“At first they didn’t have the infrastructure to school us. To avoid attention from Child Protective Services, they sent us to a proper school until they finished building the commune. That was their mistake. The brainwashing that worked so well on my siblings just didn’t take with me.” I shrugged.
Luc pinched the bridge of his nose, looking away. After a long moment, he turned back. “You said the leader is Edward?”
“Yeah. A Hack-tivist. I don’t know his background, but he’s convinced he’s God’s son. He’d have to be, maybe late fifties by now? He’s charismatic, intelligent, handsome. Edward railed against capitalism, greed, and the government. He preached that we were the chosen and our actions were only dictated by God’s Law. He taught us how to manipulate computers for our own benefit.”
“That’s where you got your skills?”
I nodded. “Edward referred to me as his ‘protégée.’ He predicted that one day I would use my skills to set in motion the apocalypse. A rapture that would bring down the governments, break the banks, bringing with it the end of times. He would lead us into the new era, the second era where only the chosen would be spared.”
I recited the lines that were forever etched in my conscious. “The nations were angry, and your wrath has come. The time has come for judging the dead, and for rewarding your servants, the prophets, and your people who revere your name, both great and small— and for destroying those who destroy the earth. Revelation eleven, eighteen.”
“How did you escape?”
I huffed out a bitter laugh. “I was the chosen one right up until I hit puberty. A late bloomer. When my…” I hesitated, glancing at him, then away, blushing. “When my breasts grew, I went from nothing to a C-cup in about six months. I kept getting punished by the elders for tempting the men, so I started wearing baggy clothing. It became automatic.”
Luc reached over, gently cupping my chin, moving my head until our eyes met. His were blue fire.
“What do you mean by ‘tempt’?” His eyes narrowed on mine. “You were a teenager, Emmie. A child.”
I ignored him, pulling my head away, determined to get it all out. “Let me finish. By the time I was fifteen, I was a D-cup, and that shit is hard to hide when you’re wearing hand-me-downs. They decided I was too tempting for the boys in the commune and needed to be married off. I was to be wife number three to Edward’s brother. David was forty-something at the time.”
“Fuck. Fuck.” Luc pushed off the couch, pacing to the wall. He ran a hand through his thick hair. I watched as he took three deep breaths, calming. He turned back. “Emmie, you don’t–”
I held up a hand again, absently noting it trembled.
“I’m okay.” I breathed deep, continuing. “David already had two wives, which wasn’t uncommon in the commune. He beat his wives, and rumours were, he had sex with his daughters. Fifteen with no money or transport, but I knew there was no way in hell I’d marry that monster. I’d been counting down the days until I was eighteen and could legally escape. I had an exit strategy. But at fifteen, I wasn’t nearly ready. So, I… I did what I had to do.” I looked away, feeling my cheeks burn with shame. “I hacked their accounts. I set up an automatic program, ready to wire myself fifty thousand into a series of elaborate dummy accounts for when I finally escaped.” I huffed out a breath. “David decided to up the wedding date. Instead of escaping the night before, I ended up married.”
“Fuck, Emmie–”
“Let me finish. After he fell asleep, I crept out. I’d hidden away cash prior to the wedding. Bumping up the wedding meant I was limited in what I could take without getting caught. The night I bailed, I got on a bike and cycled to the nearest town. I’d arranged to meet a guy who sold me a car at four in the morning. I still have no idea how I lucked out with him. I used it to drive to Perth. Once there, I ditched the car and caught the first plane to Adelaide.” I closed my eyes, remembering the fear and pain.
“I could forge documents that looked legit. I didn’t have a driver’s license, but on the commune, we were taught to drive from a young age. I forged all that before leaving, including my name change. I had about a week in which to do it and not get caught. They were the last items on my list, it was too risky to do them earlier. Room inspections were conducted to ensure we didn’t have contraband. After I left, I knew they couldn’t report me for the thefts.”
