Silent Hacker - Chapter 29：What Does This Mean?

I click on the picture and blow it up so I can see everything clearly. The words “Since you’re busy” was clearly written in what looks like the guy’s blood… Since you’re busy?? The hell… The man was hanging on the wall by what looked like a stick or pipe… It was sticking in the guy’s chest but I can’t tell if that was done before or after the guy died.

I close the picture and bring up the report, needing to know more. The report says that when the nurse came to check on the man in the morning, they found him like this. The police officers standing at the door, outside the room didn’t hear a thing…

How the hell was that even possible? Whoever did this would have to go through them first… and even if by some miracle they were able to slip past the police… how had no one heard anything? I scan the report and see that it’s still pending.

The man had been beaten and cut open to bleed out… and if that wasn’t enough they impaled the guy on the wall like a bug. I bite my lip again as I bring the picture back up. “Since you’re busy” I read the short line over and over as I find myself growing more and more aware.

Who could get past police or anyone for that matter, without anyone noticing… “Since you’re busy”. No, I had to be overthinking this. Had to… It could be that someone didn’t want the guy exposing more things but I couldn’t get over the words. They were intentionally left.

I was indeed busy last night… I look back to my surveillance videos but it doesn’t show anyone showing up. I run my hands through my hair and decide to drop it. I’m not going to kill myself with overthinking this… I push away from the computers and feel my stomach growl with demands for food.

“Chip, I’m hungry and really feeling Pho… Wanna come?” Chip beeps and I instantly hear him in my ear “Yes! I love going out and seeing the real world. Don’t forget your contacts so I can see!” I smile at his eagerness to learn and make my way to the room to get ready.

I put on a pair of dark jeans and a grey shirt as I ask Chip “What’s the temperature outside?” Chip quickly says “The temperatures are dropping and will continue to drop into the mid-thirties, followed by thunderstorms.” I freeze with my hand over my sneakers.

Boots it is… I grab my black boots and my black hoodie. I guess fall was officially here. Once done I head out and decide to walk. The Pho shop I really enjoyed was just three blocks down and as it stood I was still stiff from my extra long nap. I could really use the walk.

I only make it a block before I notice someone leaning against the wall, smoking a cigarette. I frown when I see who it is… shit. “Looks like the Kitten is up and hungry. What are you in the mood for?” Alec says with a dark grin.

“What are you doing here?” I ask, not bothering to hiding my irritation. His smile grows and says “You slept past our arranged meeting time… and here I thought I was being kind and understanding by waiting.” I swallow hard at his words but I don’t move. How did he know I was sleeping? A wild guess or something else?

I watch him watch me and feel myself growing more alert. “Pho…” I say and watch the smile reach his dark eyes, warming the once cold eyes. “Pho it is then,” he says and puts the cigarette out. He waits for me to start walking before he pushes off the wall and falls into step next to me.

My entire life I’ve always made sure to keep watch when walking at night but what are you supposed to do when you walk with night itself? I look over to the man beside me and again I’m struck with how attractive he is. I frown and look away as I question myself… how am I suppose to deal with him?

Chip changes the lights and makes walking to the Pho shop an easy feat. The lights don’t go unnoticed by the man next to me. My thoughts shift back to the pictures of the dead guy at the hospital and I find myself looking back to Alec. He walks with ease and with a slight smirk but otherwise ignores me. I know he can feel me looking so I quickly look away.