occasionally nodding, twice rolling his eyes, which brings a chuckle from Farris. “Anything else? Deal. Twenty minutes. Sebastian and Maxwell will get you.”
He hangs up and hands the list to Farris, whose eyebrows shoot up. “Really? Four boxes of variety chips? Six cases of zero sugar Red Mountain Dew, a case of root beer and ten bags of berry Nerd clusters, two cheeseburgers with no onions, fries, onion rings, and two chocolate malts.” He shakes his head. “Good thing they're worth it. I'll have Emily get started on the stuff. We can order the hot food when they arrive.” Farris stands with the list and leaves the room.
Law's back on his phone. “Hey, yeah, I just put in the order for Mouse and Keyboard. Twenty minutes, then back here A.S.A.P. No, Farris is handling their list. Take Maxwell. He needs more contact time with them. Conference room. Thanks.”
“Law,” Evelyn interjects, clearly puzzled, “what exactly are Mouse and Keyboard, and what is a level nine?”
“Mouse and Keyboard are the personas of extremely gifted computer specialists who have certain talents for backtracking and discovering information the owner believes is hidden. The harder the challenge, the better they do. Also, they have personal stakes in a situation like this,” Law explains in an odd diplomatic way.
“Are you speaking English?” Evelyn cocks her head to one side. “I don't think I understood anything you said other than Mouse and Keyboard.”
Law laughs, and not just a chuckle, a resonating barrel-chest laugh. “Let's just say they're good at computers.”
“Certainly, their parents didn't name them Mouse and Keyboard,” Evelyn looks at me, but I shrug my shoulders.
“No,” Law smiles, “it's the names they prefer to be called.”
“I'm sure they are quite nice, but they sound like they should be spray painting the side of a building, like hoodlums.” Evelyn sits back in her chair, clearly confused.
“You're probably not far off. Someone has to experience Mouse and Keyboard to understand them.” That brings a chuckle from him. “For the most part, they're harmless. They're working to get back in Uncle Sam's good graces. They've been assigned to me to help where I need it.”
“They're convicts?” Evelyn frowns. “Are you sure they should have so much sugar? That was a lot of Mountain Dew.”
“It's zero sugar.” I turn to Law. “They're hackers, aren't they? Working off their sentences by helping agencies?” Law's approving nod encourages me. “See, Mom, hackers are incredibly superstitious about their success rituals. If they crack a challenge or a puzzle.” I can see nothing I'm saying makes sense to her. “Basically, if hackers have a big win while drinking red Mountain Dew and eating berry Nerd clusters, they'll have those items every single time until their luck runs out and they fail. Then the items they've been drinking, eating, even a pen or notebook, all of it is banned for life and they find new lucky things. Right?”
Law claps. “Perfectly explained. How do you know all this?”
“I did a story on hackers for journalism. Also, I've been watching a lot of crime shows lately,” I admit with a weak smile. Law chuckles, but Evelyn still looks concerned.
“Do you trust them?” Evelyn eyes Law with her mothering look. “Those,” she points to the papers in front of him “all of this is sensitive. Melanie's life depends on Michael being caught.”
“Believe me, they're trustworthy; I wouldn't bring them in otherwise. They're going to be very invested in this case. Computers are like oxygen to them, and to take on Michael online, well, we couldn't do it without them.” Law explains. “Because our team handles federal fugitives, they're assigned to me. I report their involvement directly to their federal parole officer.”
This time it's my turn to ask the question. “And you think they can find what we need on Michael?”
“If anyone can, it's those two. They're black hat hackers at the global level.”
I whistle softly at that. “Global level? Damn.”
“I swear you two are speaking Greek,” Evelyn sighs. “Mel, I had no idea you knew about any of this.”
“I know just enough to sound like I know.” I say. “Based on what Law just said, Mouse and Keyboard are two of the best hackers in the world.”
“Better than Michael?” There's a thread of hope in Evelyn's voice.
“We'll see,” Law says grimly. “Tell me more about him. What are his mannerisms, habits, personal stuff.”
Evelyn nods encouragingly. I take a deep breath. “Well, he's an ass, as we've established. A gym rat, buff, but...” I glance involuntarily at Law's massive arms, then quickly away, feeling heat creep up my neck. “Nothing like you or Farris. He's a martial arts master, I think I said that. Cameron always said fighting him would be deadly.”
A derisive snort draws my attention. Farris, who just entered the room, is smiling. “He hasn't met Sebastian.”
“Sebastian?”
“You’ll meet him,” Law says, his attention drawn to something behind me. Following their gazes, I turn to see two men approaching through the floor-to-ceiling windows. There isn't a doubt in my mind that they are part of Law's inner crew. Muscles leading muscles, the men move with the fluid grace of predators, instantly commanding attention.
The first is tall and bald, his dark skin gleaming under the lights. Everything about him exudes quiet power with an air of sophistication. He's dressed in a perfectly tailored black suit coat over a silver-colored t-shirt. His eyes are constantly on the move, his chiseled jawline set. The second man is shorter, but no less imposing, almost more so. His thick athletic frame with enormous biceps is clothed entirely in black, from his stylish button-up shirt over a black t-shirt to his black cargo pants. Spiked black hair emphasizes sharp cheekbones and piercing dark eyes that seem to miss nothing. He reminds me of the enigmatic sensei in a martial arts film—dangerous but bound by an unshakeable code of honor.