“Why didn’t you go to the police? Report them?”
I looked at Luc, pleading for understanding. “It would never have gotten to trial. And even if they’d put one guy away, or shut down the commune, there are others all over the world doing Edward’s bidding. I was a young kid with few options. My best seemed to be to run.”
“Where’d you go?”
“When I got to Adelaide, I found a share house, told them I was working, but actually attended a technical college to get my high school certificate. I moved to Melbourne and stated working for an IT firm after forging a degree. I got complacent. I grew used to the bustle of Melbourne. I felt like they wouldn’t find me in a big city. They did.”
I swallowed and reached for the folder Luc had placed on his coffee table. I drew the pictures I wanted from the pile, handing them to Luc as I spoke. “I got the postcards to begin with. Then photos and dolls with their boobs burnt off or their genitals melted. It scared the hell out of me. I got up the guts to report it. The police couldn’t do much. These guys cover their tracks, and state police weren’t equipped at the time to deal with cyber incidents. I moved three times, but somehow, they kept tracking me down. So, I backpacked around Australia for six months, scared they’d find me if I stayed in one place too long.”
“Why not try overseas?”
“I didn’t have the tools or connections for a fake passport. Visas are required to stay too long overseas. That requires identification I can’t replicate in a way that would pass any decent scrutiny. Anyway, I changed my name a few times, kept moving, and after a while they didn’t find me. This last time, I went from Brisbane across to Darwin, then bought a cheap car and drove to Canberra. I figured the state had a high transient population, so there’d be plenty of people wanting someone who was happy to share for short leases. It was as good a place as any to hide.” I reached for my tea, took a sip and continued.
“I moved into my current apartment. I’d done my homework, knew the guy had no online records, and he accepts cash. I didn’t want an online employee presence so I worked for cash for a guy Pax’s dad knew. I got a job with Elliot Securities, built a profile. I figured I was safer looking like everyone else on the grid than being an anomaly off it.”
I stopped, watching as Luc’s face darkened. I quickly stammered out the rest. “I’m sorry I lied, but this” −I gestured at the folder− “means they’ve found me again.”
Luc remained silent and still for a long moment. I bit my lip, waiting.
“There’s a lot in that story, but I’ll start with Pax and his dad. Even if Ross had taken you at face value, Pax never does. That guy is thorough. The fact you’re still working for Elliot Securities tells me you’re fucking good at your job.”
A ghost of a smile flirted with my lips. “I’ve had to be. My name changes. My moves. The only reason these guys found me is because Edward is the best. He knows what to look for.”
Luc shook his head, “We’ll deal with that later. But let’s start with your name.”
“Hey now, I love Emmie. I feel I am more of an Emmie.”
He didn’t laugh. “Keys, what was your name?”
“You don’t need to know that.”
“Keys, I think I do.”
“No, you don’t. That’s information you don’t need.”
“You want me to deal with these pricks or not?”
I froze. Fear striking me deep.
“No.” My blood turned to ice, shivers racing down my spine.
“What?” He frowned. “You don’t want me to–”
“No!” I surged forward to cup his face
, ignoring the twinge of pain as my side protested the sudden movement. “Jesus, Lucien, no! You can’t go near them! Fuck, fuck!” I started shaking, fear ripping through me. He wrapped his arms around me, holding me tight against him.
“Em–”
“No, Lucien! No. These guys cease to exist for you. Tomorrow I’m leaving. You don’t look for me, you don’t look for them. They will hurt you. I’ve seen them kill people. They destroyed some guy’s life by exposing everything online. The private pictures of his wife, his bank account, they got him fired for things he didn’t do. It was awful. I won’t have any of you tarred by that.”
“Emmie, if that’s happened, then you have to report it. We can help you.”
“Luc, the guy it happened to reported it, and he died!”
“Did the guy have a whole team of hackers and investigators in his arsenal?”
“Luc, I can’t ask–” He pulled me closer, halting my protests.
