30. Chapter 30
Chapter 30
Melanie
The hustle and bustle of New York streets fills the air as Law leads us back to the office after lunch. During the meal, we listened to the guys reminisce and playfully bash each other. They seem like a good group who genuinely want to make the world better. I find myself feeling increasingly safe in their presence.
Back at Law's offices, thumping music draws my attention. Walking upstairs, I realize it's coming from Mouse and Keyboard's workspace. Two huge speakers pulse with neon colors matching the beat. The room is covered with retro movie posters and gaming characters. Mouse and Keyboard are seated in neon pink desk chairs, fuzzy lime green rugs beneath them. While the room has an eclectic college dorm feel, both women are focused intently on dual monitors, their fingers flying across keyboards with machine-gun rapidity. Their earlier playfulness has vanished, replaced by laser-focused concentration. Law quietly closes the door before leading us back to the conference room.
“They texted during lunch. They've encountered some resistance from well programed defense systems,” he explains, his deep voice steady and reassuring. “They said not to worry, it's normal. Mouse said think of it as testing the castle walls. They're in the zone, so we'll let them work.”
“I'm impressed they've gotten that far so quickly,” I say, raising my eyebrows.
“Me too,” Evelyn adds, “though I'd be lying if I said I understood what you're talking about.”
He guides us past the conference room to the elevator, which takes us up to the next floor. At lunch, Law mentioned we could stay tonight in the upstairs apartment. Stepping into the space, Evelyn and I both stop in our tracks. This place could grace the pages of Architectural Digest. Gleaming marble floors throughout, soaring ceilings, and a grand piano anchoring one of two elegant seating areas. The open-concept layout flows seamlessly from the chef's professional-grade kitchen to a dining room table that could seat the Knights of the Round Table and then some. But it's the bedrooms that call to me like sirens to sailors. Plush beds dressed in what must be thousand-thread-count linens promise the deep sleep that's eluded me since this tragedy started. Only the spa-worthy bathrooms with their deep soaking tubs and rainfall showers offer competition for my attention.
“This is incredible,” Evelyn gushes, running her hand along the polished granite countertop. I nod in agreement, still taking in the understated luxury.
“I'm glad you like it. Please make yourselves at home,” Law says. “I have some case work to handle. I'll be back around six to discuss dinner plans. The kitchens fully stocked, and there's a number by the phone if you need anything, food or any supplies you may have forgotten. Don't hesitate to call if you need one of us too."
We thank him profusely as he heads out. Evelyn locks the door behind him with a satisfying click that makes my shoulders relax even more than they already have since arriving in New York.
“Would you mind if we stayed in and rested?” Evelyn asks, stifling a yawn. “Between our early departure and everything today, I'm rather worn out.”
“Actually, I was going to ask you the same thing,” I say, pulling her into a tight hug. “Thank you for bringing me here. I have real hope the team will find something on Michael.”
“Those girls are something else entirely, aren't they?” Evelyn shakes her head, still processing Mouse and Keyboard's existence. “Explain the brother thing to me again.”
Laughing, I explain it before we split up and head to our rooms. In mine, I sprawl out on the king-size bed and sigh. Even if Mouse and Keyboard can't find anything, I'm grateful for this trip. I knew I was wound tight, but I honestly had no idea how tight. A nap sounds wonderful, so I burrow into blankets that instantly make me feel like I'm wrapped in clouds. The mattress cradles my exhausted body perfectly. I feel truly safe. As consciousness fades, Cameron's face appears. This time not in nightmare form as it sometimes does, but smiling that crooked smile I fell in love with. I drift off, clinging to that image.
“Melanie.”
A gentle voice penetrates my cocoon of comfort. I try to ignore it, wanting to stay in this peaceful place.
“Melanie, honey, it's almost six.” Evelyn's familiar tone finally pulls me from sleep. I crack one eye open.
“Already?” Both eyes open now as I stretch languorously, still reluctant to leave this haven.
“You slept the whole afternoon,” she says, perched on the edge of my bed with that maternal smile I've missed so desperately. “I think you needed it.”
“I didn't expect to sleep that long.”
“Sometimes we don't know how exhausted we are until we feel safe enough to really rest.” Her hand squeezes my arm gently.
“You're right. I've only been sleeping in fits and starts, always on alert.” I sit up, crossing my legs. “I can't thank you enough for finding me. And bringing me here.”
“Of course I had to find you, your our family.” Her voice carries absolute conviction. “That's what Michael didn't account for. That as long as I was breathing, I would never stop looking for answers. I knew you loved Cameron and all of us. Running away without explanation? That wasn't the Melanie I know.” She reaches up to tuck a stray strand of hair behind my ear, the gesture so achingly familiar it brings tears to my eyes.
I fidget with the blanket, unable to meet her gaze. “Once Michael's locked away, I hope Cameron and I can at least be civil. I don't want to lose everyone again. If they'll even have me back.”
“Once they hear the whole story, they'll understand.” She pauses. “Cameron's always been stubborn, it comes with being the baby of the family. But he'll come around. Remember, though, his best friend caused all of this. It's going to be a lot for him to process.”
“I know. I keep trying to figure out how to tell him, how to explain everything.”
“Do you miss him?” Her question is gentle but direct.
