Chapter 4
Numbers
Today, Lista had her for the whole day. She was receiving reports so she could analyze information. There were also programs she put information in to check outgoing calls on anyone on her lists. The programs were good for monitoring and taking specific action. Once they did, she would be notified. Her program was practically overheating from all the action it had taken.
These people had an incredible loyalty to the lab owner or operators. It would bite them in the ass, soon hopefully. The program notified her, but it also notified Lista who would send troops to pick up the offenders. Those people deserved punishment anyway, now they would receive it faster than planned.
Dani was filling in the names, sexes, ages, and other information which was then checked against the original list. Most, so far, had been close if not exact. One child had died, another was in guarded condition. She’d hoped that the children would have been treated better in homes. Apparently some of these homes were bars according to the latest report from Cash’s crew.
She saw the description of the boy from the bar immediately recognizing the affection Cash’s report conveyed. The boy would likely end up with Cash. Dani wished she could have met him, Cash made him sound so sweet. It was better this way, she didn’t need any more attachments than she already had.
Her com buzzed. “Hello?”
“Hey, it’s Lista. Are you on information over load too?”
“It’s pretty crazy. Even with all the people on it, it will take weeks.”
“No, the smaller ship sent out their shuttles and registered fifty kids. They’ll be done in three days if all goes well. Once they’re done with their list, they’ll help Cash and then the others. The big ship that’s around Earth will also be done in days, but they’re too far away to get back in time to help anyone here.”
“At least the end is in sight.”
“Yes, listen, I have a special job for you. You know Tar just went in under cover?”
“I do.”
“I need you to lay a false trail to make it look like an employee that’s been there a long time is informing on them. Make it look like they erased them but they didn’t do it right. When the shit hits the fan, we want them to suspect the long term employees so much, that they don’t worry about the newer ones.”
“I get it. If they have informers already, they wouldn’t be sending anyone in.”
“Exactly. We want to make it as easy on Tar as possible. He’s nervous enough without a reason to be.” Lista confirmed. “I gotta go. Great job you’re doing.”
“Thanks. See you later.”
Dani knew Tar. She liked the young Phoenix and hoped everything went well for him. She immediately hacked in and set a false trail of communications improperly erased going back years. Using an anonymous email, she sent it from several computers. That would give them something to worry about. She also erased the video surveillance she could find for the corresponding times.
Once that was done, she got back on her tasks. It was never easy when you had this many things to keep an eye on and this much information incoming. She said a silent prayer for everyone working to save the kids and of course, for the kids themselves. They’d been through so much and deserved to find happiness.
Slogging through the information, she sent report after report on to Lista. She also sent a quick email confirming the small task she’d set was completed. Dani got a smiley face back. That she understood. Now she dug back onto her work until the day was done. Her body ached all over and she’d forgotten to eat. When she worked for Cash, she always remembered to feed him and she ate then.
She missed that man for so many reasons. Her mind went back to the day after. The next day was often uncomfortable but she’d hoped for the best after all the sweet nothings he’d whispered in her ear the night before.
“Good morning, Cash.” Dani said as she noticed he looked at the floor to avoid looking at her. Maybe he was embarrassed.
“Morning. Got my coffee?” He asked then he quickly began to list all the things he needed her to do as quickly as possible.
Things weren’t going like she’d hoped for. This wasn’t at all the way she’d thought he be. Uncomfortable didn’t begin to describe the way she was feeling. He wasn’t lukewarm, he was cold and distant. It was as if last night, had changed everything for the worse and he just wanted to forget it all.
She just stood there staring at him until he finally looked up. “Don’t misunderstand things. It’s nothing personal. I messed up and it won’t happen again.” Cash said.
Somehow she managed to nod, turn away, and walk out of there. Dani did her job as she tried to soothe her heart and enclose it in ice. Maybe she just wasn’t as cold as Cash, she couldn’t separate herself completely. This wouldn’t work for her, she had to get away from Cash. It seemed she wasn’t strong enough to handle it all.
The next day she hired an assistant so she could train her replacement. Cash being as he usually was never noticed. He probably didn’t notice she was gone for a week or more. Selia did a good job, the business would be fine. She spent the next two weeks accumulating what money she could and packing her bags. Lista offered her an escape or she would never have been able to leave so soon.
