Chapter 2
The computer was the latest, cutting-edge technology, and it performed incredibly. It was necessary, though. Computer hacking required a lot of power. After the strange events of the day, Jason decided he would attempt to figure out the true objectives of the computer store.
Breaking the firewall was child’s play, but the file encryption was something else entirely. He hadn’t seen security measures like these since he had accessed the Pentagon’s databases a few months back. This clearly wasn’t just any old computer store. Still, Jason wasn’t just any old hacker. He hadn’t worked a real job in any of his twenty-five years on the Earth, but he had made millions, if not billions of dollars, draining the bank accounts of criminal organizations. Jason downed a glass of mineral water, cracked his knuckles, and began. As the sun slowly sank beyond the horizon and the moon’s eerie glow started to creep into the room, all that could be heard was Jason’s fingers flying across the keyboard like a tiny machine gun.
Jason drew in a sharp breath as he took his first look at the files. Nothing could have prepared him for their content. Inside were very, very detailed reports on many of the people he knew around town, many of whom were thought of as model citizens. Victor Thatcher, the checkout man at the local grocery store was also a drug smuggler, and Leah Garrett, his wife, was an arms dealer. Megan Stanton, who ran the local YMCA, was a spy who was known to have Mafia connections. Timothy Andrews, the owner of Andrew’s Pizza, was a hit man. Jason’s mind reeled. He had been living in the center of Mafia territory for years, draining bank accounts that likely belonged to the Mafia in some form or another. It was a miracle he hadn’t been killed. The computer store’s purpose still remained unclear, though, and none of the other files gave any more information. With his questions left unanswered, but disturbing knowledge uncovered, he powered down his computer, told Alex what he had learned, and went to bed.
Alex locked up extra tight that night. Laser beams crisscrossed the hallways and the yard, pressure pads were activated under all the plush Persian carpets, and the motion sensors hidden in the vents were on their highest setting. It was not a good night to sleep walk.
Lines of light had just started forming on the floor when Jason awoke. A happy humming sound danced across the room for a few moments, and then cut off into an abrupt silence. The events of the previous day hit Jason like a dump truck, killing the few moments of happiness he was likely to have today. Still, he couldn’t be late for his first day- he might die if he was. His footfalls were heavy as he trudged down the winding, mahogany steps to his breakfast nook, where there was already a bagel with cream cheese, a steaming plate of scrambled eggs, a glass of orange juice, and a banana. Jason scarfed down his breakfast, and threw on his slacks and polo. There was no need to be conspicuous today, he thought, so he left the Bentley for his two-door Mercedes.
He parked in the employee parking lot behind the store and entered the employee entrance. Before he had taken two steps past the door, he was stopped by the same huge, tattooed man he had seen the previous day. The man spoke, “The boss would like to see you in his office. It’s in the first hallway.” Jason nodded and walked away quickly, but not too quickly. No need to burn bridges on the first day. The office door was made of misted glass, clearly an executives door. Strange, Jason thought. This is a small operation, unlikely to have wealthy executives. He knocked, and a voice replied: “Come in.” Jason complied and opened the unexpectedly heavy door, taking a quick glance at the width of the door on the way in. A full inch thick.. must be bulletproof Jason concluded, which just added to his confusion about the store. Inside the room was a large, cherry-oak desk with a man in a suit behind it.
“Greetings, Jason” the man said. “So nice of you to join me. You may have realized I didn’t hire you for your salesman skills.” Jason’s heart skipped a beat. “I know who you are. You are known for staging the largest robbery of criminal funds, ever. You are also known as the infamous computer hacker, Halo. I suppose you consider yourself a saint for stealing from criminals.” Jason could hear his heart rapidly thudding against his chest. This man knew too much. “Of course, I have no problem with what you’re doing, as long as you don’t turn a 180 and start attacking the government with a malicious intent. The attack on the Pentagon was not welcome, but it didn’t end up doing any damage.” At this point, Jason’s mind was about to shut down from confusion. “You’re probably wondering who I am, who I work for, and what I want from you. To answer those questions, my name is not important, I work for the CIA, and I need your help. Recently, as you may have found out in your late night jaunt across our servers, this town has become a center of Mafia activity, and the CIA doesn’t know why. Conveniently, the Mafia has also made this town a hub for their computer operations. It is very likely there is some very important, sensitive data on those computers, and we want it. In exchange for getting that data, we will continue to turn a blind eye to your... activities. I know they are well intentioned, but they are still against the law and the banks have been getting very edgy.”
Jason thought for a moment, and then replied in a calm, even tone “That can be done. I will need one week.” The CIA officer smiled, and they shook hands.
“Pleasure doing business with you. See you in a week. Oh- and I apologize about the business with the job. We had to bring you in inconspicuously. Thanks for understanding.”
Jason smiled, and got up to leave.

Megan Stanton watched the two men shake hands through her telephoto lens and turned off the listening device. The entire meeting had been recorded, so she moved to phase two of her instructions. She called the only contact on the cellphone she had been given. The call was answered on the first ring. “This is Eagle,” a crackly voice said.

“Eagle, this is Fox. Proceed as planned.” The call ended with a click. Megan threw the phone over the side of the cliff and started the long journey back down.


Jason walked out of the employee entrance with a spring in his step. “That went well!” he thought brightly. Then a crack resonated across the lot, and his vision went red.


The man on the hill watched his target fall backward through his telescopic scope. “Game. Over.” he whispered triumphantly.









Chapter 3


The echos stopped, and the lot was silent for a moment. A dark red liquid started oozing out of the limp body fallen on the asphalt. Then, seemingly out of the woodwork came heavily armed men, and a military doctor. The doctor rushed to Jason’s body, and began trying to stop the bleeding. A man scanned the area with thermal binoculars, looking for the tell-tale heat signature of smoke or a body. It didn’t take long for a large red blob to appear in his vision on the small hill about one hundred yards from the edge of the parking lot. He radioed to the CIA assassin who had arrived just the previous day for training.
“Owl, come in. I have a possible hostile on the hill opposite you. Range approximately one hundred yards. Engage with tranquilizer ammunition.”
The assassin’s response was a measure of his confidence. “Send men to pick him up.” Moments later, the red blob on the binoculars moved wildly, and then ceased movement.
“Good shot Owl. Much better than that one in Cambodia.” The man with the binoculars could imagine Owl rolling his eyes, and his radio crackled again. “As I’ve said before, the fault was with the spotter. You’re range and wind measurements were horrendous,” Owl said, a smile on his face.
There was no response to that jab, other than, “Just come back down here.”.