Deus Ex Human Revolution: Shadow's Showdown

Chapter 38: The One Who Knows More Than You Think.

Sweden. Gamla Uppsala.

Laura sat hunched against the door, paralyzed by a panic attack. She was breathing unevenly, fighting for every draught of air. Shivering spasms ran through her body. The woman put her arms around her head in an effort to utter a few words.

"You found me Damien just the way I wanted it! So let's end this once and for all! Take me with you but leave Adam alone! Do you understand?!"

She felt someone grabbing her arms, so she tried to get free. She jerked furiously for a long time, only stopping when she realized her terrible mistake.

"Laura, it's me, Connor," he tried to calm her down but to no avail so he sat down right next to her and just hugged her.

"You didn't hear anything, I didn't say anything!" she growled.

"Yes, you said quite a bit, I'm not going to deny it, what's more; I expect an explanation," he replied, and his tone suddenly became firm and serious.

"Stay out of my matters," she insisted, trying to get up but her legs were like cotton wool so the man took her in his arms and carried her into the living room.

The hacker felt like this was a road of no return. Connor was able to force her to confess things she didn't want to tell him, without any problem. Laura was angry at herself because she had already dragged too many people into the swamp she found herself in. She was pulled out of her reverie by a mug of tea handed to her by Connor.

"Let's start at the beginning. Tell me, is that man who was hanging around the house today related to this Damien of yours?" he asked quite openly, without playing around with the subject.

"What man, what are you talking about?!" the woman twitched, panicking.

The man noticed that she was shaking all over, so he set her mug down on the top of the coffee table. "So you were unaware of the fact that someone was apparently interested in you?"

"I thought I saw Damien in Valhalla, so I went home and you already know the rest. I thought by some miracle he had managed to get here before me."

"I don't know who he was, after all, I don't know Damien. But if it wasn't for that suspicious type, I would have been waiting for you at the door."

"How did you know I was right here? There are at least a dozen of these cottages in the area," Laura was ruthless in her inquiry.

"And that was already the receptionist's courtesy combined with my personal charm," he replied proudly."Boaster," she muttered.

Connor grew more serious, trying to put together in his mind exactly what he should say to keep her from throwing him out the door. "You should pack up and come back with me. Staying here is suicide."

"Out of the question!" she protested, barely having time to finish her sentence. "First of all I want him to find me, secondly stay out of this. It's enough that Adam stepped into that swamp."

"Adam?" the man raised his eyebrows in genuine surprise. "He knows everything, wants to help you, is worried, and you just run away?!"

The woman pulled her knees to her chin and wrapped her legs with her arms. "That's exactly why I couldn't stay."

"Laura, damn it! Don't act like some kind of martyr. You have friends in Detroit who are there for you so why..." Connor broke off his sentence and turned around when Laura suddenly started taking off her blouse.