“Shut up, Emmie, this is happening. This is what friends do.”
I shook my head. “No, it’s not.”
“Emmie, please. Let your friends help.”
“I said no.”
“Keys–”
“Fuck, no.” I reared back, pointing a finger in his face. “Don’t you nickname me, you jackarse! Let me go.”
“Emmie–”
I pulled out of his arms and threw myself off the couch. Whirling I struck the universal I-am-pissed-at-you pose. One hand cocked on my hip, the other stretched out, finger directly in his face.
“You don’t get it, Luc. I am walking out of this door, and I’m gone.” I whirled to go do just that, but Luc stopped me with a hand around my arm. He gently swung me back.
“I thought we were past this. We’ve got your back. We’re not letting you go. I’m not letting you go. The last three months have been torture for all of us. You, me, our friends. I get that you’re scared. I get you got hurt. But seriously? It’s time to fight.”
I blinked.
“Life should be lived to the fullest, not in fear. You have people who care about you, and not one of us is letting you just disappear from our lives.”
I felt myself waver, my body sway slightly towards him. “I can’t keep you safe if you don’t let me go.”
“And I’m telling you, Keys, I’m here to keep you, you, safe.”
Fear flooded my system. “Please, Luc, let me disappear.”
“Can’t do that, Keys. You know I can’t. Pax would kill me, Addie would chop off my balls, Jetta would give me that sad little face she has, Kel would wear my dick like a goddamn necklace, and Jarrett would be holding me down to let them do it. And that doesn’t even cover Ben, Jack, Sawyer, or Brean. You have to trust someone, Emmie. You have to trust we can protect you.”
Something in me shattered. I wanted to. I badly wanted to trust that they could do this. But experience, years of experience, had taught me to never hope. To only rely on myself.
“I don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
“Trust me, Emmie.”
Tears burned. “Please, Luc. Please don’t get hurt. I couldn’t handle it.”
He pulled me into his arms as I sniffled against his chest.
“Are you going to stay?”
I drew in a shuddering breath. “Yes.”
For now.
Chapter Thirty
Emmie
We’d named our secure meeting room, The War Room. Located in the basement of Elliot Securities, reinforced by titanium steel doors and inches of sound-proof padding, we used it for the big jobs. Jobs that required utmost discretion and hours of planning.
Today, that’s me. Me, the one they’re planning for. Me, the one who is standing awkwardly at the front of the room while Addie shuffled the coffee cart about. Me, the one who people were reading about in the briefing material.
Me.
A throat cleared. Someone sniffled. One of the guys swore softly under his breath.
Me.
My history. All I knew about the group named God’s Patriots filled the background brief. All the information I’d kept locked in my brain for years.
The brief provided a rundown of my part in their group. Where my skills came from, my age, my date of birth, my family history, my siblings, my knowledge of Edward and David, my experience with the group.
My sham marriage.
My husband.
My rape.
My crimes.
All of it in black and white print. Words I’d written on a page. I’d spent the night diligently writing my history out, line by cursed line. With the slash of a pen, I’d relived every moment. Every sentence felt like I’d bled evil onto the page.
Me.
Not Emmie Franklin. Not the woman who people admired and respected. I’d once been good and pure and worthy of their regard.
The words on the page were the real me. I’d been cut open, flayed, exposed, one line at a time by my own hand.
Anxiety and fear waged with an almost overwhelming need to retreat to numbness.
It never paid to care. Caring gave people the power to destroy you. If I felt nothing, no one could hurt me.
“Emmie?” Paxton’s soft voice drew me back to the room. All eyes were on me. No one showed any emotion. Shame caused my cheeks to flush and my eyes to burn.
“I’m ready. I’m good,” I reassured him, before speaking to the room at large. “Last night Luc brought a file to my apartment.” I hit the power point remote, brought up an image of a letter I’d received via Elliot Securities.