They’d met for drinks as they did almost every week. “I wish you would dump Cash and come work for me.” She said jokingly as she often did.
“Do you mean that?” Dani questioned.
‘Are you serious about leaving Cash?” Lista knew how she felt about him. The subject had come up more than once.
“Yes. It’ll be for you, or someone else.”
“Me. Pick me.” Lista hollered. People turned to look.
“I’ll need to get a place to stay off the grid. I’ll work paid per job.”
“Have I got a deal for you. Work the first week of the month in return for food and shelter. We’ll supply any reasonable needs. The rest of the time you can work for pay by the job for me or anyone else you care to. No one will be told where you are and the place and the expenses are all listed in my name.”
“That’s a deal too good to refuse. When can I start?”
“You can move in this weekend. Do you have a replacement?”
“I do. I’ve been training her for two weeks. Cash hasn’t even noticed.”
“Men can be so blind.”
There was nothing to say to that. She went home, packed up, wrote up her resignation and placed it where he’d find it. Lista sent a ship for her with two guys to pack everything up for her and load it. Nice looking guys, but what did she care? They took her to her new house and set her up. Once everything was in place and they’d left, she got on the computer to find freelance work.
All weekend long she worked hard. Monday she would belong to Lista all week long. Lista was a good friend, she was lucky to have someone who cared for her.
That was how she’d ended up here in this nice family home at the edge of the desert. Her internet was even better than Cash’s. A studio would have been plenty for her. Groceries were delivered weekly. Life went on even though her heart was breaking. Someday, things would get better. Everyone said so, so why didn’t she believe it?
Dani got back to work taking some outside jobs since reports had stopped an hour ago. She needed a good amount of money to get herself set up in another galaxy under a new name. Cash was good, but she would do better. Why was he even looking for her?
Her mind worked on the problem. She could find out. Pulling up her email, she wrote one to him.
I find I sympathize with a woman running from a man. The lady doesn’t want you to know where she is. I will forward any message you have to her, but I will not tell you how to find her.
Once the message was off, she felt better. She didn’t expect to hear back so soon, but her email pinged.
Tell the lady I love her and want her back.
The message was short and sweet. She would leave it for a while since he thought she had to send it and wait to get an answer back. It wasn’t like she didn’t have enough work to do. It seemed computer specialists were in big demand. There were websites where she could find unlimited jobs to do many paying extremely well. A few jobs were questionable, but they skirted the lines of what ethics would accept. None of them were illegal on any nearby planets.
She had to locate people or objects, track lost funds, and research property, sometimes whole planets, for buyers interested in them. Some of the jobs were even interesting. There were two females looking for their birth families and looking at their pictures, Dani suspected they were twins. Taking both jobs, it wasn’t long before she could prove they were and give them their entire history.
They were so happy and excited, it made her day seem worthwhile. Unfortunately, she detected a Trojan that she tracked back to the lab she had laid the fake communications in. She sent it back with a surprise. Once they opened her message, their computer system would be a mess. Now she needed to decide if she should bug out. If they had her location, they might send someone to take her out.
Sending a message to Lista, she got a reply immediately. “Come here and we’ll put surveillance on your house.”
That was good enough for Dani. She had no death wish. Dani packed up a go bag and her computer, then she headed to her hover car taking off immediately. No need to waste time figuring things out with danger hanging over her head. Turning slightly, she headed straight to Lista’s house.
The house came into sight quickly since it was just over a hill. A ship passed over head, on the way to her house? As she pulled into the driveway, Lista came out to meet her. “Thank goodness you’re okay. Maybe we’ll catch some of the lab mercenaries tonight.”
“Gods, I hope so. Those people deserve to be caught.” Dani offered.
They headed in and she saw food sitting out on the table. “The kids are at Razar’s parents. I set a place for you. Razar had to leave so it’s just us girls.”
“Did I mess up your plans?”
“No, the bad guys did. They do that sometimes. It gives us a chance to catch up. Do anything interesting lately?” Lista asked. She told her about the twins leaving out names and locations. “That must have been neat.”
“The ladies were so happy to find each other. They said they always felt something was missing. I can’t imagine having twins and separating them.”
“It seems multiples should stay together but often no one wants to take more than one baby at a time.” Lista observed.
“To me, giving up one seems terrible but giving up more impossible.”