Mirrored Exile (HS)

six

chapter six - art deco

Lucy Caddel

Harry enters a code in a pin pad on the wall. We've just arrived at the FBI cybersecurity block of The Capitol. I was nervous to meet Samantha, the one Harry mentioned. Harry said he trusted her so I hope I can too.

"Mr Edwards! Welcome back." An older lady in a gray-blue pantsuit shakes his hand. Her dark hair fell on her shoulder, just past her chest. It was dead straight and slicked into a ponytail.

"Samantha." He smiles. "This is Lucy Caddel."

She holds out her hand for me to shake it so I do so. "Hi, Samantha." I smiled.

"Welcome Lucy." She returns a wide grin.

"So I heard you're going to help us find the location of this file." She opens a door to another room.

"I am?" I repeated.

"Assuming you'll be a good help, your uncle was a valued member here." She walked me to her office.

"Was?"

"Take a seat, dear." She ignores me. "Tell me a bit about you."

"What would you like to now?" I let out an uncertain laugh, sitting in the black desk chair next to her. I feel my hand instantly grab my necklace. Harry stands behind me, I can smell his cologne. It's a little smokey but also sweet. It's all I've been able to smell for the last day.

"Surely there's something, where were you born?" She asks.

"Silver Spring,"

"Do you live on your own? Or with your parents? A friend?"

"Yes I do live on my own, I didn't know my parents," I said to her.

My parents decided they didn't want a kid so I don't know why my Dad didn't just pull out. Would've been a lot easier on my Uncle and Aunt, not to have me thrown on their doorstep. They never got along, my Dad and my Aunty. They were siblings with some never-ending
hateful saga according to my Uncle. I was too young to know anyway.

"Didn't know your parents as in?" She drags the topic on as if it's her business to pry in.

"They didn't want a kid, gave me to my Uncle and Aunty. Here I am." I shrugged.

"And your Uncle, did he ever tell you about his work in the FBI? What he did and all of his investigations." She stands up, tapping her fingers.

"Sometimes, he mostly just taught me basic stuff he learned. Said it might come in handy someday."

"What started your interest in cybersecurity?" She stood next to me, her hair was dark brunette. Slicked back into a low ponytail that hung on her shoulder. She was the intimidating type but deep down she seemed soft and composed. I looked at Harry who was watching her, narrowing his eyes while I was practically being interrogated.

"You're one of the bosses at your work too, isn't that right?" She asked as I wondered how she even knew that, to begin with.

"Um yeah." I sunk into the chair, wanting this to be over, I hated being asked about myself because it normally leads to being judged harshly with looks.