Installed by Phoenix Ward

Author:Phoenix Ward [Ward, Phoenix]
Language: eng
Format: epub
Publisher: Phoenix Ward
Published: 2018-10-14T22:00:00+00:00

“You’ve gotten older,” a voice whispered into Karl’s ear once he paused at a railing to again look around for his friend.

The psychologist spun around in alarm, a slight cold sweat covering the surface of his body. His panic dissipated when he recognized the speaker.

“Thompson,” he greeted his friend. “I’d say you look the worse for wear out of the two of us.”

The hacker smiled, exposing his large teeth that sat packed in a mildly crooked alignment in his mouth. His lips were surrounded by a thin dusting of facial hair, though Karl couldn’t tell if that was how it was meant to look or if his friend had simply neglected his grooming. Those hairs were light and silvery. The psychologist recalled that Thompson had gone gray quite early in his life.

Thompson’s hair was concealed by a worn Ushanka hat, one that he had pulled the ears down on to cover most of his face. His jacket was zipped up and the dark brown collar was pulled high. To Karl, he looked like the most suspicious outlaw he’d ever met, but to others, he supposed that Thompson merely looked like a drunk with a hangover. People weren’t likely to distinguish between the two.

“You’re alone?” Thompson wanted to double-check.

“For the most part,” Karl replied.

The hacker gave him a sort of wary eye squint, raising his brow in confusion at the same time.

“I’ll explain better when we are alone, but yes, I am physically unaccompanied,” Karl reworded.

“You’re bugged?” Thompson inferred.

“It’s complicated, but trust me, I am not a danger to you.”

“As far as you know,” Thompson retorted.

“I like this guy already,” Maynard commented.

Shut up, Karl urged.

“So, you going to start off by telling me you’re innocent?” Thompson said. “That the things they say about you aren’t true? That you’ve been set up?”

“You almost sound like you got a summary of the situation,” Karl said.

“I figured there were two likely possibilities,” Thompson started. “Either one of my oldest friends—who I’ve known for over a decade both professionally and personally—had a total personality flip and picked up mass murder and prison escape as hobbies, or you were framed. I haven’t quite decided which I think it is.”

“Thompson, there’s a traitor. More than anything, they want me to look guilty, though I have no idea why.”

“From what I’ve gathered, it was an organized attack. Flawless coordination, advanced armaments, and even body armor. But you don’t know why they attacked, do you?”

“No, I don’t,” Karl said.

“Is there anything you can think of?” Thompson spoke without haste in his tone. “Anything you were working on that might provoke such reaction?”

“It’s complicated,” Karl repeated. “Like I said.”

“You’re asking me to harbor you and, in doing so, put myself at great risk. I think you’d best explain what I’m dealing with, if you seek my help.”

Karl hesitated. His internal gears creaked as they spun and spun. They slowed, though, calming to the rhythm of his heartbeat when he managed to contemplate the request.

“Okay,” he said. “I’ll have to introduce you to someone.

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