Page 19 of Hurting Hunter
His eyes burned from the relentless scrutiny of data, and his shoulders knotted with tension. A wave of fatigue pressed heavily against him, urging him to step away, to rest, but the digital underworld wouldn’t pause for his discomfort.
But he was deep into his routine of sifting through layers of digital debris when a cluster of encrypted files he’d cracked open revealed something unexpected: an email from a Gmail address with detailed, authentic-looking surveillance report by Detectives Stephenson and Green.
His pulse quickened as he scanned the document. These were police-level details, and the file not easily obtainable.
Does Ethan have a mole in his department?
His mind raced as he pieced together the implications. Had the ring infiltrated the police? Was law enforcement the ring? Or was there another player at this table? The realization that this might overlap with Ethan’s world gnawed at him. He had to know more.
Just as he leaned back in his chair to mull over the implications, his phone lit up with Ethan's name.
Okay, the guy is scary intuitive, but maybe he’s clairvoyant.
A simple text flashed on the screen: How was your day?'
The question seemed almost laughably mundane against the backdrop of his complex digital battlefield. Hunter's fingers hovered over the screen, tempted to spill the troubling discoveries of his day. But caution prevailed.
He typed a noncommittal, Fine. You?
Before he could set the phone down, it started ringing, Ethan’s name flashing insistently. With a resigned sigh, Hunter picked up, his voice heavy with fatigue. "Hey, Sir."
"Hey yourself." Ethan’s voice came through, tinged with concern. "Just fine, huh? Come on, Hunter, what’s really eating at you?"
Too damn astute.
Hunter hesitated, the weight of his day pressing down on him. "It’s been a long one," he finally admitted. "Just more chasing shadows and dealing with the scum of the earth."
“I know that tone, Hunter.” Ethan’s voice softened. “Is this about your... side projects again?”
Hunter chuckled dryly. The irony was not lost on him. “Yeah, you could say that. Been doing some digging into some sex traffickers,” He rubbed his face with his free hand and confessed. “I’m a white-hat hacker, Ethan.” He paused, gauging the detective Dom’s response through the silence. “I’m not out to cause harm, Sir. Just trying to level the playing field, take from the crooks and give some justice back.”
Over the phone, Hunter waited, holding his breath as he imagined Ethan processing the revelation. There was a brief silence, one that stretched just long enough for Hunter to feel a twinge of apprehension.
“Hacking?” When Ethan’s voice came through, it was tinged with a surprise that resonated clearly across the line. After a moment, he added, “All right. I didn’t see that one coming.”
The earnestness in Ethan's response coaxed a burst of laughter from Hunter. His fatigue and the grim context of their conversation momentarily lifted. “No?” He chuckled.
"Hell no," Ethan replied, his tone mixing disbelief with amusement. "When you say hacker, I envision someone holed up in a dark room, surrounded by takeout boxes. I imagine someone with a distinctively shadowy and tech-savvy appearance. Like a young man, dressed in casual attire, maybe a disheveled hoodie and a geeky t-shirt—not a gorgeous six-foot-plus biker with a muscled body, a grey goatee, and amazing eyes."
“Gorgeous, eh?” Hunter’s laugh deepened, a genuine sound that filled the small space around him. "Well, if you imagine me surrounded by multiple monitors and working on a mechanical keyboard, you’ve got that part right," he teased, glancing affectionately at his own setup. "But yeah, I guess I don’t fit the typical geek-squad stereotype of unkempt long hair, thick glasses, and an unkept beard.”
The easy banter, flowing so naturally even over the phone, made the weight of the night feel a bit lighter. Ethan’s laughter came through the speaker. “There’s nothing unkept about your beard.”
Despite the distance and the digital medium between them, a surprising sense of closeness lifted Hunter’s wariness, as if Ethan’s understanding had bridged a gap he hadn’t fully acknowledged before.
Ethan's tone softened, and the underlying worry became more pronounced. "Just be careful, man.”
“Always am,” Hunter assured him. “It’s mostly white-and-grey-hat hacking, you know? Ethical stuff. I’m not crossing into black-hat territory—no stealing, no ransomware. Though, I might push the boundaries with the black hats when they’re the bad guys.”
Again, Ethan laughed, easing more of the tension from Hunter’s shoulders. “A modern-day digital Robin Hood, huh?”
“That’s the idea,” Hunter replied, stroking his hand through his goatee.
There was a pause, and Hunter could almost see Ethan rubbing his forehead in exasperation. "You’re going to give me gray hairs. Just… be careful, okay? And if you’re onto something big… maybe it’s time to bring in some backup."
“Will do. Will do,” Hunter agreed. “Anyway, how are things on your end?”
“Doing my best,” Ethan said, and Hunter could hear the earnestness in his voice. “I’ve got a big case on my hands.” Ethan's voice lowered an octave as he continued, “Seems like Green and I stumbled onto something... and I don't like it. We're talking dirty cops and criminally involved politicians.”
