Hacker

Chapter Seven

It was our third day in the safe house. We were ready to head back to the base.

"I can carry the backpack." I offered.

"Don't worry, babe, I got this." Noah said, although his usual flirtatious spark wasn't there. He put the backpack on, and for a brief moment, a look of fear and sadness flashed across his face, but he immediately recomposed. "Well, let's go."

We walked out of the safe house and locked the door behind us. Then we started the journey back to the base. It was a long and tiring journey, but we made it after a few hours.

We could see the damage to the bar from a good distance away. The glass was shattered, the door was hanging off the hinges, there was spilled wine splashed on the floor, there was blood and gun damage everywhere, and the "Employees Only" door was missing completely.

"No, no, no, no, no..." Noah choked. He dropped the backpack and ran to the bar as fast as he could.

I picked up the backpack and ran after him.

I had only known the team for a day, and I had only known Noah for a couple days, but I felt sympathy for Noah. He had been on the team for two years; they were like his family, and the hideout was like his home. To see it destroyed and the team missing must be devastating for him.

When I got to the bar, Noah was curled into a fetal position on the floor, tears streaming down his face. He was holding a piece of paper with some writing on it. He handed it to me when he saw me.

Official government ordered arrest made June 24th, 2016. Arrested Timothy King, Marissa Lawson, Keith Miller, and Lara Brookes. Charges: thievery from government, resistance to laws.

I stared at the note. "Wow." I breathed. I turned to Noah. "I'm so sorry."

Noah didn't reply. I didn't expect him to.

I had never seen Noah like this before. His flirtatious cool was completely gone. His blue eyes didn't sparkle like they usually did. His confident smile was just a faint memory now. It was hard to believe that the flirtatious Noah I knew was the same Noah that was on the floor in front of me.

Noah looked up at me. "We're going to save them."

"Are you crazy?" I asked. "That's a suicide mission!"

"Anna Taylor, you are going to help me save them whether you like it or not." Noah said adamantly.

"Taylor isn't even my real last name." I said. Then, I sighed and sat on the floor next to him. "Look, Noah, I understand how painful this must be for you. But you all have been on the government's wanted list for years. Freeing the team won't be easy, even with our skills. And you're forgetting that I'm not actually a part of the team. Heck, I was supposed to leave three days ago!"

"Anna." Noah looked into my eyes. His eyes were pleading. "Please. I can't lose them. I've--" Noah hesitated. "I've already lost too many people. I can't lose them, too."

I hesitated. I knew what it felt like to lose someone. John.

I sighed. It wouldn't be easy. But maybe, just maybe, this team was telling the truth about John. Maybe saving them is the best thing I can do... for John.

"Fine. I'll do it." I sighed.

Noah looked up at me. He wasn't pretty, with the tear stains on his cheeks, his nose running, and his eyes red. "Thank you." He said.

"Don't make me regret it." I sighed. "Now you need to clean up, you're a mess."

Noah nodded, and grabbed a napkin off the counter. The napkin stand had been destroyed, but that napkin seemed usable. He wiped his face.

I looked at the paper I was still holding. Why had they left this? Did they have to leave a paper every time they arrested someone? I turned the paper over, and to my surprise, there was writing on the back of it, but in a different handwriting. One that I recognized to be Marissa's-- from the sticky note on her door.

7-15 20-15 2705 12-5-1-6-25 20-18-1-9-12 19-9-12-22-5-18 19-16-18-9-14-7-19 6-12

"Uh-- Noah?" I asked, looking at the numbers. "You should see this."

Noah walked over to me. I showed him the writing. He lit up. "Marissa left us a note!"

"But it's just numbers." I sighed.

"It's a code." Noah said. "Each number represents a letter in the alphabet. Here, get me a pen. There's one in the backpack."

I reached into the backpack and got him a pen. He started writing on the paper, mumbling to himself as he deciphered the code. When he was done, he handed me the paper.

He had written:

Go to 2705 Leafy Trail, Silver Springs, FA

"Well, I think I know our first stop," I said.

Noah nodded. "Maybe that location has someone or something that could help us."

"Have you heard that address before?" I asked Noah.

He shook his head. "But I trust Marissa. The only problem is, how are we supposed to get all the way to Florida on such a short notice?"

I looked at Noah. "You ready to do a lot of illegal stuff that could get us thrown in jail for the rest of our lives?"

"Let's do it." Noah said smiling for the first time in a while.

I told him my plan.