A knock interrupts the concealed work area. Above them, cafe sounds fall quiet, and Rachel Mercer's voice carries down through the passage before anyone opens the door.
Rachel Mercer
Alex Mishyma? I know you are down there. I need to speak with you privately.
Mara draws the leather case against her side, keeping the sealed laptop close. Behind the partition, the therapist, child, and famous client remain hidden and silent.
Mara Velez
How did she find this place? Do not let her see the machine until you know what she wants.
Rachel reaches the bottom of the concealed passage but stops short of the workbench. She is a tired-looking middle-aged woman in a dark raincoat, with cropped brown hair and a paper folder held tightly against her chest.
Rachel Mercer
I am not explaining how I found the cafe. I came alone, and I am not here for the child. I need Alex, privately.
Mara Velez
That is not reassuring. You already have unresolved questions about his work, and now you arrive at a hidden room without warning.
“You sigh, rubbing the bridge of your nose gently in mild annoyance. "Look, this has already been a long day. You know why your here, and so do I. So just spill it." Mara looks at you with an expression of concern, but you merely shake your head. "You're probably gonna wanna hear this too, after what I read in just some of those ledgers."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -2)
Alex Mishyma
Look, this has already been a long day. You know why you're here, and so do I. Just spill it.
Alex sighs and rubs the bridge of his nose, then shakes his head when Mara studies him with concern. The laptop fan ticks louder behind them.
Alex Mishyma
You're probably going to want to hear this too, after what I read in just some of those ledgers.
Rachel Mercer
I came because my credentials appear in those records. Not just the workstation access. Payments, placement dates, and transfers were cross-referenced under a private case code.
Rachel opens the folder and reveals printed transaction pages. Her hand trembles once, bending a corner, while Mara pulls the leather case farther from the workbench.
Rachel Mercer
That code was used to route money through accounts connected to North Harbor. I did not authorize it, but the ledger makes me look like the person who did.
Mara Velez
Then the laptop is not merely evidence of financial fraud. It may identify whoever built the false trail, and Rachel has just confirmed she is implicated in it.
✓ Quest Accepted
Preserve Mara’s trust in the cafe as a safe place for their work
“Does the private case code appear in the misleading alert records? I mean, there has to be something that connects them.... even a VPN can be cracked these days.... with the right tools.”
NO (Even, rolled 83)
Rachel spreads the transaction pages beside the copied ledger metadata. The private case code appears beside payment routes and placement dates, but nowhere in the misleading alert record.
Alex Mishyma
The alert and the ledger do not share a case code.
The alert’s falsified destination, deletion timestamp, and protected intake number remain isolated from the financial trail. No matching field, filename, or embedded reference bridges the two records.
Rachel Mercer
Then this code cannot prove who altered the alert. It only proves someone used my credentials in a separate accounting trail.
Mara Velez
Separate does not mean unrelated. It means whoever built the connection kept it outside these files, or expected nobody to compare them.
The laptop fan continues its low mechanical whine. The ledgers establish financial impersonation, while the alert records still point toward a different access path and an unidentified operator.
Rachel Mercer
I was hoping the code would tie everything together. It does not. Whatever links these events is somewhere else, not in the records I brought.
“You sigh, taking your personal laptop out from your backpack, powering it on, ad slipping in the PHLAK drive. "Let's see what records I was able to pull from both your systems, cross referencing every possible connection we can think of. It's worth a shot," you say with a shrug, and then turn to Mara. "I expect cash by the end of the business day, if you would. I am kinda going above and beyond for you both. But I ain't adding to the bill. What we negotiated is all I ask. I just hope it's around five figures for this...."”
SUCCESS (Superb Computers, rolled -2)
Alex sighs, pulls his personal laptop from the backpack, powers it on, and slips in the PHLAK drive. The hidden partition stays closed and quiet.
Alex Mishyma
Let's see what records I pulled from both systems. We can cross-reference every connection we can think of. It's worth a shot.
He builds a local comparison table linking Rachel's case code, North Harbor timestamps, payment routes, alert metadata, and the second authentication token. The records reveal a shared access window and a repeated transaction-reference format, enough to establish an indirect connection without exposing the child's destination.
