Honeypot (WAYHAUGHT)

Chapter 15 - Identity

Chrissy sat in her bedroom. A half empty bottle of vodka on her desk calling out to be finished. She missed the gang. Missed being part of something edgy. Her mood had darkened since hearing what Waverly had done. She couldn't let it rest. The thought of Waverly waltzing away having sold out her supposed friends. She wanted Waverly to pay. Get a taste of her own medicine. Have someone tell on her. And, how had Waverly managed to get a girlfriend out of this? That irritated Chrissy even more. Sober, she might have paused to consider the consequences of her actions. Drunk, she pressed the Enter key. Waverly's name was now linked to Bobo.

Nicole sat at her desk. Her phone flashed with a message from Waverly.

W: Missing you

N: Missing you more

W: Shall I cook tonight? What do you fancy eating?

N: You

W: Nicole! Behave. Noodles?

N: Perfect. Can't wait

W: Noodles. And me

Nicole smiled at her phone. She felt like a teenager again. She couldn't help herself. Feeling more alive than she had in a long time. Only now was she beginning to realise how far she had let herself slip. She was determined not to let that happen again. A new city, a new lover, a new life. Not bad. Not bad at all. Dolls strolled over to her desk.

"You look pleased with yourself. I'm guessing you're not smiling over the Serpent?"

"No. Definitely not the Serpent."

"How close are you to shutting down his market?"

"Not sure. The last part is the most difficult."

They were close, really close to getting the Serpent. But, they were running out of time. If Bobo was telling the truth, they calculated less than twenty four hours before he shut down London. Bobo's arrest had delivered more than him. His computers provided vital clues to the Serpent's identity.

Real name: Tucker Gardner.

A known criminal. A low life, one of the lowest. CIA shut down his first black market website two years previously. In the three years it had been running it carried out over one million drug deals.

Assets captured: $1.2 billion.

He managed to evade capture, slipping away to Hong Kong, hiding in the darkest corners of the Web. Waiting. Watching. CIA knew it would only be a matter of time before Gardner surfaced again. The temptation too great. The rewards too enticing.

He rebuilt his empire under a new pseudonym. From the Trickster, he became the Serpent. His new Empire ten times bigger. Still not enough to satisfy his hunger. Wanting to show off the power he wielded. A move from the virtual to the visible world. As Gardner's power increased his morality diminished. In fairness, his morality had never been that great. He wanted the criminal world to fall at his feet. To worship him, knowing he now wielded enough power to send a major city into darkness.

Gardner sat at his desk. Located in a mansion boasting the perfect view over London. He had flown in earlier that day in preparation for his big switch off. He wanted to be there watching it happen. Watch his plan being executed to perfection. Finding a replacement for Bobo had been as simple as one message to a contact. There were so many who would, could replace Bobo, like choosing candy in a store.

His new obsession. Executing his perfect plan.

His other new obsession. Finding Waverly Earp. The person who sold out Bobo.