Between the men walk two young Asian women who could be twins, their appearance so startling it takes me a moment to process. They look like anime characters come to life. Striped knee-high socks, like what basketball players wore in the seventies. Impossibly short pleated plaid skirts and tight t-shirts emblazoned with gaming characters, their red bras deliberately visible through the thin fabric. Each has long black hair styled in matching pigtails that bounce off their backs as they walk. If I saw the two of them on the street, I would immediately guess they were social media influencers rather than elite hackers. They can't weigh more than a hundred pounds each, though at least twenty of that seems concentrated in their enhanced chests and bouncy hair.
I glance at Evelyn, having to stifle a laugh at her expression as she openly stares, her mouth forming a perfect 'O' of shock as she watches the four of them file into the room and stand in a line facing Law.
“Mrs. Whitaker, Melanie, may I present Mouse and Keyboard.”
“They're... girls,” Evelyn manages.
“Aww, you noticed!” One spins playfully, tossing her skirt to show ruffled panties. She strikes a pin-up coy pose with her finger to her lips.
“Geez, what gave it away?” The other adjusts her bra with exaggeration.
“Ladies,” Law's tone carries gentle warning. “These are my personal friends.”
“Sorry, Sir,” the two chorus, twirling the ends of their pigtails in perfect sync.
The man in all black, I guess is Sebastian. He huffs in annoyance, raising his eyes to the ceiling. Both girls edge closer to him until his glare sends them giggling and skittering back, still playing with their hair.
“I think she's confused because you said they were brothers,” I say to Law.
“We are,” the girls answer together with perfectly timed hair tosses. “Well, as far as anyone online knows,” Mouse giggled.
Mortified that I potentially insulted their life choices, I stammer, “I'm so sorry, I didn't mean to assume.”
“No worries, sister,” Mouse waves it off. “See, in our world, everyone assumes if you know computers, you must have come with a joystick.” She points to her crotch.
“So, we let them keep assuming,” Keyboard finishes. “Nobody questions our skills when they think we're guys.”
“Then we swoop in with our tight kitties and perky boobs and crush them.” Mouse smiles a charming smile.
“Yeah, we sprinkle some pixie glitter on their dead bodies, then fly away on gossamer wings.” Keyboard makes a show of smashing something under her heel. “Leaving them to rot.”
They both glance at Sebastian again. His eye roll is practically audible. Law shakes his head. Farris's poorly concealed chuckle suggests this is a common dynamic.
“These are your elite hackers?” Evelyn blurts, clearly still processing the scene in front of her.
“Coming at you live,” Keyboard grins.
“In the flesh,” Mouse confirms.
“Sebastian,” Law gestures to the shorter man. “Maxwell,” he indicates the first man in line. “I'd like you to meet personal friends of mine, Evelyn Whitaker, a dear friend of my mom's, and Melanie Thompson.” The men shake our hands before pulling out chairs for the ladies, then taking their own seats.
Law quickly brings everyone up to speed on Michael and the situation. I watch the girls' faces darken as he describes the trafficking operation.
“So, this mi-chin nyeon is taking women?” Keyboard's words drip with disdain.
“Language,” Law warns.
“What? They don't speak Korean,” she protests, pointing at me. She submits at his look. “Fine, best behavior, got it.”
“Do you have a picture?” Mouse asks. “Of this... ah, person?”
I pull up Michael's photo on my phone and pass it around. The girls huddle together, rapid-fire Korean flowing between them until Sebastian's grunt draws their instant attention.
He raises an eyebrow. “Aniyo,” and a slight nod toward the table is all it takes for the ladies to stop talking and hand my phone back. In a much deeper voice than I expected, Sebastian translates dryly as the girls dissolve into giggles. “They were just commenting on his... unfortunate appearance.” Mouse and Keyboard's obvious crush on him is painfully clear. His complete disinterest is equally so. But part of me wonders if it’s carefully crafted act.
Smiling at the ladies, I can't help myself. “I can't blame them. I don't think he's attractive either.”
“Could you send us the hideous man's picture?” Keyboard asks, glancing at Sebastian, then Law, suddenly all business.
“Of course.” I pick up my phone. “What else do you need?”
“Full name, address, vehicles, business details,” Mouse lists. At Law's pointed look, she adds a belated, “Please.”
“We've got it all here.” Farris hands over the folder. The ladies confer briefly.
“Joh-eun, is a lot.” Keyboard nods then looks at Law. “Standard procedure, sir?”
“Yes. Coordinate time and supplies through Farris. Intel comes directly to me. Time is critical, as you'll see from the file, we know he's taken two other women. But we don't know how many others are at risk.”
They nod their understanding and rise in unison, heading for the door with Maxwell following.
“Why am I always supply runner?” Farris grumbles once they're gone.
“You know why,” Sebastian says cryptically.
Law clears his throat. “They'll need time to work. Lunch?”
My phone startled me when it rings with a number I don’t recognize.
“I don’t know who this is.” I held my phone out, and Law came to stand next to me.
“That’s a Whispering Pines number,” he said. “Here, I’ll answer it.”
Taking my phone, he lowered his voice. “Yes?” He answered. “One minute.” He held the phone out to Evelyn. “It’s the pilot.”
“I’m sorry. I forgot to tell you I gave them your number to reach us. You know, since Michael has mine bugged.” After a brief conversation, she returns, looking apologetic. “Our pilots went to Maine and are now fogged in. I guess that's the price you pay for lobsters. We'll need a hotel for tonight.”
“No problem,” Law smiles. “I know just the place.”