The PHLAK drive overheats during the final indexing pass and locks itself read-only. The cross-reference is complete, but no further writes can be trusted until the drive cools.
Alex Mishyma
I expect cash by the end of the business day. I am going above and beyond, but I am not adding to the bill. What we negotiated is all I ask. I just hope it is around five figures.
Mara Velez
Agreed. You will receive the negotiated payment by close of business. If the client balks at the amount, I will cover it personally.
Rachel Mercer
Then this is the first real bridge between the trails. It does not name the operator, but it shows the accounting records and alert activity were handled through the same access window.
Quest Complete
Confront Rachel Mercer about the misleading alert
Skill Upgrade: Computers Superb→Legendary
+ New Item Acquired
Personal laptop
“Good by me," you say to Mara with a smile. "Now aren't you glad I was recommended?" you smirk faintly. "Gotta let this drive cool before I can use it again, but we got one hell of a start. IP addresses, portal login locations... we call that a smoking gun in my trade."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +2)
Alex Mishyma
Good by me. Now aren't you glad I was recommended? Gotta let this drive cool before I can use it again, but we got one hell of a start. IP addresses, portal login locations... we call that a smoking gun in my trade.
Alex smiles and gives Mara a faint smirk. The PHLAK drive rests beside his laptop, locked read-only and cooling while the completed comparison table remains visible on his screen.
Mara Velez
I am glad. You found the bridge my client needed, and you did it without exposing the child or leaving this room in the logs.
Rachel Mercer
The IP addresses and portal locations can place the access window. They may not identify the person alone, but together with the token and payment format, they narrow the field.
Rachel marks the shared timestamps with a pen, aligning them against the repeated transaction references. The indirect connection now has a preserved local record, ready for investigators or a deeper review.
Mara Velez
Let the drive cool. You have earned the first payment, and I will make certain the client understands exactly what this start is worth.
✓ Quest Accepted
Identify who authorized the financial access
“I’ll trace the repeated transaction references toward whoever authorized the payments, once my drive has cooled down. And, I’ll preserve the comparison table and IP details for the deeper review." You look over to the partition, smirking. "It's okay to relax. You're not exactly a secret here anymore. They trusted me with with task? We can trust them to keep their eyes and ears shut," you say to the hidden three.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
Once the drive cools, I’ll trace the repeated transaction references toward whoever authorized the payments. I’ll preserve the comparison table and IP details for the deeper review.
Alex saves the comparison table in a separate local copy, then records the IP addresses, portal locations, timestamps, and transaction references in the review file. The PHLAK drive remains untouched, cooling beside the laptop.
Alex Mishyma
It’s okay to relax. You’re not exactly a secret here anymore. They trusted me with this task, so we can trust them to keep their eyes and ears shut.
The partition stays still for a moment. Then the therapist eases into view, with the child close behind and the famous client watching the passage rather than the screens.
Dr. Helen Ward
If you trust them, we will stay quiet. But the child’s safety remains the boundary.
Adrian Cole
Mara has kept her word so far. I will watch the entrance while you follow the money.
Mara nods and leaves the preserved files untouched. The hidden group settles back behind the partition, while the comparison record now exists safely for the promised deeper review.
“We have two copies of these records in our possession. Rachael? Turn over the third to your superiors for further investigation. Once my drive cools down again, Phase Two," you smirk roguishly. "This alone should take a lot of heat off your shoulders, and keep the eyes off the child for a while.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
We have two copies of these records in our possession. Rachel, turn the third over to your superiors for further investigation.
Alex Mishyma
Once my drive cools down again, Phase Two.
Alex gives Mara a roguish smirk, then gestures toward the preserved comparison table and the cooling PHLAK drive. The third copy remains ready for Rachel to carry upstairs.
Alex Mishyma
This alone should take a lot of heat off your shoulders, and keep the eyes off the child for a while.
Rachel Mercer
I will give it to my superiors through the protected review channel, with the timestamps and chain of custody intact. They will have the third copy today.
Rachel gathers the marked pages and prepares a sealed packet from her folder, keeping the child's destination absent. Her shoulders ease, though her attention stays fixed on the evidence.
