The Life: Sacrifice (The Life 3)

It was just one instance, and my search was nowhere near done, and besides, this one isn’t something I can just hit and move on to the next. She was one of my targets, not some unknown behind a computer screen. And knowing her track record with Ricci and his crew, I know I have to add this to my plans. My instinct is to get the others involved, but I can’t, not yet, not until I know more.

I was at my computer for hours, so engrossed I didn’t even hear Lancelot come into my room earlier and crash on the settee in my sitting room. I just happened to glance over and saw him there. A look at my watch told me that three hours had gone by since I sat down, and I still hadn’t slogged through all the mud.

It was meticulous work combing through the years and years of files on her computer that I’d hacked into, but it didn’t take me long to find the answers. Normally, I would alert the others by now. There was more than enough evidence at my fingertips to warrant that. But if I don’t handle this the right way, it could interfere with my plans.

No matter, my conscience won’t let me push this aside to exact my own vengeance; I’ll just have to work around it, and I know just who to contact. This is his forte, what he excels at. Some ANONYMOUS members gravitate to a particular crime set that they focus mainly on. This is not one of mine, but it’s his.

From what he’s told me over the last few months, he’s been immersed in cases just like this outside of the organization for lack of a better word. I’d listened to the stories, happy each time he finished a case, knowing that an innocent had been saved. Maybe this is a good thing. He can concentrate on this side of things while I work on the other.

I typed out the message fast, not expecting him to answer until morning, but I needed to do it now before my selfishness won out and I put my own needs before what could be hundreds of children in danger. ‘Memnon, we need to talk.’ I left the computer and went over to Lance to throw a blanket over him.

I stood there as my mind went blank for a second, too much going on at once. I did my compartmentalizing technique and separated everything in my head until a picture began to form. A kind of graph that fits all the different pieces together. I didn’t have to change my plans again; I'll just add this new twist to the mix. Friend of Alice, fuck, just when I thought Ricci couldn’t get any lower.

But he’s smart because I’ve been in his computer for months and never came across anything like this. So far, this Luna woman seemed to be the one doing most of the legwork, but I have no doubt he’s involved. Well, I’ll learn more once I enmesh myself, which because of this I might have to do sooner. At least I know how I’m going to bring one of my prey down.

I opened my eyes to see Lancelot looking up at me.

“What’re you doing?”

“Nothing, you sleeping here? Go to your bed.”

“I came in here to tell you something, but you were so caught up in whatever you were doing you didn’t even hear me come in.”

“What is it? What did you need to tell me?”

“It wasn’t important; it can wait. Um, Unc’s not going to get himself into anything, is he?”

“Of course not, didn’t he tell us not to worry?

* * *

MEMNON-TRACK

* * *

What’s he still doing up? What time is it in New Hampshire anyway? I sat down to answer his SOS while wondering what it could be about. It can’t be that he needs my help with a hack; he’s one of the best, then again, anything is possible. And it would at least get me out of dealing with the craziness that’s going on around here.

I’ve been knee-deep in weddings and baby scientists, and who knows what else for the better part of a week I could do with a break. Though I’m pretty sure whatever this is won’t be easy. He wouldn’t reach out unless it was bad, but I couldn’t think of anything he’d need my help with, anything he couldn’t do himself.

If it was just a hack, he would’ve gone about it another way, so what could it be? Was he in some sort of trouble? The thought jarred me for a second. Of all the people I’ve worked with doing this over the years, Nemesis is right up there with my faves. Had we met in person, I have no doubt we would’ve been friends; he has that vibe about him.