Ctrl Z

chapter 9: Opening the Vault

Talking to Indigo – even if it was just texting – was the highlight of an otherwise horrid week. Besides his day job, innumerable other things were pressing for Jude’s attention. The first priority had been a new apartment, a harder task than he’d expected. Mid-semester, all the rentals around campus were full. In the end, Jude reluctantly agreed to move into Marq’s condo. He wasn’t done being angry with him, but with no place to go, he was out of options. The rest of his time was eaten up by work and hacking. Jude started out tentatively, poking at the security systems that King had set up for his business dealings. On Tuesday he received an anonymous email.

You haven’t even broken through the first layer of security. Try harder.

The sender was a spam address, and his email bounced back the second Jude replied. The experience left him panicked. Suddenly he was the one being checked up on. He found himself glancing over his shoulder in public, certain that there were people watching. Twice, he caught sight of a black sedan with tinted windows, parked on the street below Marq’s condo.

He redoubled his efforts.

On Thursday, he finally broke through the firewall’s outer defenses, peeling back the first of many layers, locating several unregistered businesses that were associated through purchases and invoicing with King’s fronted companies. He wasn’t surprised when the next email arrived.

I’m impressed. Keep going.

This would be the last job, Jude told himself. The last thing he’d ever do for Tyrone “King” Fischer. But he had to finish it before he could get out. Most of the time, Jude even believed that.

On Friday, Jude met Indigo for coffee. Seeing her after so long, his mind began to fixate on a way to spend time together. She was part of a life that was, so far, out of his reach.

“You need to relax more,” Indigo teased him, as they sat on the high stools at the Student Union coffee shop. “Get out and have some fun instead of working all the time.”

“I do relax,” Jude sighed. “Just not this week.”

Today Indigo was the relaxed version of herself, tight jeans, tee and leather jacket exuding an attitude of indifference. If he didn’t already know her, he’d never have the nerve to walk up and say hello. As it was, he reached out, brushing a strand of hair from her eyes and tucking it behind her ear. She closed her eyes as he touched her, sooty lashes a dark wing across the snow of her cheek.

“I’m gonna take some time off this weekend,” he added.

“Uh-huh,” she smirked. “That’s what they all say.”

“It’s true,” Jude insisted. “Marq and the tech crew are getting together on Saturday.” He leaned in, voice low. “Thought maybe you’d like to come out with us. It’s a nice club uptown. My treat.”

Indigo shrugged.

“Well,” she murmured. “I guess I could think about it.” She peeked at him through a fringe of long hair. “Maybe.”

“Maybe,” Jude laughed. “Yeah, I know, I know.”

“If I did come along,” she added. “What kind of clothes should I wear?”

Jude grinned, sliding closer so that one arm was slung loosely around her waist.

“Oh, something nice,” he replied with a wolfish grin. “The dress code’s suit and tie for men.” Jude’s fingers danced along the edge of Indigo’s jeans, teasing the bare line of skin between pants and t-shirt. “That dress you wore on Friday would work.”

“Business casual,” she smirked. “Got it. But that’s only if I go.”

“Sounds like we’ve got another date.”

Indigo giggled, a blush rising up her neck to her cheeks. She picked up her phone, then gasped.

“Shit!” she hissed. “I’m late for class!”

“Your project coming along okay?” Jude asked, leaving the coffee on the counter and following Indigo as she strode back to the computer lab.

“It’s okay, but I still haven’t got any footage,” she said tersely. Reaching the door to the lab, she stopped, eyebrows pulled together worriedly. “Were you serious about helping me with it?” she asked. “‘Cause I’ve got to finish.”

Jude smiled. For the first time this week, it felt like everything might work out.

“Absolutely.”

: : : : : : : : : :

Lissa reviewed the last of the files. Barring one questionable not-safe-for-work email he’d archived, Jude Alden was clean. No porn. No illegal activities. No inappropriate correspondence with underage freshman. And definitely no research into nineteenth century documents. His entire university account was, in fact, totally bare.

She picked up the phone, dialling.

“Cal Woodrow here,” came a cultured voice.

“Professor Woodrow,” Lissa answered. “I checked on the tech you asked about, but I don’t see anything to suggest he’d been snooping into your files.” She paused. “You sure it wasn’t someone else who helped you recover the project you lost?”

“Hmm,” Cal muttered. “Could have been, I suppose. It was last semester after all.”

“D’you want me to ask Jude about it?” Lissa offered. “He’s in today. I could ask him if he remembers which tech helped you with your files.”

“Oh no, no,” Cal said hastily. “Don’t ask. I wouldn’t want to bother him.” He cleared his throat. “Thank you for checking in on Jude,” he said. “I’ll call you again if I can remember who it was.”

“D’you need some help recovering the missing files?” she offered. “I could send someone down.” She smirked. “Sometimes people save things in the wrong place by accident. Happens all the time.”

“Don’t bother,” Cal said a little too fast. “I’m just fine. I’m certain I have a spare copy of the data around here somewhere.”