Rachel Mercer
You are right about the attention. A documented financial trail gives them something else to investigate, without forcing anyone to expose the child.
“"I more meant them investigating you, but hey, I'll take a payday and a double win for my efforts today on both of your behalves," you smirk. "C'mon, I need a coffee and a smoke after that little bit," you nod towards the door. Leading them both back upstairs, you ask if either of them would like one while you pour yourself a french vanilla latte.”
SUCCESS (Legendary Willpower, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
I more meant them investigating you, but hey, I’ll take a payday and a double win for my efforts today on both your behalves.
Alex smirks, nods toward the door, and leads Rachel and Mara up the concealed passage. The hidden group remains below, out of sight, while cafe noise gathers overhead.
Alex Mishyma
C’mon, I need a coffee and a smoke after that little bit. Either of you want one?
Rachel Mercer
Coffee, yes. I will skip the smoke. I have enough to explain upstairs without adding another problem.
Mara Velez
Coffee for me as well. No smoke. You have earned a quiet minute, Alex, but keep the packet and the laptop separate.
Upstairs, Rachel takes the sealed packet to a corner table while Mara keeps the leather case close. Alex moves behind the counter and starts the cafe machine.
Steam blooms as Alex pours himself a French vanilla latte, the sweet scent cutting through roasted coffee and the salt air drifting in from the street. For the moment, the cafe looks ordinary.
“Two house specials, coming up," you smile. Bringing them each the same as yours, you take your coffee, sitting a polite distance away as you light a Newport. You look to the back area where the usual cyber kids are gaming away, while the 'real' cyber kids occupy the main part of the cafe, tapping away on laptops and tablets. "I figure after this smoke, we can go our ways for now." You slip both of them a cafe business card with your cell number written on the back, turning to Mara. "Please deliver payment here, in the form of a prepaid debit card. I'll spoof the info later to make it untraceable." You then turn to Rachael." I should apologize for having my doubts about you. Nothing these days is face value, but I was glad to be able to help you take the first leap in clearing your name. I ask something in return. Since we don't want the child back in the system, I ask only that you keep your vow of silence to his and his current guardians' whereabouts."”
SUCCESS (Good Reasoning, rolled +1)
Alex Mishyma
Two house specials, coming up.
Alex prepares two French vanilla lattes, carries them with his own coffee to a polite distance from Rachel and Mara, and lights a Newport. The cafe’s ordinary gamers tap away behind them while the hidden work continues below.
Alex Mishyma
I figure after this smoke, we can go our ways for now. Mara, please deliver payment here as a prepaid debit card. I’ll spoof the information later to make it untraceable.
He hands each woman a Dev Null Cafe card, his cell number written on the back. Mara accepts hers, keeping the leather case close, while Rachel folds hers beside the sealed evidence packet.
Mara Velez
Understood. The payment will come here as requested, by prepaid card, and I will keep the client’s arrangement confidential.
Alex Mishyma
Rachel, I should apologize for doubting you. Nothing is face value these days, but I’m glad I helped you take the first leap toward clearing your name. In return, keep your vow of silence about the child and his current guardians’ whereabouts.
Rachel Mercer
You have my word. The child’s location and the guardians’ identities stay out of every report and conversation. I will protect that boundary.
“I'm grateful," you say gently, stubbing out the rest of your smoke in an ashtray at a nearby table. "My PHLAK drive should be more than cooled off by now. Take your time with your coffees, but I am getting back to work now that I am caffeinated. And when I find anything out, you will be the first to know, both of you. Ya got my word on that." You pick up your coffee, about to head back downstairs when Mara rises. "May I join you Alex? If there is something new discovered, I'd rather be handed the nfo”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
I’m grateful. My PHLAK drive should be cooled off by now. Take your time with your coffees while I get back to work. When I learn anything, you’ll be the first to know. You have my word.
Alex stubs out the Newport in a nearby ashtray and picks up his coffee. Mara rises with the leather case tucked securely against her side.
Mara Velez
May I join you, Alex? If something new appears, I would rather receive the information directly.
