We all sign off with goodbyes and promises to talk soon, and instead of trying to get a few hours of coding in, I start off with the unofficial work.
There’s an encrypted message from Seamus waiting for me, so I check there first.
The text is only the eyes emoji, and then there’s a document attached. When I open that I see it has a link to a chatroom on the dark web.
I know instantly that it’s filled with the worst of the worst.
People, hackers, teaching each other how to build secure websites for all kinds of depraved shit, including but not limited to... human trafficking auction websites.
I go back, back, back, trying to find what I know is waiting for me.
There.
November twentieth.
The last time tgr81gotcha sent a message.
Bragging.
Fucking scum.
But just like I suspected they would when I first came across their name, they’ve been silent ever since.
Whoever this is, they’re not stupid, sadly.
I flag the chat, and set my software loose on it so I can hack into the backend of it, try to find the information it’s designed to hide—a simple IP address is all I need.
While that works, I make myself read the chat, see if anyone talks about them, and a few of them ask about tgr81gotcha.
One message catches my attention.
Dodge:
he’s bankrolled now
Just like I’d never heard of Gotcha, I’ve never seen Dodge anywhere either, and if what they’re saying is true, it implies they might have a close relationship with Gotcha. I set up a widesearch for Dodge, and go back to reading messages, to see if there’s any other little morsel of information I can find.
That message came through mid-December, so I guess the asshole landed on his feet—he’ll be off the internet for good soon enough if I get my way.
If Gotcha really has been bankrolled, then that means he’s now probably working for a criminal organization. I really doubt he’d be into working for something above the law.
I also have confirmation now that they’re a man, at least a very strong clue, which just goes to figure, of course they’re a man.
I bet he’s white, straight, and was rejected by the popular girl in middle school and never let it go.
Whoever he is, I’m gonna make him pay.
I surface backto the world of colors and nonbinary things when the alarm on my phone goes off.
Springing up from my chair, I hurry to shut down, make sure the progress on finding IP addresses for both Gotcha and Dodge are still going, grab my personal tablet, then lock the office and head down the stairs in search of Lex and food.
I find him sitting on the cloud couch, watchingOceans 11with all the parents, with Lyla’s hand gripping his arm like she’s scared he’ll disappear into thin air.
“You’re here.” Dad’s voice drags my eyes away from the tender scene. He sounds surprised, and I don’t really blame him.
“I’m hungry and done with work for the day.”
“That’s great,” Lyla says, jumping up and clapping her hands. Her joyful smile wants to make me feel guilty for how many dinners I normally miss, but I make a mental promise to myself to get better at that even when Lex isn’t here, and follow everyone into the kitchen after greeting Lex with a soft kiss.