“You sure?” Lissa asked, “because it’s no prob—”

“Thanks again, Lissa! Must run now. Goodbye!”

The phone clicked and went dead, leaving Lissa staring at it in confusion. Sometimes, she thought in frustration, this job wasn’t worth the little it paid.

: : : : : : : : : :

Saturday night, Jude sat with Indigo tucked next to him in the cab, the city passing in a blur of lights.

“You’re beautiful,” he whispered.

She wore the same dress she’d worn on their first date, but tonight it was paired with knee-high black boots, a wide belt, and a close-cut suit jacket. Her hair was in a complicated updo, strands of it tracing the length of her neck. She looked ready for the boardroom or the bedroom. Either way, Jude was smitten.

He leaned in, kissing her neck.

“Later,” Indigo warned, sliding an arm around him.

“No maybes.”

She smiled, but didn’t answer.

Jude noticed a difference as they neared uptown. Block by block, Indigo’s posture stiffened, until by the time they arrived, her hands were white-knuckled in her lap. The driver circled, searching for the address while Indigo stared silently out at the street. Jude knew the club was in the upper floors of one of the buildings, but wasn’t quite sure which. He asked the driver to stop, paying without asking for change.

“C’mon,” Jude said, offering his hand and helping Indigo out of the cab. “I’ll give Marq a call and find out exactly where this place is.”

Indigo turned in a slow circle, her eyes on the knots of people making their way down the street. It was an upper-crust neighbourhood, and it struck Jude she must look uncomfortable for a reason. Jude finished dialling, waiting until Marq answered.

“Jude, man!” Marq shouted through a wave of pounding music. “Where ARE you two?”

“Outside, I think,” Jude replied. “Not sure. Just looks like apartments and storefronts to me.”

Jude turned back, finding Indigo staring at him, dark lashes framing worried eyes.

“Jude,” she said in a small voice. “What’s the name of this place?”

“Wait a sec,” Jude mouthed before continuing. “Marq! I can barely hear you. Where’s the entrance?”

“There’s a doorman wearing a pinstriped suit in front of a brick building at 118th and 5th. You see him?”

Jude turned, and Indigo turned along with him, her hand reaching out and grabbing his arm in alarm.

“Yeah, I see him,” Jude said.

“No!” Indigo gasped.

“Well, that’s the doorman to the club,” Marq shouted into the buzzing phone. “Just tell him you’re there for The Vault. He’ll let you in. Kimbra and Charlie are already here. Still waiting on Abhishek.”

“Alright,” Jude said. “Be there in a sec.”

Jude turned off the phone, returning it to his pocket.

“What’s the name?” Indigo hissed.

“The Vault,” Jude answered. “Marq says it’s really upscale and—”

He took a step forward, but Indigo jerked her hand away.

“I’m not going in there.” Her voice was louder, more certain than before. Her arms crossed, expression fierce.

“You’re not?”

She shook her head. Jude waited for an explanation that never came.

“Why?”

“I’m not. I just…” Her face crumpled before the stony mask of control fell back into place. “I just can’t.”

“It’s a nice place, Indigo. I promise.”

He reached out for her hand, but she pulled away.

“No!”

Jude frowned, the first prickle of annoyance ruffling his composure.

“But Marq and the rest of the tech guys are already there,” he complained. “I can’t just ditch them.”

“Fine,” Indigo said, lifting her chin. “You go in. I’m leaving.”

She began walking down the street, away from him. For a moment Jude didn’t move, his temper rising.

“Where are you going?!”

She glanced over her shoulder, but didn’t slow down.

“Tanis is playing tonight at O’Reilly’s,” she shouted, folding the collar of her jacket up against the wind. “You can meet up with us later, if you want.”

“I will!” Jude called. “Just give me a minute to talk to the guys and I’ll come!” Indigo didn’t even turn around.

With a low curse, Jude headed inside.

: : : : : : : : : :

Abhishek Singh was just finishing up in the Tech Center when someone knocked at the door. He sighed in disappointment. He was never going to make it to The Vault if people kept showing up at the last second. Even with the phone off the hook, he’d still collected four hours of overtime, and there was no end in sight.

He pulled the door open with a weary smile.

“Yes?”

The blond man on the other side was clearly a professor. He wore a suit, his tie askew, briefcase in one hand, keys in the other.

“Hello,” the man said, peeking into the office. “You the only tech support on tonight?”

Abhishek wilted. The Vault was getting further and further away.

“Yes,” he sighed. “I’m the only one on tonight. Is there something I can help you with, Professor…?”

“Professor Wo—” he began. “Actually, just call me Keith.”

“Okay, Keith. What can I do for you?”

The man laughed nervously, his eyes darting up the hallway, and back again.

“Well, you see,” he said. “I suppose I’m wondering if any of the tech people do contract work. On computers, I mean.”

“With the pay around here?” Abhishek chuckled. “We all do contract work.”

“Good, good,” he replied. “What I’m actually looking for, is a little bit of information on someone. Nothing illegal, of course, just things that you might know how to find online, but I might not.” He smiled sheepishly. “You know, addresses and the like?”

