Chapter 8: Grieselda

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

Grieselda slacked her eyes open, pulled an extra pillow and plugged it over the other side of her face. It did little to drown out the noise.

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

The neighbours were fucking again and Daniela – the girl next door – wasn’t accustomed with the subtle art of moaning.

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

‘She’s a freaking screamer.’

The walls weren’t thin or anything. Daniela was just that loud. This was the fourth night in a row they’d woken her up and they did it at the most random times of night so it always caught her off guard.

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

‘She’s either faking it or he’s hurting her.’

Because there was absolutely no reason for her to be this loud, no matter how much she enjoyed it.

For the duration of the assignment, this was her life now. The captain lived in a shitty neighbourhood which meant she lived in a shitty neighbourhood. Being the law abiding citizen she was, she would’ve normally filed a noise compliant but she preferred not to attract attention to herself whilst on an assignment. It was the most random things that blew a cover sometimes.

‘Best not to take any risks—’

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

‘The things I have to put up with to complete assignments.’

She motioned the pillow off her face and glanced at her alarm clock, glowing dimly on the nightstand.

‘03:17’

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

Her face twitched annoyance. ‘Why Howard? Why Dani? Why at such an ungodly hour?’

Too early to wake up but too late to try and fall asleep again, unless she planned on being late for work. She could’ve dived into virtual to pass the time but she refrained from leisure whenever she was on an assignment.

“Lights on,” she said. The lights flicked on, radiated the bedroom in a moody crimson glow.

She rolled onto her back, stared at the ceiling which was littered with digital pictures, a collage of the captain’s daily routine so far.

She studied the images one by one. Tried to latch onto anything that would help her better understand her prey’s thought process. It was easier to hunt a zoo beast when you knew how its mind worked.

Her eyes lingered on each of the frozen moments. The captain exiting his apartment, the captain catching a cab, the captain arriving at work, the captain leaving work, the captain entering a dirty brothel, the captain returning home and the captain’s silhouette at night through his curtained apartment window.

‘And he’s yet to deviate which is suspicion in itself—’

“Ahh!...Ahh!...Ahh!...”

Grieselda hadn’t ventured far from the elevator when she noticed the 177th floor was abandoned.

“They cleared the entire floor for this task force.” She muttered to herself. The Carrasco case was turning out to be the highest profiled case she’d been on.

‘Officially at least.’

She cut past a few offices, advanced on a conference room crafted from glass walls where the team had gathered.

‘Am I last to arrive?’

A suit intercepted her upon entry to the meeting room. He was a middle-aged man. Tall, tan skinned and had a thick blonde unibrow that made it hard to meet his gaze without staring up at it.

“Nigen, I’ll be in charge during our time together.” He extended out a hand.

He gave no surname, rank or title. ‘A ghost sent by the council to oversee us.’

“Grieselda.” She received his hand and gave him a firm shake.

The conference room was practical, floor to ceiling windows that overlooked the central metropolis, furnished with a long glass table and cushioned steel chairs around it.

Over a dozen cybermages and other law enforcement were seated haphazardly. A few chatted to each other but most had blanked out eyes, half-lost within the virtual network as they waited for the meeting to begin.

Grieselda strode for the two most familiar faces. They’d reserved the seat in-between them. She sank into the chair. Tiny electrodes running along the glass glimmered and a virtual screen popped up before her. She swiped a hand and dismissed the screen.

“So it’s all hands on deck for this one,” she said to no one in particular.

Shenko squinted, leaned close to her and whispered. “Why, did you want Ray all to yourself again?”

She raised an arm and Shenko ducked, giggling like the mad beast he was.

‘The nonsense I have to deal with to complete assignments.’

“Rafinya wants our full attention on this,” the captain said, rubbing at his dark ringed, uneven eyes.

‘Still, to put so many mages on this.’

“What the hell is Zappa unit doing here?” A voice came from the door. It wasn’t loud but the venom in his words was unmistakable.

Grieselda swivelled in her chair.

A short bulky man stood at the entrance, garbed in a grey suit one size too small for his shredded arms and thick thighs. He had tanned skin paired with the thickest moustache she’d ever laid eyes on.