“Every minute of every day.” The words tumble out before I can stop them. “I have to constantly fight to keep my emotions in check. I'm terrified that if I let go, I'll either collapse completely or do something stupid like call him. So many times, I've picked up the phone to call, knowing the minute I do, Michael will know and horrific things will happen.” Tears spill over and Evelyn wordlessly hands me a tissue. “Cameron's face is the last thing I see every night before I fall asleep.”
“Hold on to those feelings. They'll help you get him back.”
“Thank you for believing in me. I was afraid no one would.”
The phone's sharp ring startles us both. We share a nervous laugh at our jumpiness before Evelyn answers.
“Hello?” She listens intently. “Yes, of course. We'll be right there. No, we're fine, we can manage.” She hangs up and springs to her feet. “The girls found something; Law wants us in the conference room.”
A burst of adrenaline dispels any lingering drowsiness as we hurry down to Law's office. The elevator seems agonizingly slow as Evelyn and I exchange nervous glances. My mind races with possibilities. What could they have found? Is it enough to stop Michael? Or just more breadcrumbs leading nowhere?
We find Law's team gathered in the conference room. Mouse and Keyboard look different now, their playful personas replaced by grim determination. Even their pigtails seem less bouncy as everyone spins to look at us when we burst through the doors.
“Ladies, please sit.” Law gestures to our earlier seats. Once we're settled, he continues, “Mouse and Keyboard have discovered something.”
The twins exchange glances, then look to Law, who nods. Mouse speaks first. “We found a hidden network of servers.”
“This has been like finding a spider web in the dark—the ugly one has talents,” Keyboard interjects. “But we are better.”
“We are. These servers are running dark web sites, very heavily encrypted. But we found a weakness.” Mouse's fingers dance across the keyboard of the conference room computer as we watch what she's doing on the projector's big screen. “See, this Michael thinks he's clever, which he is, but—”
“But he's sloppy and ugly, mostly ugly.” Keyboard finishes. “He leaves digital fingerprints.”
“In English, please,” Evelyn requests.
Sebastian swivels to look at us. “What they're getting at is they found proof linking Michael's alias to an underground network. The same signature appears on sites selling...” He pauses, jaw clenching. “Selling women who we believe are being kept there.”
My stomach lurches. “Emperor Maikeru?”
Both twins nod vigorously. “Got it in one,” Mouse confirms. “That's his dark web handle. So full of himself, this one is. The hidden site is a bugger to break into, but we are working on it. We want to see who the players are. Don't worry, sister,” they both look at me, “we'll find them.”
“We traced huge financial transactions,” Keyboard explains. “Coming from the site. And I mean big—”
“Big, big,” Mouse adds.
Keyboard continues, “These large sums of money in all sorts of denominations are flowing through shell companies—”
“All leading back to properties owned by other shell corporations.”
Both ladies say together, “Every one of which traces back to one Emperor Maikeru. Now, we need to link Michael Thorne.”
Law holds up a hand to stop their rapid-fire exchange. “There's more. One of those properties is a warehouse outside of Whispering Pines. Satellite imagery shows it’s remote, really remote, with only one main road leading in. If you even want to call it a road, I think it’s more a cattle trail.”
“You mean,” I look at the ladies, “you found the warehouse?” The words taste like ash in my mouth. “He said...” I can't finish the sentence.
“We believe that's where he's holding the missing women,” Law confirms quietly.
Evelyn reaches for my hand. “My God.”
“There's something else,” Mouse says hesitantly.
“We know from your paperwork; Mr. Daggers is one of Michael's key men. So, we followed the trail on him and learned,” Keyboard looks to Law, “From a string of text communications between Daggers and the Emperor, we learned about an upcoming shipment.”
“Human?” Law's voice carries deadly focus. When the ladies both nod yes, he asks, “When?”
“Three days.” The twins speak in unison.
“Also,” Keyboard continues, “The texts are explicitly clear that the emperor wants Melanie found. He knows you’re close because of what happened on New Year’s Eve. He said if he needs to take more women to draw you out, he will.”
“Isn’t that enough to know Michael is the Emperor?” I asked Law.
“No, we need more than that.” Law looked sad to admit it. “I’m sorry, but Mr. Dagger’s wouldn’t be a sound witness. Name or not, we have three days to shut him down,” Law states. “Ladies, keep digging. I want you here on site. Find anything and everything you can, document it. I want enough evidence to keep this prick in for three lifetimes. Sebastian, Maxwell, get printouts of the warehouse, woods, and road, then start studying. I'll coordinate with Tobias, the local sheriff. We’re going to move fast and quiet, but most importantly, we move…”
“Smart,” the team, including the ladies, finishes his sentence.
As the team disperses, Law turns to us. “Evelyn, any chance that plane of yours can fit the four of us, too?”
“Yes, of course,” Evelyn nods. “I'll call and let the pilots know.”
“Perfect,” Law says before standing. “Then there isn't a record of us coming commercially, since Michael's more than likely monitoring activity in and out of the area looking for Melanie.”
Both Evelyn and I snap our heads at him. “I never would have thought of that,” she says, going back to my phone.
Back in the apartment, Evelyn and I sit in stunned silence. Finally, she speaks. “We did it. Well, Mouse and Keyboard did it. Proof, honest-to-goodness proof.”
“It’s not enough.” I whisper. “And those poor women...”
Her conviction steadies me. “Leave that to Tobias and Law. You just focus on this being over. Michael will pay for everything he's done.”
I nod, praying she's right.