AllFreeNovel
Share Us
“Yes.” She had an odd, preternatural sense he could read her thoughts. Although his tone wasn’t hostile, it wasn’t warm, either. Raindrops plastered her cheeks, and a roll of thunder boomed in the distance.
“Who are you?” The man pointed at Mark.
“Dr. Mark Nygaard. I was taken hostage with Tess at Cedarcliff.” Feet wide and arms crossed, he stood tall and straight.
“I am the Raven.” He bowed his head and clasped his hands. “The Druid’s death was a tragedy, and I’m sorry for your loss, Tess.”
“The Druid? You mean Kyle MacTavish?” She didn’t understand but spotted a flicker of recognition in the man’s somber expression.
“The Druid is well-known, but only by his hacker handle.” The Raven folded his arms and stood motionless.
“Well-known by whom?” Mark shoved his fists deep into his pockets and cocked his head toward the man in black.
“The dark web, of course.” The Raven gave no further explanation.
“Right.” Confused but unwilling to admit it, she turned to the Raven. “Kyle died one year ago. Two days ago, I received a letter he wrote the week before he died with directions to contact you. He instructed me to deliver an important USB drive and said you’d know what to do.”
“You have the drive with you?” Scrunching his eyebrows together, the Raven perked up.
“Yes.” Unnerved, she felt as if this strange man could see through her.
“I need you both to come with me, and we’ll drive to a safe place where I can study it.” He gestured at the parking lot in the distance.
Mark stepped in front of Tess and raised a hand. “Wait a second. How do we know we can trust you?”
“Because you can. I’m unarmed, and you’re welcome to check.” The Raven held his arms out to his sides.
Mark proceeded to search the wiry man and found nothing but a car key on a black, braided leather key chain. “No ID?”
“No. For all legal purposes, I don’t exist.” He adjusted his beanie, then crossed his arms. “Now, I must confirm neither of you carried a weapon here. I despise guns.”
“Fine, but don’t get fresh with me.” Tess exchanged a glance with Mark. She stood rigid as a flagpole as the Raven frisked her. When his fingers accidentally brushed against hers, she noticed his skin was smooth like a woman’s and oddly softer than hers.
Next, the Raven patted Mark down and then searched his jacket pockets. Lifting each of Mark’s pant legs, he checked the tops of the socks before finishing and clapping his palms together. “Now that’s done, follow me to my car, and we’ll drive about fifteen kilometers to my cottage. You may leave any time you want, and I don’t mean any harm.”
Although she felt uneasy, she remembered Kyle’s letter and took a leap of faith. The Raven might have the key to saving David’s life. Sensing Mark’s hesitation, she offered him an encouraging nod. “We’re ready.”
Tess and Mark followed the Raven to the parking lot and walked to a tiny, black hatchback shaped like an egg and polished to a flawless shine. Once Mark was seated in the back, she settled into the front seat. A moment of panic set in, and she clutched the door handle. Every safety article she’d ever read warned against riding with strangers. Maybe the Raven was safe, but what if he drove them to people who weren’t? She offered a last-minute prayer to Kyle in the afterlife. This Raven guy better be trustworthy because if he’s not, I’m in serious trouble.
The Raven piled into the driver’s seat and backed out of the parking lot. In seconds, the little car was speeding away from Culloden and heading southeast into the hills.
Whatever this afternoon held, she and Mark couldn’t turn back now.
Chapter Sixteen
In the Hacker’s Lair
The claustrophobic interior of the Raven’s hatchback grew thick with tension. Raindrops thwacked the windshield, and Tess marveled at the bizarre events leading to this moment—riding in a tiny car with a suspected Scottish hacker and speeding to a random, unknown destination. What if Kyle’s letter was fake? No, she remained sure he had written it. Despite the precarious predicament, she sensed her curiosity growing until it outweighed her fear. She snuck a peak at Mark in the rearview mirror and hoped the confined space wasn’t aggravating his PTSD, but his usual golden complexion had paled several shades.
The Raven exited the main highway and drove up a bumpy gravel road surrounded by woods. A mile up the road, an overgrown, unmarked trail appeared. Carefully, he centered the car on the narrow tracks, but the tires hit a patch of mud and spun, making squishy-squashy sounds until gaining traction. A weathered stone cottage appeared in the sparse remains of daylight. The sun had set at four o’clock, and darkness quickly advanced.
“We’re here.” The Raven switched the motor off and exited the car.
Mark squeezed out of the car and circled around with the crutches to help Tess out of the vehicle. “Are you doing okay?”
Beyond the hacker’s earshot, Tess placed a hand on Mark’s arm and kept her voice low. “He’s unarmed, remember? He doesn’t seem like the torture type. You know, the kind of guy hoarding a stash of unsterilized surgical instruments.”
“Now that would terrify me.” Grumbling, Mark guided her to the front steps of the cottage.
