His body goes rigid, which Oro1 must notice, because he asks, “What is it?”
“It won’t let me make the transfer.”
Oro1 moves closer. “Let me see.”
He watches James go through the same correct steps three times before he pulls out his own device, using his m-volt to operate it. Screens change until he recognizes the same Blackmarks depository he uses.
James’s heartbeat ratchets up as Oro1 attempts a transfer.
A box pops up, displaying the messageYour transaction is unable to be processed at this time.
“Maybe they’re having a system outage?” James asks. At Oro1’s flat expression, James guesses that isn’t the case. “Let me try again.”
The air seems to be warming. His clingy multicolored jumpsuit isn’t helping. He isn’t prepared to tackle a crisis wearing this. He should have changed the moment he got home.
The second attempt fails.
At the edge of his senses, he’s aware that Kate has stopped working to listen. Fuck.
At the third attempt, a different message populates.Account has been frozen due to illegalactivity.
“Illegal activity?” Oro1 asks. “Half of all Blackmark transactions are illegal. Washing funds is illegal. I don’t understand.”
“Maybe it’s the platform,” James says. Oro1 told him about that happening occasionally.
But Oro1 shows him a message that just populated from Sable.My Blackmarks account is frozen. Checked with my FRIENDS and theirs are working. Seems like a targeted action. Check yours.
Below is Oro1’s response.Ours are frozen too.
James’s throat constricts. Nervous to look at his device, he dares a glance and finds the same damning message. “Fuck. This has to be Viper’s doing.” The man moved quickly. Not a good sign.
Oro1 types,James thinks it’s your coworker, Viper.
“Don’t be too upset,” Oro1 says, shrugging. “It was just play funds. You heard Kate. She has the next month covered and by then we’ll have sold several PalmPrints. IdenTECH is where the real funds are. Maybe we’ll have even sold a new identity . . .” He trails off as he notices what James is staring at. The piles and piles of items she’s selling. “Oh.”
A thick moment hangs between them. Oro1 says, “I bet we can sell enough . . .” He hesitates, then decides on “even sooner.” The implication is clear. Sell them before the next lease payment is due. “Out of curiosity, when is the next month due?”
James winces, but typestwelve daysinto his device and shows it to Oro1. His business partner’s eyes widen.
Across the room, Kate’s chair squeaks as it rolls back from her desk. She stands, facing them with her hands planted on her hips. “You think Viper is responsible?” Kate asks, having clearly overheard every word.
James rubs the back of his neck, trying to decide how to tackle it when Kate blames herself again. Oro1 opens his mouth to answer, but no words come out. Smart, considering his misstep last time he was in this situation.
“I see. All of your funds are frozen”—her voice cracks at the word—“because of me.” Kate looks away, and James can tell she’s fighting back tears. He wants to go to her, but he suspects reassurance isn’t going to help this time. Still, he instinctively stands, ready to do something, anything, to ease her burden.
Her device pings and she picks it up off her desk, glancing at the message. “I can’t deal with this right now. I need to leave for Lessa’s appointment.”
She collects her bag and marches toward the door. At the last minute she turns, fixing them with a fierce look. “I have repeatedly said that I would cover the next month, and I will.” She’s so resolute as she slips out, he might almost believe her if it wasn’t for the fact that she can’t make eye contact with either of them.
Oro1 clears his throat, holding out his phone to show him Sable’s latest message.Viper quit this morning.
Three hours have passed since Oro1 left to discover what he could about Viper, his plans and whereabouts. James doesn’t need confirmation to know this is bad, however. Only another half hour until they’re down to eleven days. If they could sell at least one PalmPrint, he could transfer what’s left of his investment in his IdenTECH account to a new, unfrozen personal Blackmarks account. Maybe with what Kate has set aside, it would be enough. He just needs her to tell him how much exactly that was.
After changing into an outfit as black as his mood, he’s been sitting in Kate’s desk chair, contemplating his next move.
I’m a valuable resource. And it’s not like you haven’t done shadier things before, the computer and all its illuminated screens seem to say.
“Like stealing a tablet,” James offers.
