Page 37 of Demon Hunter

There’s something here; I know there is. Something about this code keeps playing on my mind, but I’ve been over it about thirty times, and I can’t work it out.

A chat window pops up on my right-hand screen, and I glance over at it. It’s Neisha, one of the other members of the online team, with a question. For a second, I consider ignoring it—just for a little while.

Then I sigh. I’ve already let my work slide more than I should have lately. I can’t afford for it to get out of hand. As the team leader, I have a responsibility to the others.

Switching focus, I answer her question and shoot her a link to the rest of the information she might need. She’s our newest team member, with only eight months under her belt, but she’s doing really well and I’m confident that by the time we do her annual review, she’ll be an old hand.

Neisha:

Thanks! I’m glad I caught you. Do you have time to chat?

Dammit. I knew I should have ignored her. Rubbing my eyes, I sigh.

Dylan:

Just a few minutes. I’m in the middle of something.

That should hopefully prevent a long-winded discussion aboutThe Acolyte. Not that I’m not usually happy to spend hours debating anythingStar Wars, but I can’t right now. Not while that code is haunting me and Matt’s safety is at risk.

Neisha:

This won’t take long. I just wanted to check in with you. You’ve seemed distracted lately.

I stare at the screen.Fuck. So much for hiding it from the team. If Neisha’s noticed, everyone else will have too.

Dylan:

Yeah, I have a friend staying with me. He was injured recently and is recovering. I guess my focus is split right now. Sorry.

Neisha:

Omg! That’s awful! Please don’t apologize. I hope your friend is okay, and if there’s anything I can do to make things easier for you, just say the word.

My smile is involuntary. That’s nice of her.

Dylan:

Thanks :-) He’s doing a lot better, so I need to get my head back in the game.

Neisha:

I’ll leave you to it, then. LMK if there’s anything I can do!

I send another thank-you, then force myself to check in on my actual work and make sure the rest of the team are handling things before I go back to staring at the code.

What the fuck is it that keeps nagging me?

Another chat box pops up.

“Jesus fucking Christ,” I mutter. Since when is the team so needy?

The little voice at the back of my mind reminds me that they’re used to me being very active in chats, which I haven’t been for nearly three weeks now. I ignore it and read the message.

Richie:

Hey, you ok? Neisha says a friend of yours is hurt?

Annnd of course they’re gossiping. Reining in the urge to tell them they should be working instead—because fuck knows, I’m not—I click into the box and reply.

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