Page 7 of Matrix

“She was thirteen when she vanished from the mall.”

“Old enough to be a runaway.”

“No. Never. We pulled the CCTV footage. She was abducted in the parking lot. The video was too grainy to make out any details. We searched for months but didn’t get any leads. Then suddenly, we got a hit on a wiretap.”

“What wiretap?”

“Blackstone’s.”

“What? Are you investigating him?” He arches a brow.

“Yes. There were questions about where some of his campaign contribution money came from. Local politicians didn’t like having an out-of-state candidate running for office. Someone pulled some strings with the local FBI office, and we got a warrant to listen in on Blackstone’s calls. They were looking for any reason to stop him from being elected.”

“That had to be a goldmine.”

“Not really. We only had legal access to his calls originating in Montana.”

“How is this related to your sister’s abduction?”

“Blackstone’s driver made a call from the ranch’s landline.”

“They still have those?” He snorts.

“Cell reception can be spotty in the mountains.”

“True.”

“Anyway, her name came up. One of the agents listening remembered my sister’s case. He told me about the call. The driver didn’t say anything incriminating, but Blackstone is connected. Her name wouldn’t have popped up if he didn’t have something to do with her kidnapping. We don’t have any evidence yet, but I suspect he’s connected to the trafficking ring.” I take a breath before continuing. I’ve already told him so much. I may as well tell him everything. It might be my only shot at getting out of this cabin alive. “There’s more …”

“Tell me.”

“I know about Underground Vengeance’s ability to skirt the law. I also know you’re the best hacker in the state.”

“In the country.”

“Maybe so. And I know you guys have it out for Blackstone.”

“What gives you that impression?” he asks cautiously.

“You’re rivals with his unofficially-funded club, the Demon Riders.”

“So?”

“You’ve also got twenty-four-hour surveillance on his compound.”

“How’d you figure that out?”

“We found your cameras when we went to set up our own. Instead of installing more and risk getting caught, we piggybacked onto your system.”

“Who the fuck is working with you? Why haven’t I detected any breaches?”

“Because I’m good at what I do.”

“You?” He laughs for a second before realizing I’m serious. “Really? You?”

“I started taking computers apart before I could read. They fascinate me.” I shrug.

He stares at me like he’s never seen me before, and maybe that’s true. I’ve never let him see the real me, only the fake persona I adopted to become part of the club. He has no clue who I am. Although I seem to be a simple country girl, I’m not. Watching the slow realization cross his face is almost amusing. It would be hilarious if he didn’t still have my gun.