Page 38 of Demon Hunter

Dylan:

I’m fine, just distracted. He’s nearly all good now.

I hesitate. Richie actually knows Matt—he grew up in the San Diego compound, though he’s a few years younger than us, and still lives there. He might have heard about what happened.

Dylan:

It’s Matt Coates, btw.

Richie:

Ohhh. I heard Dad say he’d been injured, but not any details. Was he near you when it happened?

Dylan:

Kinda. He was in Reno, but when the hospital discharged him, my place was closer to travel to. He was still pretty banged up then.

There, that’s the official story. Mentioning it to my team legitimizes it, right?

Richie:

Makes sense. He’s better now, though?

Dylan:

Almost. Still not fighting fit, but he should be soon.

As soon as I hit Enter, I regret it. What if we’re wrong and itissomeone from within the Collective who’s behind all this? What if it’s Richie? Have I just given out information that can be used to target Matt?

But it’s not true, I remind myself. Matt’s already fighting fit. And of all the people it could be, I really don’t think it’s Richie. He and Matt always got along fine, and his parents were among the first to support Connor and Gabe after the Battle for the Barrier. There’s no grudge to be held there. I’m just getting paranoid.

I need to finish myactualwork and get some sleep. Tomorrow, I can talk this over with Matt… and Ian and Marc. Another perspective will help.

I’m just about to sign off from Richie when another message pops up in the box.

Richie:

Can you take a look at something for me? It seems innocent enough, but it gives me a weird feeling.

Dammit. Damn hunter senses. Even those of us who work in the cyber world have them—ours are just tuned differently.

Dylan:

Sure.

He sends me a Craigslist link, and as soon as I click into the listing, I know what got his attention. It’s an ad for an odd-jobs service, and I’ve seen it before.

The hairs rise on the back of my neck as I stare at the text of the ad.Our staff work like demons to get the job done!

Like Richie said, it’s innocent enough. It sounds like marketing jargon—a way to catch people’s attention and impress upon them that this service will deliver. But it gave me a weird feeling the first time I saw it too, and it’s been on my mind ever since.

Dylan:

Yeah, I know what you mean. There’s something off. I’ve seen this before and I’m digging into it when I have time.

Not that there’s much to go on. It’s a legitimate registered business with employees on file, taxes paid on time, doors open for the last thirty years. The original office was in Columbus, Ohio, but since then, they’ve opened satellite branches in four other states—though I can’t remember off the top of my head which ones. It all looks completely normal… except for the way it makes my brain itch.

Richie:

---