“Take a seat Riberee,” Nigen said, raised his unibrow as if remembering someone and added. “You two Gnabree.”

Closley trailing Riberee was a skinnier copy of himself, who was clean shaven in a black hoodie and sweatpants.

“Can’t they do their tech shit from a computer upstairs?” Riberee grumbled. “Dammit I can’t work like this.”

Despite his complaints, Riberee still marched in. He was tailed by his scrawny twin who stared at his feet the whole time until they took their seats opposite them.

‘Can’t work like this???’ Grieselda stared at them wide eyed. ‘Aren’t they Interrogators? We won’t need them until we bring in suspects.’

Riberee glared at the captain.

“R-R-Riri stop—” Gnabree stuttered, clasped his twin’s shoulder but Riberee was quick to smack the hand away.

The skinny twin sank into his chair sullen as Riberee and the captain locked gazes.

She caught the captain curling his lips faintly. This drew a reaction from Riberee who rubbed an eye with his middle finger.

‘Can this get anymore unprofessional?’

Grieselda shook her head.

‘They’re practically oozing testosterone.’

She leaned towards Shenko and whispered. “What’s his problem?”

Shenko gave her a sidelong glance. “I thought you looked into us?”

Grieselda bit the inside of her lip.

‘Does he know?’

Was her first thought but she was confident in her cover so she was quick to recollect herself.

‘No, it’s only normal for a new employee to look into her new colleagues, right, right?’

She cleared her throat. Licked her dry lips. “Well yes, I certainly did but just the basics, you know.”

“Yes,” Shenko hissed. “Well this started a few years ago so most people have forgotten but anyways long story short I apprenticed under the union chairperson.”

‘I know that but what does that have to do with anything.’

Despite how casually he said it. An apprenticeship at the union was a dream for some cybermages. Union mages were exempt from combat deployment and they had a platform to speak on or against federation law and conduct. They kept the council honest and together they strived to improve the quality of life for every citizen.

‘Is this related to have to his sudden career change?’

“I still don’t get it?” She said.

“How to explain,” Shenko said, his right index finger tapping his lips. “Riberee there is probably one of the…” he paused searched for the right phrasing. “Let’s say more proactive union supporters. All of them give our unit those scornful looks.”

‘That’s broad.’

He wasn’t saying anything. The union had countless active supporters. Sure some where more active than others but what was so special about Riberee?

“Why?” She asked still uncertain to what he was getting at.

“I guess some of them believe I shirked my duties.” His tone became exaggerated. “They believe Ray seduced and corrupted me. Pulled me to the dark side. The rumours about Ray being dirty don’t help as well...”

‘For your sake and his they better just be rumours.’

“…They believe my reputation by association tarnishes the chairperson’s which by further association tarnishes the union’s reputation. The ol’lady makes it worse by refusing to take on another apprentice because she doesn’t believe anyone else worthy. I mean really, how hard can it be to find another talent like me.”

She ignored his vanity and nodded, enlightened.

‘The ol’lady you say.’

The way he referred to the union chairperson was oddly familiar.

‘Then again I guess it’s to be expected.’

She’d never been familiar with her own mentor. Such casual behaviour toward a superior was novel to her.

‘Perhaps this would suggest their relationship isn’t as strained as people think.’

Furthermore despite how nonchalant he tried to sound. He felt wronged or perhaps felt it was unjustified his mentor received some blame for his actions. He tried to mask it but she could tell. His voice lacked its usual spirit.

“Attention please,” Nigen said from the head of the table. “You guys can familiarize yourselves with each other as we work. I’ll give you a rundown of the situation.”

Nigen typed on the glass table. A virtual screen popped up before every seated chair. He narrated while the relevant data slide showed before them.

“Our target Carrasco Reyar. He stole an undisclosed item from the city armoury. We’ve trapped the traitor within the city but we can’t keep the lockdown going indefinitely so this case is time sensitive....”

Gnabree raised a shaking arm and Nigen stopped to acknowledge him.

“W-W-What was stolen?”

