Page 8

Me:Can it. This isn’t a book, and I don’t need saving. It’ll be fine. And if things go any further, I’ll blackmail him. It’s cool.

Mac:What the hell? Blackmail him with what?

Me:IDK. I’m sure someone like him is doing something seedy. You know me, I can find anything online. Anyway, get back to the next task. You said it was challenging.

Mac:Okay, go to Google.

Me:Seriously? Google? Like basic people's search engine? No dark web searching, no digging, no breaking into Amtrak to help them stay on schedule?

Mac:Google.

Me:Fine. Hey, it's pretty here.

Mac:Type in...

Mac:GED

Me:Seriously.

Mac:Hey! Did you just shut my lights off?

My smile hurts my cheeks it’s so big.

Me:That's what you get for pissing me off and having a smart house.

Mac:Well done. But seriously, you need to get it, Fate. Then start working on your bachelor’s. I want to bring you on full time here, but you have to get that first.

Me:I will. Once Destiny is out of school. Right now I'm focused on her graduating and getting into a good school. She deserves it. Deserves a chance.

Mac:So. Do. You.

Mac:Are you ever going to put what’s best for you before them?

He might be right, but Destiny is my little sister. She comes first. I want more for her than I want for myself. She's my best friend and might be the only one who understands and accepts the real me. With Mom working two jobs most our lives, it left just us two most days. We would go days without seeing Mom so, with me being eight years older, I stepped in to fill the parenting gap. Which was a learning curve for sure.

Though I never minded. Maybe because it gave me an excuse to not hang out after school or be forced to participate in anything outside normal school hours.

Unfortunately, Destiny’s followed in my introvert footsteps, being more of a homebody than getting out and enjoying life. I don't really press it since I understand the preference of being alone and reading over going out.

But sometimes I wonder if it's really her, or if she does it for me.

Mac:No more training tonight. I need your help. My guys are busy with another case, and something urgent just landed on my desk. Do you have time?

Me:Of course, you know I'll always help you.

Mac:I know, but I hate you seeing it all. Knowing what people are capable of. If it ever gets to be too much, let me know, okay? I can move you out of this division of the cyber group.

He's right. It's not ideal, but putting away the men and women who prey on underage kids is where I’m destined to be. No way in hell am I walking away from this. Yes, there’s some guilt mixed in due to past mistakes, but ultimately it’s about me making a difference.

With Mac’s team, I change the world one life at a time. Here, as strange as it sounds, I'm happy.

Me:Trying to get rid of me?

Mac:Never. You and me, kid. We’re in this together.

Me:Okay, old man.

Mac:I'll send you the file over the secure network. Expect it within the hour.

The phone slips to my lap as I reach for the half-full two-liter Coke bottle on the nightstand.

Movement in the corner catches my eye as I guzzle the needed amount of caffeine to get through the next couple hours. Dobby twitches like he's chasing something in a dream. His little growls and snores the most adorable and comforting sounds ever. But tonight it’s not enough to relieve the feeling I’m missing something. With a sigh, I push off the edge of the desk. The room spins as I twirl in my chair, staring at the same spot on the ceiling.

Something isn’t right. But the harder I try to pinpoint the cause, the more the unease in my stomach grows.