Page 17 of Deep Fake

He removed the sunglasses, and that was when I knew.

He was the man from the other day. The one I’d seen after my encounter with the raccoon. I really should’ve taken a picture with the little guy.

“I saw you. The other day. Outside the market. You came from the alley.”

A hint of a smile. “Didn’t think you’d put two and two together.”

“Because I’m a dumbass. Right.”

Chuckling, he ticked his head toward a door, and before I could think twice about the dangers and all the crime docs I’d watched, I followed him down the dark hallway and found myself in his home office/den. A shiny polished desk with two monitors, printer, and some other machines off to the side.

And two chairs.

Huh. I never thought to ask if he was married. Then again, this wasn’t personal. It was business. I had to keep reminding myself of that.

“Okay, let’s get started.”

I handed over the bag and he pulled up a chair next to him. For me, I assumed. I sat down and watched the master get to work. He plugged in everything at once and his long fingers began to type so fast, my eyes could barely track.

And there I sat, useless.

He paused in the middle of typing something to turn to me. “You’re not a dumbass, by the way and I don’t think you are. People get preyed on all the time. It happens more than you know and sometimes those people don’t even know.”

“Thanks.”

A quick nod.

Despite all the equipment in the room, the place was immaculately clean. Not a speck of dust from what I could see. The upstairs as well.

“This is where you work?” I asked, trying to fill the emptiness with something. Plus, I really wanted to hear more of his voice.

“Why don’t you go into the living room and watch a movie or something while I work? This is going to take a while. There’s a shit ton of snacks in the house. Always is. Make yourself at home.”

I got the hint. But as I was passing the edge of the desk, I noticed an envelope with a name and address. I really shouldn’t look.

To top off the message, he put a pair of headphones on.

Wow.

I pointed to the envelope. “This is you? Riglan is your name?”

He pulled off one headphone, glanced at the envelope, and frowned. “Yes.”

I winked. When did I start winking? “It’s only fair. You know everything about me.”

He grumped out something about not everything and went back to work. What a beautiful man, all mean and mouth turned downward in concentration. I half expected him to stick his tongue out in concentration.

The TV in the living room was in view of the room where Riglan worked. It was so barren in there. I got the feeling it was an office for mostly show only. I bet he had some hidden room around here where he hid and hacked all night like a half-villain, half-hero on a movie.

Goddess, I needed to get a grip.

There was no choice but to trust this man. My gut trusted him, and my gut had never steered me wrong before.

I turned on a movie. Didn’t even know they made TVs that big. His couch was just as comfy as it looked from afar.

Maybe I peeked at him more than I should’ve.

Halfway through the film, I burrowed deeper into the cushions and laid my head on one of the black velvet pillows.