‘I’ve been wondering the same. What would cause such a fuss?’

“That’s need to know and we don’t need to know.”

The captain chuckled. A sarcastic laugh, that I expected as much amusement.

Nigen didn’t seem bothered and was about to continue with his brief when another questioning voice sounded.

“Why not simply track him?” said a man at the back of the table.

“I was about to get to that,” Nigen said. “He’s an agent.”

Everyone knew of their encryption software that allowed them to ghost federation satellites.

“Have we released his picture to public yet?” Riberee asked.

“We can’t, this is supposed to be a covert search.”

“But were on lockdown,” Riberee said. “Everyone knows something is up.”

Nigen waved a hand dismissively. “The federation will release a statement soon. Threats of violence from the barbarian clans or something.”

“What’s the Rouge Lounge?” Grieselda asked. “He’s spent a lot of time there.” She said considering her virtual screen displaying Carrasco’s travel log before satellites lost track of his chip.

The room went silent and most of the men shifted uncomfortably.

“A brothel?” She ventured.

Nigen cleared his throat. “Of sorts but there’s no need to pursue that lead, it’s a dead end.”

Grieselda furrowed her brows but remained silent. She didn’t like leaving any stones unturned just because it would inconvenience some lustful officials.

But if her superiors insisted what else could she do.

“I’ll check it out just in case,” the captain said, more of a declaration than asking permission.

Nigen stared at the captain, his unibrow bent into a V. “Be discreet then. We don’t want to step on any toes if you get my meaning.”

‘What just happened?’

She squinted at the captain then at Nigen but no answers were forthcoming.

Nigen confirmed there weren’t any more questions and continued with his brief. When he was done briefing them the captain’s voice travelled out.

“You’re scanning all open source communications within the city, yes?”

“Yes,” Nigen said. “The Data Guild has made the search for Carrasco their top priority but we haven’t had any success yet.”

As former cyber security, Carrasco knew more than most about the guild’s surveillance capabilities. He’d take the necessary precautions.

‘Unless he makes a mistake the guild won’t find him quickly.’

“They obviously haven’t,” the captain said. “Too much data to sift through. Focus the scans on the Hillbrow district.”

The captain declared and this drew the stares of the room.

“Why?” Grieselda asked.

The captain didn’t answer instead he looked over her to Shenko.

“Ray, you’re putting me on the spot here.” Shenko said, fingers tapping on the glass table.

The captain took his role as a leader seriously. Whenever a teaching moment arose he often took full advantage of it.

“Hillbrow, Hillbrow, Hillbrow…” Shenko mumbled over and over. Trying to recall any and all information he knew about the area. He was one of those people who thought better out loud somehow.

‘Or he just wants attention.’

He was childish like that.

Shenko snapped his fingers. Attracting the room’s focus to himself. “The Forger. He’ll seek out The Forger. We’ve detected some chatter of him in Hillbrow lately.”

“Hmm,” the captain hummed his stamp of approval.

‘Chatter he says.’

Grieselda squinted at Shenko and couldn’t help but feel their info was more conclusive than mere chatter.

And if they knew there was a forger in Hillbrow, how come he/she wasn’t in handcuffs yet.

‘Or are they more interested in employing his services than arresting him. Moreover does this mean Shenko is also dirty?’

If Shenko was corrupt too it was only a matter of time until they tried to turn her to complete the trifecta. Get their whole unit on the same page.

“Pshh.” Riberee rocked back into his seat. “Why would he be so foolish? A new identity popping up within the city would alert the guild.”

“I think you’re confused as to what kind of forgeries The Forger makes,” the captain said. “Unlike other forgers who create rip off identities, or IP maskers or even broadcast blockers, The Forger employs a different method.”

They waited for the captain to continue but he remained silent.

He could be annoying like that.

“Which is?” Nigen finally asked.

“Shen,” the captain said.

“He recycles existing identities,” Shenko said. “This is done by relieving unassuming citizens their identity. They target loners who have little contact with outside world and sell their identity to their clients. These identities don’t last long because few of us are truly alone and someone eventually files a missing report and/or the guild will detect inconsistencies in their digital footprints but the identity would have served its purpose by then.”

