Chapter 1 - Jamie

“Isn’t life just a blast?”

“Um, what?” I asked, shaking my head as I glanced at the tall red-haired young man seated at the table. “Sorry, PJ, my mind was somewhere else.”

The early morning sun brought the perfect temperature to the day. However, it may heat up later, but in the morning breeze, the heat was just enough to keep the chill out of the air.

“Oh, that’s okay, Jamie. I was saying that life is a blast, isn’t it?” he repeated, rolling his big dark brown eyes at me.

Bringing my cafecito to my lips, I inhaled deeply, allowing the pure flavor of the coffee to fill me with energy. “Yes, it is my friend.”

“Where is your mind at, Jamie? Please do share, as you are so obviously distracted by whatever you are thinking of.”

Glancing at PJ, he has always been so curious, I can’t help but beam. “This latest client of mine, man, the hacking he wanted, required great skill,” I whispered as I leaned forward, pushing my breakfast to the side. “But you know it. I got it done.”

PJ chuckled as he dragged his chair closer, pushing his plate aside as well. It screeched a little on the white plastic table, but no one seemed to care. “Please tell me more,” he insisted trying to force his dense bush of hair in behind his ear.

His hacking skills were admirable, but mine was better. I tried to teach him what I knew, but he was sometimes slow to grasp the entire concept. I knew he would never be able to pull off the type of jobs I did, so teaching him a thing or two was not an issue for me. Placing my cup down and shifting my cap slightly sideways, I leaned in closer.

“Well, you know I don’t always talk about my jobs, but this one, this one was a real mind-boggle,” I murmured. Before I could divulge more details, my cell rang. PJ glanced at my pocket as it vibrated.

Sitting up straight, I pulled it from my jacket pocket. Glancing at the caller ID before answering. I saw it was Ben, one of my regular clients. I had been doing jobs for him over the last couple of years on and off. He paid me reasonably well and didn’t ask too many questions. The fact that he was involved with the Mafia didn’t bother me much as I worked anonymously.

“I have to get this,” I said to PJ, glaring at me wide-eyed. He only nodded and pulled his plate closer again.

“Hi there,” I said enthusiastically. I answered the phone as I rose and walked away from the table. PJ gave me a sideways look, raising his eyebrows as he stuffed sausages into his big mouth.

Covering the receiver of the phone, I whispered to him. “It’s private, you know that,” I added as I strolled to the curb, glancing back only once to make sure PJ stayed put.

“Yes, yes,” Ben replied, sounding rushed. “I don’t have time for chit-chat, dear. I have important information to collect.”

“Okay, no problem, you know that. Just email me, and I’ll get on it right away, as always.”

“Thank you, dear, the email has been sent. Talk soon.” Ben replied and hung up. He was surely in more of a rush than usual. He has never hung up on me.

Turning back to the table and PJ, I felt a shiver run down my spine, and I shook it off. Ben was always rushed, I told myself as I walked back to the table. Swallowing my coffee, I spoke as I placed the cup down. “Gotta run, friend, talk later.”

I took a few quick steps to the curb and hailed a cab. As I got in, I heard PJ calling out. “Wait, what’s going on? Your breakfast.” His hands were raised as he spoke, and his lush red curls enclosed his innocent face like a wrap.

One day, he would make a handsome man, I thought. At 19, his beard was still only stipples but added texture to his smooth skin. He was tall and skinny, but with age, I was sure he would grow into his baggy clothing. Shaking my head to clear up the strange ideas that suddenly popped in, I turned my attention back to my mission.

Giving the driver my address, I slammed the door shut and waved at PJ as we took off. A little while later, I exited the cab and checked up and down the street out of habit. A hacker never knew when someone would come looking, and I liked to play safe. Nothing seemed out of place or different, so I entered the five-story apartment building where I resided.

The outer fa?ade of red-brown bricks was dirty and cracked; it appeared to be a run-down place. Which, I suppose, it kind of was. Only about ten tenants were still left, and many of the doors and windows in the empty apartments were broken. It wasn’t my preferred location, but it was safe for people in my line of work.

I had been saving up half of every job over the last couple of years, and in another year or so, I should have enough to purchase a place of my own. I dreamed of living in the city but couldn’t afford it. Walking up to my apartment, I listened for any movement, but the place was quiet. I loved the silence it offered, allowing me to concentrate on my projects.