Abhishek frowned. This wasn’t actually contract work, and it definitely wasn’t something he did. The legalities were fairly grey in that regard.

“I can’t really help you with that,” Abhishek said. “Sorry.”

“That’s too bad,” the professor muttered in disappointment. “I was hoping you could.”

Abhishek reached out for the yellow sticky pad on the desk.

“I can’t,” he said. “But I can find you someone who can.” Abhishek checked the clock above the door. If he could get this guy out of the office, he could be downtown in half an hour. Marq and Jude did this kind of work. “Just give me a number where I can find you, Keith, and I’ll ask around with the other tech guys.”

The man’s smile returned. He reached out, scribbling down a cell number.

“That sounds perfect.”

: : : : : : : : : : :

Indigo was half a block away when she heard a man call her name.

“Indigo!” he shouted. “Indigo Sykes!”

Indigo turned, blood draining from her face.

“Oh God,” she breathed.

She watched as the man who’d shouted at her appeared, fear leaving her immobile. Luca Brin stalked forward, surrounded by a group of suited men. They stopped on the sidewalk, blocking her way.

“Hey, baby!” he said. “Long time no see.”

“Luca,” she answered, falsely bright. “What a surprise!”

He grinned, stepping closer to her than he needed to in order to talk.

“Where you been?” he asked. “Haven’t seen you in ages.”

She stood still, refusing to cower. Instead she preened under his gaze.

“Oh, I’ve been around, Luca,” she said with a false giggle. “You know that. Just not around here.”

He laughed, and the suits laughed with him, and Indigo fought the urge to bolt.

“I’ve missed you,” he said with a toothy grin, his eyes on the top of her dress. “We all have.”

She reached out, straightening his tie, smoothing down the lapels of his coat. She didn’t have to hold his eyes then. He couldn’t see her fear.

“And I’ve missed you,” Indigo lied. “I’ve just been busy.” She looked back up, giving him a one-shouldered shrug. “You know how life is.”

He nodded, putting a hand on her elbow.

“I do,” he agreed, “Which is why you,” he tugged her forward so that she bumped against the front of his suit, “should come party with us tonight.” He nodded to the men that surrounded him. “We’re meeting up with some friends.” Luca winked. “A little work and a little play, if you know what I mean.”

She hated it when Luca talked like that, but she still laughed at his joke, forcing herself to play along.

“I’d love to,” Indigo said demurely. “I really would, Luca. And I’m so sorry I have to say no.” She gave him another coy look: part girl, part woman. “But I already have plans.”

“Change them,” he ordered.

She laughed again, hoping she didn’t sound as panicked as she felt. Jude was here. He was inside The Vault right f*cking now! And he’d certainly see her if she went in on Luca’s arm.

“I can’t,” she insisted, leaning in to press a kiss to either of his cheeks. Luca’s hand drifted to her waist, but she ignored it. She pulled away, smiling shyly to gentle the blow. “But I’ll come back another night, alright? Just for you.”

There were hoots from the group of men, and Indigo put another step between them. ‘End scene,’ her mind screamed.

“I’ll be waiting for you, baby,” Luca growled. “Don’t forget.”

“I never do,” she laughed, lifting a hand and waving in the air as she walked away.

She headed down the sidewalk, away from the group, her hips swinging in a sultry swagger. Reaching the end of the avenue, she turned, disappearing onto a side-street. She took one last look behind her, double-checking she wasn’t being followed, and began to run.

: : : : : : : : : : :

Elliot waited until Jude had moved out before he made the call. He knew it would end any hint of friendship between them, but letting it go wasn’t an option.

He didn’t want to attend Jude’s funeral.

Late Saturday night, after he got off work, Elliot drove to the industrial area on the outskirts of Jersey City, hoping his memory served him well. There, next to the dealership where Elliot had bought his Matrix a decade earlier, was an old-style pay phone. He’d watched enough cop flicks to know the first thing that the police would pull would be cell phone records, and he didn’t want anyone knowing he’d made the call, least of all Jude. It would be a second blow if Jude ever discovered that Elliot had been the one who’d turned him in to the police back in high school.

Elliot climbed from his car, anxiously glancing one direction and then the other. The streets were empty. Saying a silent prayer, he walked to the booth, lifting the receiver with sweating hands. He put it to his ear, relief flooding his body.

It had a dial tone.

He tapped in the number, waiting through the greeting, his throat tight.

“You’ve reached Police Services for the Twelfth Precinct, Officer Brodie speaking. How may I direct your call?”

Elliot closed his eyes, remembering Jude when they’d been kids together in Brooklyn. Jude had been happy then. But then there’d been the fire that had killed his father. The anger that had followed that tragedy had grown like a cancer, spreading into every part of Jude’s life.

Elliot flashed to another scene: the two of them, six years-old, riding bikes together. Before the darkness, when everything had been easy.

He missed that other Jude.

“Yeah, hi,” Elliot said. “I’d like to report a crime.”