CHAPTER EIGHTEEN
“WHERE THE HELL have you been?” Carter barked through the phone. “I’ve left you dozens of voice-mail messages.”
Stunned, Arianna left the media room where the girls were playing video games and leaned against the wall in the hallway. She’d never heard him like this before. Something must be wrong at work, but then, with Xtark, everything was an emergency. Employees weren’t expected to have private lives. It was just odd that Carter seemed to be caught up in it. He wasn’t what you’d call a corporate shill. “Yeah, well, I lost my phone, remember?”
“I know you’re taking vacation, but I need you to come into the office and take a look at the new configuration we’re considering for the user forums. One of the VPs in your department is on my ass to get this out by Monday and I didn’t want to make any drastic changes without running them past you.”
Me? When had anyone ever asked for her input? In addition to doing graphics in the ad department, she merely helped out with the forums. Xtark made changes and she was one of the people who made sure everything kept running smoothly from the user side. But they’d never consulted her first. They just did shit and expected her to make it work.
“I’m on vacation right now. Why don’t you talk to Steve or Candy?”
“But you’re still around, right?”
Had she told him she was in the area? “Um, yeah.”
“It shouldn’t take very long. And you can bring Krystal in, too. We’re play-testing the new version and want feedback from a variety of gamers. Our in-house testers can’t find all the bugs that actual users uncover. We’ve got groups coming in every night this week.”
“I’m not sure she’s ever played the game before. Besides, it’s kind of gory and violent.”
“That’s okay. We need feedback from all levels. Beginners to advanced players. We’re picking people up in limos and ordering pizza.”
She knew they had beta-testing parties, but she’d never heard that they picked people up in limos. Guess Xtark could be nice when they wanted something from you.
“I’m…ah…probably not going to be here much longer,” he said. “I’ll be taking a medical leave of absence soon and I need to get this stuff taken care of before I go.”
She felt suddenly guilty for missing all his calls even though there wasn’t much she could’ve done about it.
Carter’s last doctor’s appointment must not have gone well. “I’m so sorry to hear that.”
“Yeah, well, that’s life. I can get Krystal on the list. Can I send someone by your place and pick you up? That is, if you’re home.”
“I’m staying with some friends right now because my house got broken into. I’m probably going to be moving and I’m not sure how much longer Krystal will be with me, but I’ll think about it and get back to you.”
She could hear him breathing on the other end of the line. “She’d really— Okay, let me know ASAP.”
The call ended. She stared at the phone for a moment before tucking it into the back pocket of her jeans. He was so caught up in his own problems that it failed to register with him that other people had problems, too.
But if what Jackson had told her was right, there was no way in hell she was bringing Krystal into the Xtark offices. She’d go in alone.
JACKSON FELT AS IF HIS HEAD was going to split open. First that crap at the field office, now this.
“Absolutely not. It’s too dangerous.”
He strode to the closet, where he tossed his leather coat aside and peeled off all his gear, stowing his guns and knives away. Not one to forget any little detail, Alfonso had built a weapons locker in each room, complete with padlock, black-felt lining and an ornate carving on the lid of a warrior riding into battle on a warhorse. Zoe loved horses, which was why Alfonso was always carving them.
“I’m not sure how long he’s going to keep working,” Arianna called from the bedroom. He could hear her plunking away on the keyboard. “If I don’t go soon, I don’t know when I’ll see him again. It doesn’t sound like he’s doing very well.”
“Taking Krystal there is like throwing a guinea pig into a pit of pythons. Have I mentioned how much snakes love guinea pigs? One strike and it’s all over.”
He’d explained to Arianna before that Guardians had been investigating Xtark for months, suspecting the company of trying to attract law-abiding vampires over to the dark side using Hollow Grave as an enticement, as a sort of gateway back to their violent past.
“Who knows if vampires, even Darkbloods, will be there? I won’t allow you to take that risk.”
There was a knock at the partially opened door. Lily and Alfonso walked in.
“We came to see if you wanted to come downstairs and make homemade pizzas. It’s a Friday-night tradition when I come home after my ten-day shift at the field office.” Lily’s eyes narrowed. “But if you’re busy…”
“Who’s going to take a risk?” asked Alfonso skeptically.
Jackson told them of Arianna’s plan.
Lily confirmed what they suspected about Xtark. “We don’t know exactly the involvement Darkbloods play in the company. All we know is that they’re involved somehow.”
“Okay…” Arianna sighed. “Thank God I never brought Krystal to the office before. I can leave her here for the evening. That is, if you two don’t mind.”
“Of course,” Alfonso said. “She and Zoe have become quite close. I’ve hardly seen my daughter since you came.”
“I don’t like the idea of you going there, either,” Jackson said.
“Jackson is right.” Alfonso adjusted the tool belt hanging from his hips. “When I worked undercover within the Alliance, I heard they were using the game somehow, but I was never privy to any of those details. You could be walking into a den of Darkbloods for all we know.”