“Letters and photos, postcards and images were sent to our mailroom addressed to me under my current name.” I ignored the soft murmurs that followed. “Dolls with burned genitals and breasts were also received.” I clicked to the next slide, a composite of images, all with dolls showing damage. “All together over one hundred articles have been received in the last week and a half.” I clicked again, bringing up a still from a video.
“It looks like a YouTube video was posted back in February. I happen to appear in the background.”
A quick search last night uncovered the video of Jetta and Luc performing at the nursing home. It must have been how they’d found me.
“They must have tracked Jetta and Paxton down, then figured out my connection to them.” I shook my head.
I missed it. They didn’t.
I clicked to the next slide, turning the screen to black. I took a breath and turned back to the table at large. These were the cream of Elliot Securities, the men and women who worked hard and got shit done. I tightened my grip on my cane, nervously pressing a hand to my stomach.
“At fifteen, I ran from the God’s Patriots. The group is an extreme variation of Christianity. Their leader is the final coming of God. Think Scientology, only less welcoming.” That got a few smiles around the table.
“Their leader is Edward. No known last name. He has one known relative, a brother, David, also in the church. Together, they form the religious hierarchy. The church believes they are ordained by God to bring forth the final coming. They’re prepared to do anything to protect and grow their flock. Edward’s a hacker. His skill with computers is unparalleled. I don’t know his background, but I do know he’s one of the best I’ve ever seen. He uses these skills to reach out to others, to convince them he is God reincarnate.” I gestured at the briefing pack before them. “As outlined, child marriages, sexual abuse, physical abuse, and psychological trauma are some of the crimes the group perpetrates. Fraud, blackmail, and cybercrime are highly encouraged.” I pinched the bridge of my nose with two fingers.
“Their last known location is WA. I’ve described the compound as I knew it. They have their own servers, own solar panels, live off the grid as much as possible.” I dropped my hand. “The only times they went to town were when they needed something they couldn’t make or grow. Fuel, spare parts, that kind of thing. The children went to school to ensure they weren’t flagged in any child service systems.” I shrugged. “At least until
they built their own.”
I looked at the group. “These people are well-trained and dangerous. Anything you have online they will get to. Bank accounts, medical files, pictures, anything. If you have an online presence, they’ll get to it.” I let that sink in. “They will use blackmail, threats, and have the skills to do horrific acts. I watched them trial bomb making. I’ve watched them hack into webcams and set up a surveillance on people in order to blackmail them. I’ve watched them ruin a man to the point he committed suicide.” I swallowed, my mouth dry. “These are not nice people. They teach you blind loyalty from the moment you enter to the moment you die. You leave? You’re still their property, and they’ll hunt you down.”
I reached for the glass of water on the table, taking my time. Replacing the glass, I kept my eyes on the back wall.
“When I was… younger… I was married to David. After the wedding night, I escaped while he slept. I took with me fifty thousand dollars I stole from their accounts. I remain the property of the church. My father and siblings are still there, as far as I know. I stole from their church, and I’m married to one of their leaders – as much as I hate that fact. That’s three strikes. They won’t stop until I’m back.” I finally looked at the group. “You want out? That’s okay. I understand and encourage it. They’ll do whatever they need to get their property back. Threaten you, lie, steal, kill. I can’t guarantee your safety. I can’t guarantee anything.” I stopped, unsure of how to finish. “I just don’t want anyone to get hurt.”
I waited in silence as the group pondered my words. Jack spoke first.
“So, we start with last known location?” He looked around the table.
Kel nodded. “I say we fly someone up to WA to have a chat to the local police, see if we can’t get someone over there on some kind of ‘business meeting.’” She used fingers for emphasis. “That way if they’re watching any of us, we don’t tip them off.”
“AFP need to be brought in.” This came from Brean. “They have a cyber unit for a reason. Chances are, these guys will be known to them.”
Bleeding Edge: Elliot Security (Elliot Security Series Book 2) Page 11
