Honeypot (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 6 - Conscience

Waverly could no longer stomach what she was doing.

She wasn't personally involved in the attacks on the hospitals. She had a strong suspicion who was. This was wrong. Very wrong. She was worried. Scared. She needed someone to talk to. Someone who would understand her world was no longer black and white. Grey. Her world now existed in grey tones. Getting darker by the day.

Wynonna was in her bedroom, music full blast. Not taking parenthood seriously.

Waverly slumped on the edge of the bed. "How you feeling?"

"Sick, tired. At least I can eat for two. Want some ice cream? Chocolate chip."

"No thanks. Listen, can I tell you something. You can't tell anyone else. It's about me and Champ."

"Sure. Oh, fuck. You're pregnant too."

"No. I wish it was only that."

Waverly paused. She desperately needed to tell her sister. She knew Wynonna was the only person who would understand. Could understand. Telling her would change everything. Change how Wynonna saw her.

"I may know who caused the power outages at the hospitals."

"What the five on the news?"

Waverly explained what she and Champ had been doing. How she had joined him in hacking websites initially. How it was only meant as a message to big corporations. Nothing sinister. How she was being sucked into a world she no longer wanted to be a part of. How she had gone along with everything until this moment.

"Waverly. This is so wrong. God, I can't believe I'm saying this. You, of all people. Seriously, you've got to stop. What were you thinking? I could have been in one of those hospitals."

Waverly had already thought that. Tears welled. She was letting everyone down. She was letting herself down. How could she have been so naïve? The Dark Web sucks people in. Normalises the abhorrent. Erases empathy. Like playing a computer game. Grand Theft Auto. Detached from reality. Except this was real life. People could get hurt. Worse.

Champ was already at his desk when Waverly arrived. She hadn't slept. Tossing and turning for most of the night. Her conscience stabbing her repeatedly to keep her awake. She barely ate any breakfast. Wynonna staring at her across the kitchen table. Disappointed. Concerned.

Champ looked up. "You OK?"

"Nope. Champ, this isn't what I signed up for. Hospitals."

"Waves, I know. Look, they only went down for a few minutes. It was a message. No one was hurt."

"But, this was never ever part of it. You told me you only hacked websites. Where does it stop?"

"Waves. You can't leave. We need you. Robin wants us to meet tomorrow night to discuss a new mission from Bobo."

"Champ. I'm sorry. I can't. This is too much for me. Someone will get hurt."

"Relax, no one got hurt. That's not what this is all about."

"What is it all about Champ? Tell me."

"Power."

She had to get out, now. This wasn't her. She knew exactly what she was going to do. She no longer understood Champ. He knew it was wrong hacking hospitals. And yet, he seemed OK with what had been done. Power? Never. People. That was her passion. Doing good. Saving the planet. Caring for those she loved. Who loved her.

Fuck power.

She stood outside the police station. It was raining. She hadn't brought an umbrella. She looked a miserable sight. Torn between doing right and not blowing the whistle. She couldn't go through with it. What if they arrested her? What if they blamed her for the attacks? What if Wynonna had been in labour? What if the baby was put in danger?

The front desk was busy. Two people talking to a Duty Officer. A lost cat. Others waiting their turn. She sat, dripping water on the floor. Shaking. More through fear, than being wet. Her turn came. She stood before the officer. He had his head down writing notes from the last person.

He waited for Waverly to speak. She couldn't. She stood looking at the officer. He stood looking at her.

"Can I help you?"

"I...I need to report something."

"Theft. Abuse. Loss of item."

"The hacking of hospitals yesterday."

The officer scanned Waverly's face. He knew what she was talking about. He wondered what she might have to say on the matter.

"I'm listening."

She explained she knew who might have been involved. She was worried this person might go further. She needed to speak to someone who could help. The officer knew this wasn't something he could handle. His station didn't have a Cybercrime Unit. Units were slowly being rolled out across the country. The UK Government realising it needed to do more.

"Can I take a phone number? I need to pass this information to another department."

Waverly hesitated. She could simply run out of the station. She had done her bit. Told someone. She knew it wasn't enough. She left her number. He watched as she left, not sure whether to believe a drenched woman.

He passed the information on anyway.