David stood, stretching his limbs while savoring the little kinks in his neck and shoulders, then glanced over his shoulder to ensure his door was locked. He didn’t want any unexpected interruptions during his foray. Sure, he wasn’t breaking any laws, but the danger of exposure was all too real. Better safe than sorry.
Settling once more into the chair he’d optimized for efficiency, he grabbed his mouse to link into the swirling currents of cyberspace. He quickly zeroed in on Chester’s router—a dull, vulnerable blip in the digital ether. His network was laughably unprotected; its defenses were mere tissue paper against fire. The script, elegant in its simplicity, only needed a few variables modified.
Now, the timing. Three-minute intervals, like the version used on Nick? No. Too conspicuous. It had driven Nick insane in minutes. He wanted this to be quieter, more enduring. A stealthier torment. Once a day. Enough to annoy without alerting. He tweaked the script, modifying the variables with meticulous care, then slid it into Chester’s network like a virus into the bloodstream.
Time folded around him as he resurfaced, flushed and electric from the success. He glanced at his watch. Time for one more.
He dropped back into the data-stream, his thoughts sharp, intentional. Chester’s phone—he could almost smell its greasyplastic casing, feel the sticky smudges of fingerprints trailing across the glass. Data rolled toward him like a red carpet. He filtered it rapidly, tracing the breadcrumb trail of real-world locations. Recognizable patterns emerged: a two-star pizza place, a local bank, the B&B.
The coffee shop.
Every. Single. Morning.
David pictured the hiss of espresso machines and the clatter of ceramic cups. The air would be thick with roasted beans and burnt milk. Chester probably thought he was safe there, anonymous in the morning hustle and bustle.
Perfect.
The ads were already poised like wolves at the fence. One last command to draw a line around the cafe and let the hunt begin… He initiated the geofence script with a thought, weaving another thread into Chester’s digital noose.
He withdrew and leaned back, eyes fluttering closed for a moment of muted joy. The fire in his veins simmered down to a satisfying warmth, coiling around the knowledge of what was now inevitable.
Playtime was over.
Next… escalation.
David, what are you up to? I can hear you cackling from downstairs.Nick’s question cracked across his consciousness, jarring him from his lovely, nefarious plans.
He blinked, pulse still humming with the rush of his minor vengeance—the glee that always followed a well-executed hack.Are you sure you want to know?His lips curled into something between amusement and malice.
Now I definitely want to know. What is going on in that evil mind of yours?Nick’s mental voice sounded both amused and resigned. He knew well the trouble David could get himself into with the slightest encouragement. And Chester’streatment of Lena was all the encouragement he needed—it was like poking a tiger to see if it would roar.
David didn’t roar, though. He bit.
Well, I kind of thought Lena’s dear friend Chester would like a free trial of poetic justice.
Of course, you did. I can’t say I disagree. But what have you done?
David chuckled, low and wicked.
A few harmless pranks. Subscribed him to some beautiful newsletters. Ferret Fancier Monthly, Losers Anonymous… you know, the works. Changed his social media status to ‘Loser’—which, frankly, suits him better than ‘Single’ ever did.
He spun his chair around and propped his feet up on a tower.Today I installed a password reset loop on his Wi-Fi. I thought you might like that one. Oh, and I may have rigged his phone to give him a fresh batch of prank ads right to his screen whenever he steps foot into his favorite coffee shop.
Is that all?
David groaned. Damn, but Nick knew him well. His mental tone sounded half-exasperated, half-impressed, with amusement underlying it—exactly what David had been aiming for.
So far. I make no promises about the future.
Keep it legal, or bring me in first. Zach’s voice rumbled into the link without warning, the mental resonance deeper, harder-edged. David instinctively sat up straighter in his chair. That no-nonsense growl made even the most self-assured pause.
Hey, Zach, where are you? I thought you were heading downtown.
A beat of silence.I am downtown. Nick, is your range expanding? Where are you?
I’m in Lena’s office. I shouldn’t be able to reach you. My range has never extended that far before.
We’ll have to run some more tests.Typical Zach—already filing it under variables and contingencies. Tactical bastard.
