Page 8 of Off Her Game
Inside, all the tables were stacked except one, where Tom, Jake, and Emma sat. Only a few of the lights had been lit, giving it a closed-down quality. Light from the huge glass windows at the far end added an eerie glow to the space.
“What’s this? An ambush?” Tori blanched. She glanced at the door they’d just entered as if preparing to bolt.
Emma skirted around a table to her and gave her a hug. “I’m sorry. So sorry he made you lose. I hoped you’d win this weekend, but they concocted a plan to get you out of the illegal stuff.”
“Losingwasintentional.” She glared the promise of payback Noah’s way.
“Sorry,” Noah said.
“Why’re you apologizing?” Jake whispered to him.
Can’t help it.
“They want to talk about the illegal gaming and gambling,” Emma said. Noah noticed Emma’s hair had frizz and her earrings didn’t match her outfit. His assistant never appeared imperfect.
“Emma, a moment.” Tori grabbed her sister’s arm and dragged her to the far end of the ballroom away from them.
They argued in hushed voices until Emma took Tori’s arm and tugged her back toward them. She waved at the men. “You need help to get out. This is help.”
“My plan was to earn the money free and clear at this competition, then pay off my debt. Then I’d be out.” She stepped away from Emma and crossed her arms.
“You probably wouldn’t be free,” Noah said softly. Paying off whomever the guy was that ran the illegal competitions wasn’t a guaranteed end. It hadn’t been for his brother.
She rounded on him. “You sneak in to one event uninvited and think you know all about it?”
“It happened to my brother. Kaleb made some bets, got into debt. He agreed to work it off, but he was a horrid player. Instead, he programmed for the guy. He told me they modifyZoneworldto make it impossible to win. The changes are subtle enough those who know the game well won’t notice.”
Tori’s eyelids drifted closed. “The bastards. I knew it didn’t play like it should. That’s how they keep us in debt and control the bets.” She frowned. “I thought it impossible to break in to any game from your company. No one can figure out the key to bypass the security code, which is amazingly well written. I’ve heard praise from hackers who’ve tried. Any attempt to bypass the security code shuts down not only the game, but also their computer.”
“It is impossible unless someone steals it. Kaleb gave them the code to the first game. We’ve been fighting pirating ever since.”
“Nightmare,” Jake muttered.
“Kaleb used to be on the team that programs security aspects of our games. Getting the code was easy for him. He paid off what he owed to get out and gave them the code but still couldn’t shake free. First came cyber threats. Then they tore his life, his credit, everything apart. He got paranoid about everything. One day he disappeared. His body surfaced a month later in Ithaca shot full of heroin like he’d OD’d. My brother wasn’t a drug addict.”
“I’m sorry about your brother. Maybe you didn’t know everything about his situation, though. The Stadium can be stressful. Many turn to drugs—uppers and downers. The shit is all over the place there.” She wrung her hands and stared wide-eyed at her sister.
Noah hadn’t known drugs floated around the competition space. Made sense.
“We’ve got to get you out.” Emma’s eyebrows drew together. “Give them a chance to tell you their plan. You can say no. But, please, listen. I’m worried you’ll end up like Noah’s brother.”
“I’m screwed. I might end up in a casket no matter what I do. Stay in and be a slave, and eventually turn to drugs as a way out. Get out and be terminated. It’s a no-win situation.” Tori massaged her temples. “What kind of whacked plan did you come up with?”
“I’m Tom Smith. Special Agent, FBI task force.” Tom stepped forward and held o ut his hand to Tori. “We need your help to pin a series of murders on Symphis. All killed were gamers who’d gotten sucked in to playing at the Stadium.”
She glared at the offered hand, but didn’t shake. “FBI, huh? You don’t give two craps about me. You’re after Symphis.”
Tom dropped his hand back to his side. “Won’t lie. I want him.”
Tori chuckled. “You’re going to cuff Symphis, huh? How long have you been chasing him?”
Tom shuffled his feet. “A while.”
“You know his real name?” she asked.
“Do you?” A hungry glimmer lit Tom’s face.
Tori cocked her head and crossed her arms. “No. No one does. He doesn’t make appearances at the Stadium. He’s got heavies to do everything for him. Manages the whole thing remotely.”
