Read Online Paradise Hacked (First Circle Club Book 2) by Alex Siegel - Free Book Online
Authors: Alex Siegel
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me. Just give us enough information that we can feel satisfied we've done our job. I would hate to take this issue to the next level or maybe even go public with it. Nobody wants that, right? We all serve the public interest in one way or another. Let's cooperate."
The special quality in Alfred's voice was turned up to maximum power. Vigil saw people at nearby tables reacting even though Alfred was speaking softly.
Mr. Bravo and Mr. Charlie were visibly shaking, but they managed to keep their mouths closed. It took intense, specialized training to acquire that kind of strength of will. These guys are Special Forces, he thought.
Bravo abruptly stood up. "Let's get out of here."
"Yes, sir." Charlie got to his feet but leaned on the table to steady himself.
The two men shuffled towards the door. Their uncertain footsteps made them look drunk.
Lisa immediately moved to follow them back to their car. She would try to get the license plate number. Cat Lady was even quicker and hurried out as if she were late for an appointment. She bumped into Charlie just as the man was opening the door. The move was so slick, Virgil barely glimpsed her take Charlie's wallet. She went outside, and Virgil lost sight of her.
"Cat Lady," Alfred said.
"Yes," Virgil said. "I'll follow her. You and Sara stick with Lisa."
He sprinted to the door. He passed Lisa along the way, and she gave him a curious look, but he kept going.
He stepped outside into the bright sunlight and quickly looked around. The federal agents had turned left, and their footsteps were still slow and unsteady. Virgil assumed Cat Lady had gone right. He ran in that direction as quietly as possible.
He went two doors down and spotted Cat inside a laundromat. She was examining a wallet in her hands. He went inside.
"Well done," Virgil said. "I'll take that if you don't mind."
She did a nice job of hiding her surprise. "Take what?" Her voice sparkled with innocence.
He held out his hand. She meekly handed over the wallet.
"Keep it coming," he said impatiently.
Cat gave him a driver's license.
She sighed. "I could tell they were Special Forces when they walked in. Why are zombies talking to the military?"
"You think we're zombies?" Virgil said.
"You don't breathe, blink, or swallow. You have no blood vessels in your eyes. Lisa's wound closed in a couple of minutes. What else could you be?"
"Your powers of observation are impressive, but there are a few reasons why we can't work together. First, I don't trust you. You're a crook, and frankly, your behavior hasn't assured me you're ready to change your ways. Second, my management doesn't like outsiders getting involved in my business, and the guy I work for isn't somebody you want to annoy. Walk away while you can."
Cat stared at him. "Before today, I thought I had everything figured out. Making money was easy. The world was my ATM. Now for the first time in many years, I don't know what's going on, but it's obviously very important. It's exciting. I want in."
"So you can exploit me? You want my power. You see an opportunity to make a monster score."
"Or maybe you'll show me there is a better way to live. I wouldn't be the first crook who got religion. I'm open to all possibilities at this point. Just give me a fair chance."
Virgil's shoulders sagged. Mammon had repeatedly cautioned him to use his power sparingly, and Cat's experience was a good example of why. Virgil had unintentionally changed her life, and now he had to live with the consequences.
"I'll make a deal with you," he said. "My work involves deception, and your special skills might be useful at some point. If I have a moment of insanity and decide I need you, I'll call. Until then, stay away. It's for your protection as well as mine. If I catch you sniffing around again, you'll meet the nasty Virgil, and you won't like him."
Cat nodded. "OK."
"One other thing. If I call, the job will be very dangerous, and you won't get paid. You'll be risking your
The special quality in Alfred's voice was turned up to maximum power. Vigil saw people at nearby tables reacting even though Alfred was speaking softly.
Mr. Bravo and Mr. Charlie were visibly shaking, but they managed to keep their mouths closed. It took intense, specialized training to acquire that kind of strength of will. These guys are Special Forces, he thought.
Bravo abruptly stood up. "Let's get out of here."
"Yes, sir." Charlie got to his feet but leaned on the table to steady himself.
The two men shuffled towards the door. Their uncertain footsteps made them look drunk.
Lisa immediately moved to follow them back to their car. She would try to get the license plate number. Cat Lady was even quicker and hurried out as if she were late for an appointment. She bumped into Charlie just as the man was opening the door. The move was so slick, Virgil barely glimpsed her take Charlie's wallet. She went outside, and Virgil lost sight of her.
"Cat Lady," Alfred said.
"Yes," Virgil said. "I'll follow her. You and Sara stick with Lisa."
He sprinted to the door. He passed Lisa along the way, and she gave him a curious look, but he kept going.
He stepped outside into the bright sunlight and quickly looked around. The federal agents had turned left, and their footsteps were still slow and unsteady. Virgil assumed Cat Lady had gone right. He ran in that direction as quietly as possible.
He went two doors down and spotted Cat inside a laundromat. She was examining a wallet in her hands. He went inside.
"Well done," Virgil said. "I'll take that if you don't mind."
She did a nice job of hiding her surprise. "Take what?" Her voice sparkled with innocence.
He held out his hand. She meekly handed over the wallet.
"Keep it coming," he said impatiently.
Cat gave him a driver's license.
She sighed. "I could tell they were Special Forces when they walked in. Why are zombies talking to the military?"
"You think we're zombies?" Virgil said.
"You don't breathe, blink, or swallow. You have no blood vessels in your eyes. Lisa's wound closed in a couple of minutes. What else could you be?"
"Your powers of observation are impressive, but there are a few reasons why we can't work together. First, I don't trust you. You're a crook, and frankly, your behavior hasn't assured me you're ready to change your ways. Second, my management doesn't like outsiders getting involved in my business, and the guy I work for isn't somebody you want to annoy. Walk away while you can."
Cat stared at him. "Before today, I thought I had everything figured out. Making money was easy. The world was my ATM. Now for the first time in many years, I don't know what's going on, but it's obviously very important. It's exciting. I want in."
"So you can exploit me? You want my power. You see an opportunity to make a monster score."
"Or maybe you'll show me there is a better way to live. I wouldn't be the first crook who got religion. I'm open to all possibilities at this point. Just give me a fair chance."
Virgil's shoulders sagged. Mammon had repeatedly cautioned him to use his power sparingly, and Cat's experience was a good example of why. Virgil had unintentionally changed her life, and now he had to live with the consequences.
"I'll make a deal with you," he said. "My work involves deception, and your special skills might be useful at some point. If I have a moment of insanity and decide I need you, I'll call. Until then, stay away. It's for your protection as well as mine. If I catch you sniffing around again, you'll meet the nasty Virgil, and you won't like him."
Cat nodded. "OK."
"One other thing. If I call, the job will be very dangerous, and you won't get paid. You'll be risking your
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