“Ahh, Johannes Khumalo. Now that’s where we start to get somewhere. He was a native of South Africa. He graduated with top honors from Sapienza University of Rome before returning to teach at the University of Pretoria. He wasn’t there long, only three years before MODA snapped him up. I asked one of my hacker friends to dig into the South African Revenue Service...”
Aida gasped. “Wait, you had someone hack into that?”
Yumi laughed at her discomfort. “Don’t worry, I wasn’t the one who did it! And he owed me a favor.”
“I don’t want to know why he owed you a favor, do I?”
“Probably not,” Yumi said with a wink. “But, you know, it’s not exactly the kind of favor you’d ask your neighbor to do. The hacker community is a close-knit network, and while not everything we do is strictly lawful, it’s not all malicious either.There’s a lot of gray area. Some of us work in cybersecurity, helping companies protect themselves. Others, well... they tread a bit closer to the line. And yes, most of us are anonymous to each other. We use pseudonyms, encrypted channels, all that jazz. It’s safer that way.”
Aida’s eyes widened. “So, you’re saying this whole thing is... illegal?”
Yumi shrugged, a little more serious now. “Technically, yeah. It’s a gray area we operate in. But honestly, I didn’t think much about it at first. Most of us are just people trying to do what we’re good at. Sometimes that means bending the rules... or breaking them.”
“And you’re okay with that?”
“It’s not about being okay with it—it’s about knowing the risks. Most of the time, we’re just solving problems, but sometimes those problems cross legal lines. I’ve built up trust in this community over the years. That’s how I got this favor.”
Aida shook her head in disbelief. “So, you’ve got a whole network of people who do this, and none of you really know each other?”
“Pretty much,” Yumi said. “It’s a different world, Aida. One where you’re judged by your skills, not your identity.” She turned back to her laptop. “Anyway, my friend was able to find records of him working for MODA with the same salary they are offering you. Or at least it’s close. Six million rand in South Africa is around four hundred thousand in our dollars. He worked for them for four years, just like they told you. It’s really sad though...”
“What do you mean, sad?”
“I found his obituary. He was almost our age—thirty-three. So young to have a heart attack.”
“Ugh. The poor guy.”
Yumi turned off her tablet. “But it means the job is legit. They told you how he died, and that checks out. They paid him whatthey said they would pay you, and of course Felix verified him working there as well.”
“Oh, to work with Felix would be so fun.”
“I hate the idea of you not being here, and I know Graham will miss the hell out of you, but I think you should take it,” Yumi said.
“I was thinking I would,” Aida admitted as she poured her friend a glass of wine. “You really think it’s a good idea?”
“Hell, when will you ever get a chance like this again? This will set you and Graham up for a new life together.”
Aida raised her glass. “To my best friend, my personal therapist, and the person I trust most in the world.”
Yumi raised up hers. “To my best friend, my therapy client, and the person I trust most in the world.”
They clinked glasses with a grin and drank.
“One more,” Aida said impulsively, raising the glass again. “To happiness.”
Yumi agreed wholeheartedly. “To happiness. We deserve it.”
That afternoon, Aida gave Erin the sanctioned spiel from MODA—that she would be researching Italian antiquities, though she didn’t know many details yet. She had faith in Erin, but after not truly knowing her for the last ten years, Aida thought it best to stick to the NDA she had signed. Yumi was her most trusted friend—even above Graham in some ways—and had come with her to the hotel, so she got a pass.
“I think I’m going to take the job. What do you think?”
“Oh my god, Aida! Rome? That’s incredible! Yes, you have to take it. You’re going to have the time of your life. Italian antiquities? That’s literally the dream!” The excitement radiated off her. “You’re going to be living in a palazzo, drinking wine, and uncovering secrets of the past. This is fan-fucking-tastic!”
Aida smiled, her own excitement swelling in response to Erin’s enthusiasm. “I know, right? It’s definitely a chance of a lifetime.”
Erin leaned forward, grabbing Aida’s hands. “I’m so happy for you. This is exactly what you need—a chance to begin again.”
“I feel bad that you’ve just moved back and I’m leaving.”
