Myfingers move rapidly over the keys.Iam theTracker.Iknow exactly where the bodies are buried in the digital world, andIpossess the exact tools to dig new graves.
TARGET: REYES, KAILA. ACTION: TOTAL ERASURE.
"IftheCostaswantKailaReyes,"Irasp, a bead of hot sweat rolling down my temple, "they can have a ghost."
Islam the enter key.
Theprogress bar for theCostaupload freezes on the glass.Thenit fractures.Themassive data dump linking her to the crimes suddenly lacks a primary subject.Thefederal database instantly rejects the entry.
ERROR: SUBJECT NOT FOUND.
"Youjust deleted me,"Kailawhispers.Shestares blankly at the glass, her lips parted in shock. "Idon't exist.I'ma zero."
"Notyet."
Iopen a fresh window.Theblack screen reflects my exhausted, bloodshot eyes and the absolute severity locking my jaw.
Istart typing again.Istop destroying her past and start building our future.
"Whatis this?" she presses, tracking the blinking cursor.
"Anew life."
Ipull up theGunnarfamily encrypted archives, diving directly into the deep files onlyLoganandIcould access.
CREATE NEW ENTITY. NAME: KAILA...
Myfingers pause over the board just long enough for the pulse to slam violently against my ribs.
ThenIfinish it.
GUNNAR.
Asharp intake of air tears fromKaila'sthroat, sounding dangerously close to a sob. "Daniel."
Iplow forward, filling in the remaining fields.Igenerate a backdated marriage certificate and lay down a false paper trail linking her to aPineValleyshell company for the last three years.Shenow owns a completely clean record devoid of any felonies.Nothingbut a painfully normal life anchored inPineValley.
Itether her fresh identity directly to my own social security number, anchoring her name to my bank accounts and real estate deeds.
Ismash the enter key.
IDENTITY ESTABLISHED. UPLOAD COMPLETE.
Everyblaring red alert vanishes from the monitors, leaving behind a solid, steady wall of blue light.
ThehostileCostaupload completely times out.Theirprey no longer exists.
Silencefloods the loft.Onlythe drone of the tower cooling fans and the harsh, ragged sound of our breathing remain.
Istraighten up, my heavy spine cracking as the adrenaline crash threatens to drag me into the floorboards.
Kailafixates entirely on the glowing text.KailaGunnar.
"You..."Shetips her chin up.Hottears cut clean tracks through the thick soot coating her cheeks. "Youjust married me.Digitally, at least."
"It'llhold,"Irasp. "Military-grade encryption guarantees it.Asfar as the government cares, we've shared a bed for two years.KailaReyesdied in a climbing accident inColoradosix months ago.Iplanted the obituary in the archives while you were busy arguing with me."
"Youcan't just execute something like that."