The Crimson Silence

In the Line of Fire

Katie arrived at Jake's apartment after a short drive, parking her car outside and briefly waving at the patrol car that had followed her. As she approached the building, a sudden, unsettling feeling washed over her-like someone was watching her from a distance. She quickly scanned her surroundings, but there was no one in sight. Shrugging off the discomfort, she stepped into the elevator, taking a deep breath to steady herself.

When she rang the doorbell, Jake greeted her with a warm smile.

"Hey, Katie!"

"Hello, stranger," Katie replied, playfully pushing past him into the apartment.

Jake chuckled, closing the door behind her. He could tell from her tone that she was still annoyed, likely because of his recent argument with Lisa.

"Still mad, huh?" Jake asked, heading toward the kitchen to grab her a glass of water.

Katie crossed her arms, her voice carrying a sharp edge. "Your little sister was worried about you, Jake. And you just brushed her off."

Jake didn't respond immediately, his expression growing more serious as he listened.

"She's worried about you. We all are," Katie continued, her tone softening with genuine concern. She moved closer, taking his hand, her eyes searching his. "The last time you were like this, we thought we'd lost you. We can't go through that again."

The emotional weight of her words hung in the air as both sat in silence for a moment, processing the deeper meaning behind them. Jake finally broke the quiet, his voice low and steady.

"I'll talk to Lisa."

Katie leaned her head on his shoulder, exhaling in relief. "Thanks, asshole," she teased, wiping away a stray tear with a small smile.

After the tension eased, Jake shifted the conversation. "You mentioned you needed help with work?"

Katie sat up straight, regaining her composure. "Yeah, I know it's not really your thing anymore, but you used to have an eye for code-breaking..."

Jake gave her a skeptical look. "That was a long time ago, Katie."

She knew this was her only shot to get Jake involved. His skillset, though rusty, might be crucial. She flashed him a playful pout, pretending to be on the verge of tears. "Come on, just give it a try. For me?"

Jake couldn't help but smile. "Fine, I'll give it a shot. But first, let's eat."

The two of them shared a casual meal, eating pizza and talking as though no time had passed since their college days. The familiar connection between them brought warmth to the evening, reminding them of how much their bond had carried them through. For Katie, Jake was more than just a friend-he was family, and she'd been there to see him through his darkest moments.

After dinner, they moved to the balcony with their laptops, the New York skyline stretching out in front of them. Jake had retrieved the thumb drive from his safe earlier, ready to access the files Katie brought along. He leaned forward, his interest piqued as she showed him the code.

"Show me what you've got," Jake said, eyes narrowing in focus.

Katie turned her laptop toward him. The files she displayed were nearly identical to the ones Jake had hacked from his previous targets, but the folder titled "Aphrodite" now contained several unfamiliar entries.

NEBULA
CORVUS
ORION
ARROW
NO SIGNAL

Jake already recognized two of the names, but three others remained a mystery. He glanced up at Katie.