As far as she was concerned, they were getting too worked up about this. “I work there. I’m in the offices all the time. If I were in danger, something would’ve happened to me a long time ago. My friend needs me to look over one of the last projects he’s in charge of before he takes a medical leave of absence. Since I’m not sure when I’ll be back, if ever, it’s the least I can do. He’s—he’s done a lot for me. Lily, help me out here.”
“I think you’re doing pretty well on your own.”
“What do you mean if ever?” It had such a final ring to it.
“We can’t stay here forever, Jackson. And the city isn’t safe for Krystal. You said so yourself. I’ve been thinking a lot about it. Her mom’s getting out of rehab soon and I might just move nearby to keep an eye on them. Oh, I know you’re planning to take away my memories of all this, but I’d ask that I keep my desire to be diligent about Krystal’s safety and to keep her away from the big cities. Oh, and we both need to be taking self-defense courses. You know, the kind when you learn how to really kick someone’s ass. Oh, and while you’re at it, can you suggest that I lay off the whole-milk lattes. I really should switch to skinny ones, but I can’t seem to make myself. And running. I’ve never liked it, but I wish I did.”
Lily burst out laughing and Alfonso coughed to avoid doing the same. Jackson glared at both of them.
Arianna continued. “I know you can implant suggestions. That’s all I’m asking.”
“But what about your job?” He couldn’t believe he was protesting the move. He should be happy. Or at least relieved.
“I disliked Xtark before, but knowing what I do now, I can’t work there anymore.”
It felt as if someone had kicked him right in the gut, sucking all the air out of his lungs. This was the first time she’d talked about leaving. It wasn’t supposed to go like this. He was always the one who left in a relationship. Either that or he did something to make it happen—like sleep with someone e
lse then let himself get caught. That would’ve been on his terms. This wasn’t.
He didn’t like not having the upper hand. Not one bit.
Before he could think of anything to say, Lily walked past him, giving him a let-me-handle-this pat on the back. She knew that he always sabotaged his relationships and that, for the first time, things were going sour without his doing. They’d been friends for a long time and she knew him well.
“Then you won’t go alone,” Lily said. “We’ll send someone with you.”
Jackson shot her a daggerlike glance. What the fuck was she talking about? She was supposed to be on his side, his wingman, but she was actually agreeing with Arianna and not him.
“Alfonso?” Jackson looked to the man for support, but the guy just shrugged his shoulders. Once Lily had an idea in her head, it was hard to change her mind.
The three of them were talking, but Jackson wasn’t listening. They were supposed to keep Arianna out of their world, not bring her in as a willing participant.
“Oh, my God,” Arianna said, responding to something Lily had said. “Of course I’ll help you out. Just tell me what you want me to do.”
CHAPTER NINETEEN
ARIANNA, JACKSON AND LILY left for Seattle at nightfall, while Alfonso stayed with the girls. Having worked undercover with Darkbloods for so long, too many people on the inside knew him. Plus, Arianna got the sense that he enjoyed not being involved with the Agency, focusing his attention on the house and playing daddy. Lily had told her that he was trying to make up for lost time with Zoe and that he tried not to leave her if he didn’t have to.
Thanks to Lily’s insane driving and her trusty radar detector that alerted them to a couple of speed traps, they arrived in the city before it was fully dark.
Because she was considered an unauthorized human and couldn’t know the location of the field office, Arianna was blindfolded for the latter part of the trip—never mind that her memories would be wiped later, anyway. She hung on to Jackson’s arm as he led her through what seemed like a parking garage into an elevator that, if she wasn’t mistaken, was going down rather than up. Then they went through several security checkpoints, three sets of doors, and walked down what felt like miles of corridors before they finally arrived at their destination.
“Okay, you can take that off now,” Jackson said.
They were standing in a state-of-the-art computer lab. A bank of televisions were mounted on one wall and tuned into the various cable news outlets, though one, she noted, was freeze-framed on her favorite soap. There were several workstations along the perimeter, a wet bar, a conference table with chairs and two leather couches. In the center of it all was a multitiered desk with three large curved monitors and several people crowded around.
Jackson began the introductions. “Arianna, this is Dom, the field office team leader.”
“And Alfonso’s brother,” Lily piped in.
Except for his hair, which was dark and pulled back into a ponytail, it was clear that Dom was related to Alfonso. He had the same crystal-blue eyes and intense, take-no-shit stare. She shook his hand, half expecting to feel that same charge of energy she felt with Jackson, but it was just a regular handshake.
“Very nice to meet you,” Dom said in a slightly accented voice. “We really appreciate your helping us out.”
“Well, we’ll see how much help I can give you.”
“Jackson tells me you’ve had quite the scare with Darkbloods.”
“Uh, yeah, we have.”
“Well, I hope he’s been taking good care of you in the aftermath.”
She chewed the inside of her lip, wondering just how much Jackson had told his team leader about their relationship. “Yes. Very.”
