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“Great. This could save David’s life or at least buy us time.” The ball of tension inhabiting her shoulders lightened several degrees. The faint scent of wood smoke lingered in the room.
The Raven sipped from his yellow coffee cup, embellished with a happy face emoticon. “I hope the handoff goes without a hitch. Don’t want anyone getting hurt.”
The cup’s smiley face reflected the opposite of her mood. “We can’t risk your identity being discovered. I want you to remain safe.” Not wishing to envision the dangers which could befall him, she didn’t elaborate.
“My network is the new Resistance, and I accepted the risks long ago.” He picked up the small plastic case with a red label from his desk and placed it in her palm. “Here.”
“Talk me through this.” The USB drive appeared innocuous, but she handled it like a bomb which could explode any moment. The destructive power contained within the featherweight case rattled her nerves.
“This is Kyle’s original Firefly 1.0 code, a debug version containing developer comments and the Rapadon branch Kyle wrote, altered to unleash the virus I created.” The Raven opened the pastry bag and selected a blueberry scone.
“Declan will insist on inspecting the code. Can he open this safely?” Tess studied the container.
“No. I created a second thumb drive with placeholder code he can review to learn how I structured the attack. However, the kill switch is enabled so it doesn’t execute on his machine.” He set the scone on the desk and handed her another USB drive, this one with a green label. “The red one goes to Crimson Hammer, and the green goes to Declan.”
“Won’t they want to confirm the program works before releasing David? How will they validate the code’s legit?” Mark gestured at the drives.
“Couple of things. They won’t discover the code is malicious for at least three hours, or maybe longer, depending on network conditions. The moment they open it, the virus spreads, and they’ll be quietly under siege. You’ll be far away before they notice.”
“And the money?” She doubted Yuri and his gunmen would pardon a lack of payment.
“Easy. Don’t pay it. The police need to plan for this, so David’s not at risk.” The Raven pinched the skin at his throat.
“But what if they kill him because we didn’t pay the ransom?” Not paying the ransom introduced another serious risk she hadn’t considered.
“If you expect a firestorm, you’d better secure the police’s help in advance. No one can guarantee David’s safety, and I don’t deal with guns. Sorry.” Fidgeting with his hands, the Raven avoided making eye contact.
“I’ll give everything I’ve got tonight, but I want this to be over.” As the reality of the risks sank in, she resented the impossible stakes.
“Chin up, lass. I have faith in you. You’re fighting for justice, and your courage has saved you multiple times.” The Raven took another sip of coffee. “Besides, Declan goes to the handoff, not you.”
“Right—once you give Declan the drive, law enforcement will do the rest.” Mark folded his arms and faced Tess.
“Wrong. I’m not leaving Declan alone, holding the bag. Period.” Tess shot them both a warning glance.
Grimacing, Mark leapt to his feet. “You are not facing Crimson Hammer—”
“We’ll talk later.” Tess cut him off and sat fuming on the couch.
With a shadow of a smile on his lips, the Raven cocked his head to one side. “You two might not agree on everything, but you complement each other well. Protect the connection you have together. Such a precious gift is rare.”
Indeed. Surprised by the comment, Tess jolted upright and glanced at Mark. Given how much uncertainty loomed, she appreciated the Raven’s omniscient support but also felt her nascent feelings exposed. By second nature, she shielded her emotions, but the lifelong habit inhibited her from admitting her feelings, most of all to herself. Straightening her back, she refocused on the mission. “What happens next?”
“Text me tonight’s time and location using the mobile number you used before, and I’ll keep Crimson Hammer’s network activity under surveillance. They’ll leave you and your company alone from now on.” The Raven set his mug on the desk. “After tonight, you won’t be able to contact me.”
Nodding her understanding, she wished she could offer more than gratitude for his help. “Thank you for everything and for sharing your secret. Learning the truth helps, despite the questions it raises.” The Raven had offered her an unexpected portal into Kyle’s history. While she wished to learn more about Kyle’s missions, no time remained. The portal to his secret life was shutting, and she’d never see the Raven again.
Mark stood to shake the Raven’s hand and gave him a pat on the shoulder. “Thanks for helping us get through this. Stay safe and be well. Tess, I’ll go start the car.”
Left alone in the cottage with the Raven, she slipped on her coat and stood to leave.
The Raven leaned against the wood frame of his front door. “I wish you and Kingsley Tech luck. Kyle will live on in our memories and through our actions.”
His wistful tone and sad expression touched her, but she detected other emotions lingering under the surface, like a revelation beyond her grasp. “You were quite fond of Kyle.”
“The Druid proved to be a loyal friend, which is the best kind. A formidable online chess opponent, too, impossible to defeat.” Smiling at the memory, the Raven’s expression softened with vulnerability, uncovering a hidden layer of emotion.
For an ephemeral moment, she glimpsed subtle light in his expression and a quick lowering of his eyelids, revealing a longing far beyond intellectual kinship. When she recognized the romantic roots and intensity of his affection, she felt stunned. The Raven’s unspoken yearning reflected a wish to travel a journey, one made impossible due to death and mismatched sexual orientation. Or did Kyle hold yet another secret? In the tangled space of their shared loss, she ventured to learn more. “Did you ever meet him in person?”
