RafexKiara Tangled Up in All Your Pieces // Riara

Chapter 24

"Get a new one."

Noah brings the ring to his eye level, aiming to scrape the chip out of the interior of the ring with a tweezer.

He reaches to the end of his workbench, and puts on his glasses to get a better look.

"Shit." Noah shakes his hand as a result of the chip's sparks.

He reaches over to the other end of his work bench, getting a new tool to try to wedge it out.

"The ring is rusted, and even if I took the chip out, they'd already have erased the data."

"This one holds sentimental value for its owner." I fold my arms, my eyes pleading.

Noah raises his head, his glasses resting on his nose.

"Who is that?"

"No bueno, I'm just hoping you can tell me."

He shakes his head and puts on his glasses.

The stuffy environment of the tech room caused me to move on the balls of my feet.

I couldn't bear small spaces since I had a mild phobia of them.

I take a glance around at the jumble of computers, wires, and phones.

The only thing that worked in the room was the ticking of the clock.

I stroll up to his desk, my gaze drawn to a device.

"So, why do you want to know so bad, anyway?"

"You know, just trying to return some lost property." I gaze out the window, trying to start the conversation with brief remarks.

"You?" Noah scoffs,

"Good one. You're Ward's kid, and I doubt you understand what it means to restore lost goods. Or, for that matter, returning the favor, you know, being a decent human being.

But your presence suggests otherwise; you're attempting to clean up after your father, and I admire that. Just don't get too hooked into the realm of continually attempting to fix things when they will fix themselves."

Noah looks up, locking our gazes.

"Is that a habit of yours?" He asks, his face still as he awaits with curiosity.

"Must have picked it up from someone."

Well Damn.

"Hi, Phil." As Noah's coworker walks by, I recognize him.

"Hey, John," he says cynically.

I sneer, dapping him up.

"Are you a vegetarian?" I ask Noah, hoping to make light of the situation.

"No. My wife is."

He types something onto the computer, his gaze bouncing between the ring and the computer.

"Here we go. RAM module was upgraded. Chip's Chinese. Dynamix imported this product. Retailed by... I might be able to get you a billing address."

I straighten my posture, relieved that we were finally getting somewhere.

The code he enters moves around with the other letters.

Noah swiftly types on the keyboard, trying to lock the code.

"I'm sorry, Kid, it'll take a few days to verify the address." Noah spins his chair around, staring at me.

In exasperation, I sigh and massage the back of my neck.

"You did your best, after all. Thank you, Noah." With a disappointed tone in my voice, I assure him.

His chair's wheels scrape against the concrete, making me cringe as I was heading for the door.