Page 93 of Don't Game Me
Both jumped and stared wide-eyed as if caught eating cookie dough out of the bowl while their mom had her back turned.
“Seriously, what’s going on?”
“I just found the email with the stolen information you gave to Symphis,” Michael said. “Sending it to my old account was sneaky. I only check that like once a week.”
“I counted on it, but I also wanted you to see what I’d done. You can be assured nothing they got was real.”
“You’re still in big trouble for stealing this to begin with, almost getting shot, and almost getting Jake killed.” Noah glanced up.
“The movie goggles team is a pretty good bunch.”
Noah went back to scrolling through screens. “Thanks for getting them organized. How’s staying at Jake’s place going?”
“We’re roommates. I’m in the guest room.”
“Really?” Michael asked. “Roommates?”
She knew that tone. Michael loved good gossip, especially when it had to do with sex or sex mishaps.
Michael’s lips twitched as if he were about to break into a laugh. “Day before yesterday he was nuts to make sure you stayed at his place. So, uh-huh, sure you’re just roommates. I’d never buy you two in the friend-zone. No wonder he’s been in a crappy mood all day.”
“Did you guys talk to Quan again?”
Michael shook his head. “I think the drug made you paranoid about everything.”
Not one iota of relief hit her. “Maybe everything is as it seems. Lisi is Symphis, she’s dead, and it’s over. I’m kind of disappointed. Someone with her hacking skill level could’ve been more creative than a globalized video gaming ring.”
Noah said, “The FBI shared some of the stuff on her computer with us to see if we could make sense of it. She had the file you sent Pascal, which incriminated her further.”
“Everything was a setup to get me back here, I guess. She planned to frame Jake for my death to tear you guys apart and destroy your company.” She collapsed onto the sofa. “Hard to believe one person could hate you guys so much.”
Noah said, “I took Tori from them. Tori has put a spotlight on their activity with her talks. Her actions likely cut their recruiting numbers and made it difficult for them to find locations to play. Also, they can’t hack into our newest games because of the coding on it.”
She frowned. “Still seems more personal than that. Why target one video game company when there are so many? Would’ve loved to ask her before she died. I bet she would’ve been easy to get monologuing.”
“What do you make of this, Michael?” Noah asked, pointing at the computer screen.
Becca jumped up. All three of them looked at the document off Lisi’s computer. It contained a whole page of random symbols and letters.
“It’s code,” Becca said. “Let me try something.” She logged into GenShare. Surprise, surprise, her login information was still active. “They had this new encryption program they were working on. Let me see…” She ran the lines through it and grinned. “Voila!”
Becca, I would never kill myself.
30
Becca stared at the gigantic bouquet of red roses, which sat on the table in Jake’s guest room. The card read:Meet me. 8pm at Ideal’s.
It was seven-fifteen.
Jake still didn’t answer repeated attempts to call, text and email. He always had his phone on. Worst-case scenarios paraded through her brain.
“Jake?” she called out.
No answer.
The scent of roses filled the air around her. What girl wouldn’t be flattered by a fancy restaurant and flowers? But urgency to show Jake what they decoded and ensure he wasn’t hurt soured her excitement.
Her work outfit wasn’t fancy enough for Ideal’s. She pulled on the only dress out of her suitcase, the one Quan dropped off yesterday.