Grieselda’s stomach churned. Not at the atrocity of the whole forging process.

‘But how he can say all that so indifferently.’

“Even so were under lockdown.” Riberee sneered. “So this will only increase the chances of Carrasco getting caught when that identity eventually spoils.”

“Your assuming the lockdown will go on indefinitely until the culprit is caught. With a new identity Carrasco will be able to temporarily hide in plain sight from there he need only wait until the lockdown is lifted.” The captain turned to Nigen for confirmation.

“Ray Dawn is right,” Nigen said. “The council is already on my ass to close this case because the corporations are on their ass to lift the lockdown.”

‘Money makes the worlds go round.’

Riberee frowned unable to retort.

“Have the guild pull all the available data from Hillbrow district since the armoury heist,” the captain said.

Nigen’s tilted his head as he com-linked the Data Guild and relayed the narrowed parameters.

He dipped his head back level a few minutes later.

“Sure enough,” Nigen said. “They discovered a bunch of encrypted messages originating from the Hillbrow district.”

Through the murmurs of surprise the captain’s voice sounded again.

“Disregard those. Pass me the rest of that data,” he commanded.

Grieselda was stunned momentarily. They hadn’t even fired up the decryption program when she heard this.

“Y-Y-You think their decoys?” Gnabree said, quick on the uptake.

“Hmm,” the captain didn’t turn from Nigen. “Pass me the rest of that data.”

‘Plausible. I guess.’

If they could predict where he’d go so easily, wouldn’t Carrasco be wary of this as well and take appropriate counter measures. Now that she thought about it, using fake messages to throw the cops of his scent was perhaps the oldest trick in cybercrime.

Riberee couldn’t help himself and made his voice heard. “How could you possibly know that?”

‘Now you’re just being difficult.’

Shenko waved him off. “Were cybercrime don’t you think we encounter such tactics on a daily.”

Without explaining further or waiting for permission. She watched as the virtual screens flickered upon the captain's cyber intrusion. He accessed the data in question and began sifting through it.

“Why don’t you let me handle all the tech work from now?” the captain said.

Nigen’s face twitched but he didn’t disagree.

It made sense since the captain was the most knowledgeable when it came to the AoF. He was more likely to know what to look for but he’d taken action before he asked.

‘Which just rubs people the wrong way.’

Not that the captain cared.

A dragged out silence ensued as they watched him work.

The captain stood and walked to the exit without explanation. Shenko was quick to follow. Grieselda sighed but decisively rose and set off after them.

She knew he could be annoying like that at times.

“Where are you going?” Nigen asked.

The captain paused but remained silent. He nudged Shenko who answered for him again.

“To find a code breaker.”

“Why?” Nigen asked.

“Ray can’t find anything. This means if there’s a hidden cypher within the data it will be in street code which means we’ll need a code breaker versed in street code to decipher it.”

“S-S-Street code isn’t that a hoax”

“Oh it exists,” a man down the table said. “The mafia lords are just careful to keep it tightly under wraps. The key code is regularly changed to avoid leaks.”

“Yes,” Riberee snorted. “Why am I not surprised. It’s the sort of thing only a dirty cop like him would know how to solve.” His voice was low but everyone heard.

The captain ignored the comment glanced at Shenko. “Not if, there wouldn’t be a need for a decoy if there wasn’t a hidden message to hide, were definitely on the right track.”

“They aren’t using coded messages,” Nigen intervened, his tone sceptical. “The guild is equipped with comprehensive pattern recognition software. They would’ve picked up any signs of hidden messages.”

“Stop acting like the guild can’t be fooled,” Shenko said. “Street code was made specifically to bypass their detection. Anyway it doesn’t hurt to try.”

Grieselda had barely passed program controls but even she knew pattern recognition programs weren’t without their blind spots.

The captain was on the move again but left these parting words. “Watch us work and we’ll show what icons are like.”

When they’d gotten out of ear shot. Grieselda glanced sidelong at the captain and said. “Are you trying to piss them off or does this come naturally to you.”

But she received no reply, only that thin smile of his.