Jackson was trying not to smile as he continued his introductions. “This is Cordell, our resident computer genius.”
The man behind the keyboard smiled. “I don’t know about that, but I try.” He was NBA tall, with long arms and legs that dwarfed the office chair he was sitting in. He unfolded himself like a praying mantis and stood up to shake her hand. Again, no zing, just a regular handshake.
“And this is my partner, Mitch. Not my partner partner, but my partner in crime.”
Mitch laughed. She turned to a guy with messy blond hair and golden skin. He looked like a surfer, fresh from the beach, not a vampire warrior with guns and knives likely strapped beneath his clothes.
She caught him darting a knowing glance at Jackson. So this was who Jackson partied with at the clubs. These two had to make quite the pair when they went out carousing. She had to imagine that neither man ever failed to get lucky.
She had to force herself not to ball her hands into fists when she thought about Jackson getting it on with random women. Although she had no claim to him, she stepped closer anyway and placed a possessive hand on his snake tattoo. If having a lot of sex helped stave off the cravings, well, then, she’d see to it that he got what he needed. From her. He would not be doing it with some bimbo at a club.
“Yeah, thanks for the clarification,” Mitch said. “Don’t want Arianna thinking you’ll be slipping into my room later to cuddle.” He made quote marks with his fingers.
“Only in your dreams, stud,” Jackson countered.
“Cordell,” Dom said, “tell Arianna what you need and we’ll come up with a course of action.”
“Sure,” the guy said, clearing his throat. “Since Mitch here is the only one who’s played Hollow Grave who wouldn’t be recognized by potential Darkbloods who may be there, he’ll be the one going in with you.”
“Whoa, whoa, whoa,” Jackson said, holding up both hands. “What the hell are you talking about?”
Dom crossed his arms. “Except for Kip, he’s the newest guy in the office, which means he has the least chance of having Darkbloods recognize him. You’ll still be going. You just won’t be going in with her.”
“Fuuuck.”
“It’s okay,” Arianna said. “Let’s hear the rest of the plan. It’s not like I’ve never been in to the office before.”
From the top of his desk, Cordell held up a small black device that she’d assumed was his cell phone. “This is a portable hard drive. Mitch will need to get access to one of the game designer’s workstations. It doesn’t matter which one as all of them should have access to the downloadable content.”
He went on to explain that the Agency no longer felt that Darkbloods were using the forums to communicate with the vampires they were trying to reach.
She was confused. “The forums? But I’m one of the moderators. How is it possible for that stuff to happen and I’m not in on it?”
“Maybe you don’t have access to the whole thing. Just the parts they want you to see.”
She thought about the huge forum. They’d put her in charge of the Watercooler, the section where gamers chatted about nongaming topics like movies, TV shows, books. Pretty much everything, though they drew the line at politics and religion. She’d never ventured into any of the other threads. “Well, it would be like Xtark to do something like that.”
“How long have you been moderating the forums?”
“Six or eight weeks now.”
Cordell leaned back in his chair. “That could explain why you didn’t notice anything strange. After the Night of Wilding party, they figured out we were onto them, because we haven’t seen a lot of chatter since then. We’ve been trolling the forums, but haven’t noticed anything suspicious for a while.”
“Maybe they stopped using the game,” she said.
“That’s possible, but we doubt it. It was working well for them since many of their target market—young vampire males—are fans of the game.”
“If it’s not through the forums, then how are they communicating with them now
?” she asked.
Cordell’s fingers flew over his keyboard. “For the past few months, we’ve noticed they’ve had a lot of downloadable content available on their website each week. Most software companies make DLC available every few months. Game add-ons, patches, fixes, little updates that they do in between new versions. But we noticed that Xtark is doing this every week. We think they’re hiding codes or phone numbers or locations in part of the game and that they’re communicating it each week with these patches. As long as you know what to look for, you’ll find what it is that they’re trying to tell you.”
She glanced at Jackson. Both his and Dom’s eyes looked glazed over from all these technical details. She was following what Cordell was saying, but barely.
“You mean, as you’re playing the game, you’d do something like rattle the door handle, kill the third zombie first, open the nightstand drawer and you’d find out who’s selling what blood where. Why don’t you just have someone play the game and figure out these tricks?”
“Well, for one,” Dom said, “we don’t have the manpower to devote to having someone play the game 24/7.”
Cordell pulled up Xtark’s URL on his screen and pointed to the New This Week tab. “See? They’re releasing this stuff piece by piece on a need-to-know basis or just to tease and create anticipation. We want to know what they’re planning up front, not just follow along week by week.”
“If we wait, it could be too late to do anything. We fear they’re cooking up something big,” Dom said. “We just don’t know what it is yet.”
“So what will I do besides get Mitch in as a play-tester?” Arianna asked. “I work in the graphics department, designing print ads. I don’t have access to any of the programs.”
Cordell swiveled his chair to face her. “We’ve got a few ideas. Is there anyone in the office that you know doesn’t lock up their computer every time they walk away?”
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