Chapter 13: Codename: Blackheart Chapter Thirteen

As I wander around, I note that there are no personal touches. No photos, no knick-knacks, no magazines or reading material of any kind. Not even any magnets on the fridge. I also notice the furniture looks brand new. When I got his address I couldn’t find details on how long he’s lived here, but based on first appearances I would say not very long. I walk over to the kitchen area and look through the cupboards and drawers and don’t find much. Just some basic staples; cereal, chips, and bread. I look in the fridge and only find milk, eggs, and basic ingredients for a sandwich. It’s the kind of things you’d expect to find in the home of someone who either eats out or orders in a lot, but there are no signs of takeout. 

I walk into the bedroom and find much of the same. Just a basic double bed, with basic navy blue sheets. They look slept in, so at least that’s something. I walk across the room, open the sliding doors of the wardrobe, and find very minimal clothing, just the basics. Even the laziest guy on earth owns more apparel than this. 

I step through the door to the right that leads to the bathroom and find the same thing. The only signs of life are the shower products in the shower and the one used towel laying on the bathroom counter. I look through the drawers and cupboards but all I find is a small travel bag with just the shaving and teeth essentials. Walking back out, I can only come to one conclusion: this apartment is a façade. It’s more like a safehouse than a home. But if it was a safehouse then Lowell wouldn’t have left the apartment. First the convenient electronic trail, now this. Something isn’t right.

Knowing this needs more research and with skills above my own I decide, to reach out to a contact and friend. I grab my phone from my jacket pocket and scroll through my contacts before finding the number I’m after and hit ‘call’. After a few rings it picks up. 

“Privyet?” greets the familiar warm voice.

“Privyet Mikhail,” I say with a smile. Yes, I can speak Russian too. Shouldn’t be surprising given where I live.

“Alina! How long has it been?” he asks enthusiastically.

“Since we saw each other or spoke?” I clarify.

“Who cares? I’m sure both have been too long. It’s just good to hear your voice”, he says warmly, and I can’t help but smile. 

Mikhail Sidorov – known only by his codename, Net – is one of the best hackers in the world. He’s on Interpol’s Most Wanted list and just so happens to be my best friend. We met when I was nineteen and he was twenty. We hit it off right away and have been friends ever since. We don’t get to see each other often due to our professional lives but when we do get together, it’s always a blast. 

“It’s good to hear yours too. I would love to say this is a social call but…”

“But you need something that only my brilliant self is able to provide. I’m sure I should be offended but knowing that you recognise my talents has me feeling flattered.” I can hear the grin in his voice and can’t help but chuckle.

“No one else’s talents I would trust more than yours.”

“If you’re trying to butter me up, Alina, it’s definitely working, so please continue,” he says spiritedly. 

“I need you to find out everything you can on an Alec Lowell, born in Massachusetts 02/07/1993. I want a deep dive, I mean a really deep dive, don’t just look for the name look for the face,” I instruct.

“Easy enough. What was wrong with your search? You’re thorough, so something must have been off about it to have you calling me,” he deduces. He knows me well.

“I found plenty, but it was too… convenient for my liking. Something isn’t right about it. Plus, I’m going through his apartment, and it doesn’t even look lived in,” I explain.

“Hmm. Okay, I’ll see what I can find. I’m in the middle of a couple things at the moment. When do you need this information by?”

“Can you get it to me within a week’s time?” 

That should be enough time. Unlike what you see in the movies, real hacking doesn’t happen in the span of five minutes. Depending on the task it can take hours or even days, so given he’s working on other things on top of this, I think a week should be a decent timeline. I’m not unreasonable, especially not with friends.

“I should definitely have it for you by then. I’ll get started and contact you soon. Be well, Alina.”

“You too, Mikhail.” And with that, I end the call. I feel a little better now knowing I have someone I trust who is crazy talented, handling this for me. Hopefully, I’ll find out what the hell is going on.

********************

Following Alec Lowell around may be one of the most boring undertakings of my life. I’m so bored I’m tempted to slit my own throat just for amusement. He spends most of his time in his apartment or he goes out to a café down the street from his house, and if he’s not there, he’s having dinner at the Thai restaurant also near his house. That is all he has done for the past week. Not only is it boring, but it has me even more suspicious. I haven’t seen him go anywhere to conduct any meetings. He’s meant to be a supplier. What is this, his off week? It doesn’t add up. 

I’m currently following him, keeping plenty of space between us, when my phone goes off. I pull it from my pocket and see it’s an unknown number. Nothing unusual there, so I answer it and wait.

“How much do you love me?” asks Mikhail as soon as I pick up.

“That entirely depends on what you have for me,” I tease.

“So rude. I’ll make a deal with you, I’ll hand over the information I got, which you’re going to love by the way, on one condition,” he negotiates with a cocky tone.

“And what condition might that be?” I’m sure whatever it is I’ll end up saying yes.

“You have to be godmother to my son,” he says gleefully and my steps falter for a moment.

“Son? What Son? You’re having a baby?” I ask in complete surprise. 

He chuckles, “Yes, Inessa is pregnant. We just found out it’s a boy,” he says with pride. I’m engaged in the conversation while still keeping close tabs on Alec, but I don’t fail to notice that I’m being followed. What the actual fuck?

“Who is the father? You or Nikolai?” I inquire. 

Mikhail, Nikolai, and Inessa have been in a throuple for the past three years. It began with just Mikhail and Nikolai who have been together for five years, but when they met Inessa the three just hit it off and they have been together ever since. Honestly, they’re more committed and devoted than most couples. 

“We have no idea; we don’t care either. Doesn’t matter who the father is, Nik and I are going to love the little guy as our own. I mean I’m sure we’ll have some idea when the kid starts coming into his features, but it won’t change anything. He’ll be both our son, either way,” he says with fierce conviction. Got to admire these three. 

I stop outside the café as Alec goes in and position myself in an ideal position. Leaning against a tree on the sidewalk, I have a perfect view of Alec inside and have the right angle to use the glass as a mirror to look behind me and sure enough, I am definitely being followed. The fucker is now just staring at me, he’s not even hiding how obvious it is. 

“Alina? Alina, are you there?” Mikhail asks with concern, getting my attention.

“I’m still here.” 

“What’s going on?” he asks seriously.

“I have a shadow.”

“Can you shake them?”

“I could, but I’m not going to. He’s not very good, it didn’t take me long to spot him. I’ll just see how this plays out.”

“Okay but be careful.” 

I smile at his concern, “So since obviously, my answer is yes to being the awesome godmother of your baby boy, how’s about you give me the information I want?” I say getting back on track while I simultaneously monitor Alec and the dickhead following me. 

Mikhail chuckles, “A deal’s a deal. Get ready for this. Wasn’t easy to find but you came to the right place,” he boasts. 

I roll my eyes, “Spit it out already.”