“Doesn’t look like it so far. I kicked in my backup firewall. This program is wiping our files whilst checking for any malware.”
I run a hand through my hair, leaning back against the chair, and try settle my heart rate.
Sweat is beading on Regina’s forehead, and her chin is resting in her hand, fist clenched against her lips.
I don’t speak a word as we watch the bars go up and down on the screen, feeling like we’re watching our death sentence being decided.
Once it completes, she runs it again after ten minutes, and both results come up the same.
“Nothing taken, and nothing planted.”
I breathe a sigh of relief along with her.
“I have everything on a disconnected backup drive, but I’m going to wipe this and go out and buy a new computer, sever any historic links to this one. I’ll also get a new internet router and provider, just to be safe.”
If anyone even gets a sniff of where we are, and what we do, it’s game over.
The only legit piece of information with our real names is our Egnever company.
Regina has made sure to connect our company front and our real one. You’d need solid evidence of me killing someone, followed by me walking into the office.
But if someone’s smart enough to link Egnever and Revenge together—along with our Sumus list and personal background—they’ll instantly know everything’s related.
What our purpose was behind it all, and how to solve our riddle.
“What if…” She trails off, then turns her head to look at me, voice tightening. “What if it’sthem? What if they’ve found us out?”
I force a swallow down my throat, shaking my head. “No, there’s no way. We haven’t been able to find them in weeks. They could just be out of state. They’re not smart enough to pull something like this. You and I gave no indication we’d do anything, either. The only person who spoke out was…”
My mouth clamps shut.
Regina nods, a knowing look passing over her, before turning to look back at the screen.
She starts the process to wipe the entire device.
“Clear the laptops, would you, please? It might take a while if they’re all running at the same time. I’m gonna head down to the store and kit us out after I take a cold fucking shower.”
I give her a tight smile, and she rises from the seat as I do the same. She steps towards me, arms reaching round as I bring her in for a hug.
“This was too close, Indie,” she says against my shoulder.
“I know. I think we should put a hold on things for a while.”
We’ve been lucky so far, too lucky. We’ll need to review our entire operation after this.
A chilling thought leaks into my mind.
What if thiswasrelated to Clarke’s death?
Regina said everything looked fine when she passed the apartment Elenna was in again, her car still changing parking spots. She did pass on our details to Victoria, but I’m worried this might be something sinister as retaliation.
I keep the thought inside my head for now. Regina’s already shaken up thinking it was our past coming to get us.
I’ll wait a couple of days before I spiral us both into another bout of anxiety.
Reginawasn’tlyingwhenshe said this would take forever.
There’s so much shit on my laptop that the factory reset is taking an eternity.
