“I’d probably have to program a few things for it to run smoothly, but yeah, I guess so.”
“Then you need to train her to do the heist and be somewhere very public when it happens.”
“Oh, so I can’t be a suspect.”
“Exactly.”
Already, my brain races with code and scripts I need to come up with for it to happen. Iris is up to date on what I’m doing and how it all works, but I need to be certain she can execute it all without a hiccup. If she encounters an unexpected obstacle, she needs to be able to think around it.
It shouldn’t take me too long. Not since she can help me program herself. Which means that sometime this week, I’ll set the hit into motion, making the world believe Nammota is still out there, ever the cyber vigilante.
“When are you coming back to work?” Oli wonders.
I originally had a month of leave. And I asked for an extra week, which Kev was quick to approve. Technically, I could come back as early as Monday—the day after tomorrow. That leaves me the rest of today and Sunday to work on refining Iris’s script. Then, if I need to, I can use a few evenings to polish everything.
Returning to Kelex before it all unfolds would be a good cover and make me look less suspicious. That’s why I decide, “I’m returning on Monday.”
The guys welcome me back to the Lair like I’m the Messiah or something. To be fair, with Steven and me gone, their workload got a bit out of hand. Of course, they all ask how my leave was and if ithelped.
“I’m doing better, guys,” I promise. “I just want to work to take my mind off it. There’s nothing anyone can do until the trial, so let’s just cross our fingers and pray for the best, shall we?”
Just as I finish, Mason enters the room. The moment he spots me, he lets out a yelp and rushes to take me in his arms. “My curly little baby girl, I missed you so much,” he coos, squishing me harder. “Are you okay? Do you want tea? Food? To talk?”
I giggle, practically smothered by his tight hold.
“As I was telling everyone before you got in, I’m doing better. I don’t want to talk about it, I just want to work.”
He pushes me away to offer me a sassy pout, but at least he doesn’t argue. “If you wanna talk, I’m here, boo.” I nod, meaning it, and he releases me so we can head to our desks.
Since I’ve been living and breathing Nammota lately, it’s odd to hop back into regular scripts. This app, which used to be my baby, my pride and joy, feels estranged. But any issue that arises also seems far easier than it did before my five weeks of illegal deeds. Now, I understand why Lex is such a skilled coder. Hacking requires a whole new set of skills that are now in my possession.
Iris is almost there, but not quite. I’ve been running scenarios by her the whole weekend, making adjustments, giving her more knowledge… She feels like a real person now, and although I know she’s a machine, a succession of ones and zeros, I can’t help but consider her a friend. A very helpful, very powerful friend.
After an entire morning of catching up and reacclimating myself to the Kelex world, the guys suggest we play a game of Counter-Strike, for old time’s sake. Because there isn’t much I can do to work on the heist from here, I agree.
A couple of rounds in, though, my phone rings.
Northwest Oregon… Could it be Lex? He hasn’t called since the visit where I let him know my plan. I guess he didn’t want to risk it, aware that we can’t say much during the recorded calls. But I miss his voice. So much so that I almost drove down to Sheridan last week before reconsidering. I’m pretty sure he would have spent the little time we’d have pouting and scowling.
I pick up, my heart racing a little faster, hoping it’s him.
“Is this Miss Andrea Walker?” a woman asks on the other side of the line. Fuck, it’s not the usual robot asking if I want to take the call.
My heartbeat hastens with worry this time. What if Lex got into trouble again? What if he’s in the infirmary and they’re calling to give me the bad news?
“Yes, it’s me,” I answer, containing my anguish.
“I’m Special Agent Lewis.” Fuck, that can’t be good. I do my best to keep my composure as I get up and walk out of the office. I can’t be surrounded by the guys right now. “My partner and I are in charge of the investigation regarding Alexander Coleman,” the woman continues. “It has come to our attention that you were never properly interrogated, nor did you give a deposition. Would you mind coming to meet us, so we can ask you a few questions?”
Oh… Is that it? No bad news, no telling me Lex got beat up again and is fighting for his life? I’m so reassured that I don’t realize this isn’t exactly great news either.
“I didn’t think I’d be asked to come in. It’s been so long,” I reply.
“Well, my partner and I have just been assigned the case, and I couldn’t help but notice you were never brought in. The team before us didn’t think it was necessary, apparently, but I’d love to have a talk with you. Would Thursday afternoon be okay with you? At two-thirty?”
I’m not sure I actually could say no. She’s a federal agent, so she probably has the means to force me to come. And it would look weird if I didn’t. Regardless of that, Special Agent Lewis is giving me a golden opportunity, one I won’t have again.
“Hm, sure,” I agree. “Two-thirty on Thursday.”
