“He didn't do it,” I said softly.
He blinked owlishly at me. “How are you so sure?”
“I just am.”
My sincerity gave him pause. Nodding slightly, he tucked his hands in his pockets. “He's a good guy, but that doesn't matter. The government always has its cocks up our asses, even if we're innocent. If there's any justice, Kes will beat this.”
Something chipped at the back of my memory. “Right,” I said slowly. “He'll beat this.”
Checking his watch, Florian winced. “I should go back in there,” he said, pointing towards Pure Pleasure. “I mean, in case the cops get a warrant and decide to tear apart everything. People could lose their jobs after this. Fuck, I had a shit ton to do before we lost our head-honcho.”
“Wait,” I said. “What should I do?”
“You?” He was already walking backwards. “I don't know. I guess go down to the station, or maybe call up a lawyer for him. That's what I'd want if I was arrested.” He offered a sympathetic smile. “Good luck, and see you around.”
A lawyer, that's smart. “Bye,” I said, not noticing he was too far away to hear me. Silver was going to need someone to defend him. He was innocent—sort of—and a good lawyer could prove that!
Tapping my cheek, I came close to smiling. Yeah, that's it. I just have to... Patting my pockets, then my purse, my heart dropped. My phone! That was why I'd come back here in the first place!
Facing the building, I jumped the steps two at a time. The doors were dark, I'd seen Silver shutting everything down earlier when I'd shown up. I thrilled with relief to find the entrance unlocked from Florian going back in.
The alarm beeped behind me. Motion sensors, right. Silver had shown me how it all worked. Of course, he wouldn't be looking at his phone right now. Or maybe ever again.
In the eerie waiting room, the water cooler bubbled in near darkness. A reddish light by the hallway was the only illumination I had. When I entered the room full of computers, they were all glowing blue. Shielding my eyes, I lifted my chin. There was a rattling sound, wood banging over and over. “Florian?” I asked, spotting him at the top of the stairs to Silver's office.
He spun, his eyes flashing like a raccoon's in the dark. “What are you doing back here?” he asked me, wiping his face.
“My phone,” I said, climbing the steps to join him. “It's still in his office. I really need it.”
“Well, good fucking luck,” he groaned. “The door's locked, and Keswick has the only key.”
The grip of depression started to strangle me. It didn't get far before I remembered what Silver had given me two weeks back. Unzipping my purse, I slid out the spare keys. “One of these might work.” He said he'd never let me think I couldn't reach him.
The memory of his promise cut through me.
Florian's eyebrows flew to the top of his scalp. “Thank fucking goodness! I didn't know what I was going to do.”
It took a few seconds, but one of the keys clicked perfectly in the lock. Jiggling the door open, I flicked on the nearest lamp. “What were you trying to get in here for?” I asked, scanning the rug frantically. “Paperwork or something?”
Florian ignored me, dropping into Silver's chair. The computer 'beeped' on, his fingers flying over the keyboard.
Crouching, I spotted my cellphone under the couch in the corner. The weight of it in my hand was a relief. Turning it on, I scanned the messages Silver had sent me overnight.
Silver: There's so much I want to tell you.
Silver: So much I want to do with you.
Silver: I want forever.
Silver: I love you, Pet.
Each of them cemented my desire to free him. Living without that man felt impossible.
“Alright,” I said, standing to acknowledge Florian. “I'm going. I need to get to the police station right away.”
He looked up at me briefly. “Yeah, yeah. I've gotta finish some stuff real quick. Say hello to the government cocks for me.”
He'd said that earlier, too. Was that why it was familiar? No, I told myself. I've heard that before, but when?
Rounding the desk, I meant to ask him where he'd heard that phrase. The brightness of the computer screen drew me in like a moth. Several pop-ups were open, numbers flying as fast as Florian's fingers. What looked like timers were counting down. “What the fuck?” I whispered automatically. “What are you doing?”
He glanced at me, then away. “Nothing, work stuff. Go help Keswick.”
In a black box, white code tumbled by in a waterfall of gibberish. I knew exactly where I'd seen that all before.
Silver spoons for some, government cocks for everyone else.
Cupping a hand over my mouth, I bit back a shout. Detective Roose! He'd shown me that phrase mixed in with some cryptic computer vomit in our first interview. He'd called it the hacker's calling card, he...