“We know he likes masks and black,” Kyle retorted.
“And why? Why won’t he reveal his identity?” Alex perched on the edge of the cushion, his fingers drumming his forearm.
“Even the voice thing…he has a real issue with you knowing any clue about who he is.”
“Which makes me even more curious. Is it someone we know? Is it someone high-profile? Why all the secrecy?”
“You suspect it’s because he’s lying.”
“Yes…is he Board? Is he just here to keep us running in circles?” Alex narrowed his eyes, his lips puckering.
“Okay, devil’s advocate here, why would he get you released from The Board’s clutches if he was working for them?”
Alex lifted his shoulders in a shrug. “Make it look good. Prove himself? Lull us into a false sense of security before he makes his move against us?”
“Which is what, exactly?”
Alex leapt from his seat again as his program continued to run on his laptop. “I don’t know. I don’t know! Maybe…”
He heaved a sigh, collapsing into his seat again. “Maybe I’m an idiot.”
Kyle clapped him on the shoulder. “No, you’re not. This is why it’s good to talk things through.”
Alex glanced at him. “Yeah, you’re right. And yes, this has been helpful, somewhat.”
His laptop buzzed, a massive set of red letters announcing his program’s failure again. He slammed his hands down against the laptop before he rubbed his forehead.
His fingers flew across the keyboard again before he set the program running.
“So, what are you doing? Why run it again?”
“Trying a few different specs to see if something hits.” Alex’s phone chimed, and he snatched it from the table, hoping it was Ava.
Instead, he found a message from an untraceable number. With a sigh, he slid his eyes closed.
“Bad news from Ava?” Kyle asked.
Alex flashed the screen toward him.
“Ohhh, our pal, Raven.”
“Yeah,” Alex said with a nod. “A nice message asking where Ava is. And what am I supposed to answer?”
“No details. Just say…she’s busy, what do you need?”
Alex shot him a glance before he started typing. “Oh, that’s kind of good. You’re like Ava with these things. I just freeze up. Okay, sent.”
A second later, the phone rang. Alex swiped to take the call, toggling on his speaker phone. “Raven…to what do I owe this phone call?”
“No games,” the robotic voice said. “Where is Ava?”
“I told you, she’s busy,” Alex answered. “What do you want?”
“The flash drive. I texted to tell her to bring it to our special place, but she didn’t show.”
“I told you she’s busy.”
“Busy doing what?” Raven snapped.
