the time the computer clock reads when the rat finally emerges from his hole, sneaking right into the police database.
“What’re you doing?” I muse aloud, not worrying about waking Ryan.
She’s been asleep in the guest bedroom for hours, having called it a night after I snapped at her about backtracking through some of the factory databases.
The suspect has entered the county police’s secure network, the one I built after having been caught doing exactly what he’s doing right now.
He’s combing through personnel files and double clicks mine.
This motherfucker is trying to expose me. I watch the screen of Captain Kline’s computer on a remote feed, as the prick sifts through file after file on the police department’s private network. He’s trying to find something, and when he begins typing commands into the crime database, I know exactly what he’s looking for.
He couldn’t find it in the personnel files, so he’s gone in search of my rap sheet. My eyes scan everything he’s doing as my file comes up. He opens it, and on two different sides of the screen, we’re reading my criminal history. The third charge on the sheet is for hacking into the police network.
No one, besides my family, knows that I was almost arrested for disarming the computer security systems of the department. I plead my case to let the police use my skills instead of slapping me on the wrists for it. If that fact got out, the community would not be pleased. Fawn Hill is an honest town, as are the surrounding municipalities. Folks out here believe in an eye for an eye system and making under the table deals with the police would be frowned upon, no matter how much great work I’ve done to make up for my indiscretions.
First, he went after my friends and families’ businesses. Then, he went after my girl. Now, he’s trying to take me down.
Not so long ago, I could have been this guy. Angry at the world, hacking into places I shouldn’t, just because I could. Scamming off the backs of hard-working people.
Little does this moron know, I fixed the broken system I hacked into in the first place. Which means, I just caught his real IP address with the net I installed. And now, I know exactly where he is, and who he is.
“Nine twelve Whippany Court.” I don’t need to jot the address down. That’s a home in Fawn Hill.
A home whose occupant I know. Personally.
Without waking Ryan, I’m up like I’ve been shot out of a cannon, all the vigor coming back into my bones. I know where he is, I know who he is. I’m finally going to bring this asshole down and get my life back.
I’m going to prove to Penelope that in the end, I love her so much, I’m willing to sacrifice myself for her.
As I reach my car, I shoot Detective Robbins a 911 text and leave it at that. I know I should call this in, report my findings to Kline and let the police handle the rest. But this one is personal. This fuckbag is in my backyard, stealing from my family and putting my woman in danger.
Time flies by in super speed, and I don’t even remember driving over here as my sneakers tread lightly up the front steps of the house. For a minute, the rational part of my brain begs me to stop, to wait for backup. Or maybe, it wishes I planned better and at least brought a baseball bat or something.
But the impulsive, hero side of me doesn’t care. I’ll go in swinging, even if it means I go down.
The front door is unlocked when I reach it, and the tickling sensation of dread coats my skin. It’s something out of a horror flick, but I can’t turn back now.
“So, you finally fucking caught me.”
The front room is dark when I enter, but I can still make out his large form, sitting on a chair in the corner.
Corey Watters.
“I knew you were a crooked son of a bitch, but I had no idea how crooked.” I snarl, ready to rip him to shreds.
“It took you long enough. Jeez, I thought you were supposed to be the smart one is this piece of shit town.” He stands, and I know he has almost five inches and thirty pounds on me.
“Why? Why do this?” I don’t even need to ask. I know why.
His footsteps sound like elephant hoofs as they move closer. “Did you