When I moved to the heart of Miami, I wasn’t sure how I would get the same silence, but I intended to find a regular job. I knew my current life was dangerous and didn’t want to do this forever. But, until I got something that covered my cost, I would stick to what I knew brought in cash.

Entering my tiny apartment, I ensured the added deadbolts were locked. I couldn’t afford anyone walking in on me while I was working. Safety was a significant aspect of staying out of jail and staying alive. I started up my laptop and made coffee while I waited to access my emails.

I read through the encrypted email and smiled. This was going to be a quick payday, I thought. Hacking the site, Ben wanted the information from was a simple one. I sipped my coffee and started toying with the site. I tried several regular entry methods, but it held a couple of blocks.

Not wanting to sit all day, I started a brute force attack before doing an exploit. The system ran for a bit before it allowed me access. As it opened before me, I beamed. “Boom,” I said to the screen. Rising, I did my victory dance. I took a couple of turns with my hands in the air, before sitting back down and studying the detail that opened.

Staring at the information, my smile faded along with my good mood. “No, no, no,” I mumbled as I put my fingers in my mouth, biting down on them. “This can’t be happening.” I was always super careful and had never done anything dangerous, or something that could place me in danger.

Seeing the details before me was unbelievable. Ben knew I didn’t take on these kinds of projects, and for good reason. I shoved the chair back as I rose in anger. Pacing up and down the small room, I tried to focus my mind. Removing my cap and allowing my short hair to fall out, I tossed the cap at the window.

Bending forward, I pushed my hands into my hair. My mouth opened, but I didn’t allow any sound to come out as I screamed from within before taking a deep breath. My insides were all twisted, and it felt like I was about to puke.

Glancing back at the screen, I realized what was done, was done. There was no closing it and not getting in trouble. I quickly sent Ben some of the details he wanted and backtracked my actions. I wasn’t going to give him everything I uncovered. I needed some form of security, and the details here would provide.

Grabbing a micro-SD at lighting speed, I made a backup. I could only hope I wasn’t in long enough for them to realize or track me. I stuffed the micro card into the small secret clasp of my bra. It would be safe there and on me at all times.

The site contained all the banking details, dealings, hit lists, and more on a couple of extremely dangerous Mafia groups. These included Italian and Russian Mafia organizations. Suddenly feeling like I was baking in an oven, I pulled off the large loose-fitting t-shirt I wore over my crop top and chucked it to the floor.

I paced, biting my nails, and trying to think of a plan. I cleared my prints, but who knew if anyone had traced them or seen me entering? I have never gotten myself in this kind of trouble in my twenty-six years on this planet. I trusted Ben; he knew what I did and didn’t do.

How could he ask me something like this?

“No,” I spoke out loudly, stamping my foot on the ground. “I’m intelligent. I got this.” Sitting back down, I followed my own trail, making sure there was nothing they could track back. After a few hours, I felt sure all traces had been removed.

Taking a deep breath and steadying my heart, racing a hundred miles an hour, I rose and poured another cup. This time, I added some whiskey.

“Yes, I am safe,” I said, comforting myself before sending Ben an encrypted message. Without saying much, I simply asked him how he dared ask such a thing from me. I let him know if it came back to me, I would give him up.

I watched the message go through before placing my phone back in my pocket. “Now then,” I said to the empty room. “Let’s just keep an eye on things for a day or two until we can be sure all is clear.”

Leaving my laptop open, I flopped down on the couch in the next room and flipped through the channels on the TV. This was a stupid move. I was sure it was something PJ would have done. I shook my head, still in disbelief, but what could I do now?

TV wasn’t something that interested me much, but I left the TV on an oldies show channel. Older movies usually cheered me up when I got round to watching some. My mind was rolling through my actions, and I just couldn’t let go. I closed my eyes to ease my nerves and fell asleep at some point.

A while later, waking up, I found night had crept in on me. The moon shone into the room lighting it naturally. Checking my phone, I noticed Ben had not even read my message. Rising, I heard a noise coming from my small old wooden desk in the corner.

As I neared it, I heard the sound coming from my laptop. The laptop was screaming with alarms. This wasn’t good. Walking over briskly, I felt my heart sinking to my feet even before I could see what was on the screen as I knew what had happened.