The buzz of computers sounded all around me, a soft background noise. I worked best with computers by me, and right now, I was in my version of Heaven. Twelve computers surrounding me in a circle, each showing some different angle of the building my employer was in. A bluetooth in my ear, a keyboard under my hands, and... an annoying voice in my head.
“Ok, I have the files. How do I get out of here?” Robert whines.
Rolling my eyes, I push off from the computer desk and roll across to another computer across the way.
“Hold on,” I sigh, thinking that this day just couldn't get any worse. “There is a door directly across from you. When I tell you to, run across the hall, go in the door, and climb down the stairs. “ I wait five seconds, then tell him to go. A beep on my blue’ makes me sigh again, as I roll over to another computer while tapping my blue’ to switch phones.
“Where do we go?” grunted the General. “Where is he?”
“Up the stairs on the left.”
“Sir.” he emphasized.
“What did you call me?”
“I am a general, missy. You must address me with my proper title, which is sir.”
“I’m sure you would be happy to tell the FBI that when they find you sneaking around in their headquarters. I can just imagine it:
‘What are you doing here?’ They will ask.
You will say, ‘Sir.' They will look at you strangely, then which you would proceed to tell them to address you properly. Your wife would then get a phone call from the government about some "great tragedy" or shit like that. She would be widowed with three kids. Poor them."
He hung up.
“Ok, I’m down the stairs. I see a door on my left and on my right, and a hallway directly across from me. Where do I go?”
“Can you listen to me?” I asked. “You need to do exactly as I say. Go into the door on your left.”
As I lead Robert through the building, step by step, I kept a cautious eye out for the agents on the other computers. Guiding someone through a building crawling with security is difficult. Guiding someone through a building crawling with security and agents while simultaneously directing the agents away from the person they are chasing is an impossible task for any ordinary hacker. Good thing I am no ordinary hacker.
I make my living by gaining access of online files that people want, and by sometimes retrieving those files myself. This employer, though, my current one, wanted something that was too risky, even for me, especially after my last run. And for a person who’s supposed to be dead, the Agency calls on my skills far too often. Robert, who was looking for a set of files containing information about political prisoners, approached my website five days ago. I found him clumsily blundering around, and had a good smile before I put him out of his misery. He wanted someone to hack into the Global Headquarters, and although I was willing to do it, the presence of the agents made me rethink a few things. That’s how I came to be leading a doofus down through a building while leading the agents up to the top.
“What the-” It startled me back to the present, and I allowed myself a small smile of triumph. Robert was on his way back home, and the agents needed to find an alternate way off the roof, since I just locked the door behind them.
I switch my computers to the security cameras on Robert’s route home, watching as he disposes of the equipment I gave him. He walks normally out of the building, acting like he belongs. Turning left on Oak Street, he makes his way to the paved path and rubbs his ear like it was aching. To a casual passerby, they wouldn’t have noticed anything. To the security cameras, still nothing. But to me, who also was expecting it, I see him remove the earpiece I gave him. Passing a trash can, he flicked it in.
My blue’ buzzes, and I took the call. “Murray in place,” he whispers. “But I’m afraid there’s been an inconvenience.”
I am concerned, but dodn’t read too far into it. Chances are, there are too many people around to dispose of the technology.
“What is it?”
“A couple of thugs in suits. It seems like they are heading straight towards the trash can. On route to intercept.”
“Please be careful, Murray.”
"When am I not? Murray out."
I watch from the security cams as a seemingly drunk man stumbles towards the men gathered around the can. He looses his balance, falling into one of them. Annoyed, they shove him off. One makes a nearly imperceptible movement towards his pocket before another stopps him with a hand on his elbow. I watch with bated breath as Murray stumbles back into the trash can, tipping it onto the sidewalk with a loud clang. Coffee mugs and food wrappers come flying out, caught by the wind and carried away to other places, a few of them straight towards the thugs. I stifle a laugh as one man jumped back with obvious disgust, but gasp when he kicked Murray in the ribs. Then, the unthinkable happens. They start taking Murray away! I move to my computers, trying to do something to help, but just then my door is kicked in.
"Don't move." A stern voice commands. "Put your hands up and turn around."
My mind races furiously. I have to help Murray! But I also can't let anyone get into my files. With a sigh of resignation, I slowly start reaching for a hidden button.
"Hands up! Turn around now!" the voice barks. "Stop her!"
But it was too late. I had hit the button, effectively crashing my machines. If anyone tried to access the data on them, they would be out of luck. My computers were as clean as the day I had bought them at the store.
"You little bitch!" seethes the General. "Cuff her. And don't let her out of your sight!"
As the men haul me from my chair, I suppress a whimper of pain. They bring me to a halt before the General.
Looking the General straight in the eye, I smirk. "Your move."
Swiftly, he backhands me, causing me to rock back and the men holding me to tense up.
"Get her out of my sight." he commands.
