Heart-Shaped Hack

“I’m Kate Watts.”


His expression was quite patronizing. “Yes, I know. You were looking right into the camera when you said your name.”

“I wasn’t sure you caught it.”

“I did, Katie. I catch everything.”

“Kate,” she said firmly. Katie made her think of pigtails and strawberry lip gloss. Sneakers and training bras. Kate was partial to lipstick and blowouts. She wore the best lingerie she could afford under her jeans and casual tops, and when she dressed up, her stilettos were sky-high.

“So, Katie,” he said, handing her a paper bag. “I trust you can put this to good use.”

“I can. We desperately need it, and I’m truly grateful. I told Helena that if you made another donation I wouldn’t get upset if I didn’t get the chance to thank you. But since I have, I want to tell you how much this means to me and especially to the people who count on this food pantry.”

“You’re welcome. Glad I could help.” Lazily, he looked her up and down. “You look good in jeans, but I like the short skirt better. I’ll see you around, Katie.”

She stood there openmouthed as Ian laughed and made his way down the street, and she watched him until he turned the corner and disappeared.





CHAPTER FOUR

Kate was taking a break and having coffee and a muffin at Wilde Roast Café when Ian slid into the booth and sat across from her. He was wearing a lightweight cream-colored sweater with a tan-and-green-patterned shirt underneath, and he smelled good.

“Hello again.”

Confused, Kate looked around. “Where did you come from?”

“I walked in the door like everyone else.”

“Do you live nearby?” Kate lived in the St. Anthony Main neighborhood of Northeast Minneapolis. The food pantry was conveniently located on SE Main Street, which was a short three-block walk from her apartment. The quiet brick-paved street was lined with restaurants, shops, and a movie theater and included a stunning view of the Mississippi River and St. Anthony Falls. There were also bars that featured live music and plenty of green space in nearby parks.

He shook his head. “Not really.”

“Then why are you here?”

“I felt like talking to you again. You’re seated, so you probably won’t try to strangle me this time.”

“How did you know where to find me?” She was tucked away in a back booth instead of one of the tables near the windows that looked out over SE Main, so it wasn’t like he’d walked by and spotted her.

He held a steaming cup of coffee and blew on it to cool it. “I tracked your credit card activity. According to Capital One, you bought a cup of coffee and a muffin here twelve minutes ago.”

“You tracked my credit card?” Her voice sounded rather loud and shrieky.

He held a finger in front of his mouth. “Shh, Katie Long Legs. That information is for your ears only. How’s your coffee? Would you like a refill?”

Kate did not appreciate being shushed, but she lowered her voice. “Are you some kind of cyberthief?” she whispered. And since when were criminals so well-dressed and impeccably groomed?

“I did not steal your credit card number. I simply accessed your account to see where and when you’d used it last. Then I came here.”

“If you wanted to talk to me again, why didn’t you just go to the food pantry?”

He looked at her like it was obvious. “Because you’re not there. You’re here at this café.”

“If you’re not a cyberthief, then what are you?”

“I’m a hacker.”

“Is there a difference?”

“Most definitely.”

“When you said you steal from the rich to give to the poor, I thought you were kidding. Is that how you get the money?”

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