Rachel remains upstairs with the sealed packet and her latte while Alex and Mara descend through the concealed passage. The hidden group stays behind the partition, out of sight.
The PHLAK drive has cooled completely. Alex reconnects it beside his laptop, and its read-only state holds as the preserved comparison table and copied ledger metadata reopen.
Alex Mishyma
The drive is stable, and both evidence copies are accessible.
Mara takes a seat outside the partition while Alex resumes the review. He sorts the repeated transaction references against the shared access window, with Mara present to receive whatever the records reveal.
“After a bit of time, the AI of your drive has completed the comparisons of the two pieces of metadata. '3 direct connections found.' You smile, and open the results. "Interesting," you say. "Seems all these transactions, over random episodes of time, all payload back into an offshore account. Let's see where this routing number leads us."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +0)
Time passes in the low hum of the work area. The PHLAK drive completes its comparison, and a clean result window appears beside the preserved metadata.
Alex Mishyma
Interesting. Three direct connections found. These transactions, spread across random episodes of time, all funnel into an offshore account. Let’s see where this routing number leads us.
Alex opens the results and follows the routing number through the transaction references. The trail resolves through a correspondent bank in the Cayman Islands to a numbered corporate account.
Mara Velez
A numbered account is not a name. Does the record give you anything usable?
The account belongs to Harbor Meridian Holdings, a shell company registered through a Boston-linked corporate services firm. Its listed director is a nominee, but the payment notes repeat one internal code.
Alex Mishyma
The routing number leads to Harbor Meridian Holdings, and the payment notes preserve the same private case code.
Mara Velez
Then the money trail has a real anchor. Preserve the account details, the correspondent bank, and that corporate registration before anything changes.
✓ Quest Accepted
Preserve the Harbor Meridian account details
Quest Complete
Preserve Mara’s trust in the cafe as a safe place for their work
Skill Upgrade: Security Poor→Mediocre
“With anything of this sensitive nature, I prefer threefold guarantees: my personal PHLAK drive, a back up thumb drive, and a paper hard copy, if that's alright by you. But first, I wanna see what I can dig up further behind this account. It's likely someone will be using a false identity, but even then... they had to enter it from an IP address somewhere. And VPN is only a suggestion, not a promise of protection unless you really know what you're doing. And so far, whoever made the account is being a little too sloppy to be a pro."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled -1)
Alex Mishyma
With anything this sensitive, I want three guarantees: my PHLAK drive, a backup thumb drive, and a paper hard copy, if that works for you.
Alex Mishyma
First, I want to dig further behind the account. A false identity still needs an access point, and a VPN is only protection if someone uses it well. Whoever made this was sloppy.
Mara watches the screen while Alex queries the corporate filing metadata, payment portal records, and preserved access logs. The local copies remain isolated, and the hidden partition stays undisturbed.
Mara Velez
Three copies are acceptable. Make the paper version omit the child’s destination, and preserve the originals exactly as found.
The search returns the incorporation submission, a recovery address, and four login events tied to Harbor Meridian’s administrative portal. Two came through a commercial VPN, but the third exposed a residential Massachusetts IP address.
Alex Mishyma
There. The false identity used a VPN twice, then connected directly from a Massachusetts residential address. The session timestamps and browser fingerprint line up.
Mara Velez
That is usable. Preserve the address, timestamps, filing metadata, and the connection between the portal account and the private case code. Now we have somewhere investigators can start.
Quest Complete
Preserve the Harbor Meridian account details
✓ Quest Accepted
Ensure both parties possess the paper sets and thumb drives
“With couple taps of the keys, the old dot matrix printer goes to work. Mara looks at with a puzzled expression, seeming to know just how old it is. You smile as you answer her unspoken question. "Completely grid free, no memory to search or salvage, and I kinda dig old tech for that." Once that's done, you hand her a copy, putting your beside you as you also load the same files directly to a pair of thumb drives. You hand her a blue one. "This also comes password locked, so only you or I can access it, and with 1280 bit encryption? It'd would take even me a year to decode a single sentence." You hold it out to her. "You get what you pay for. The password is my name, but definitely change it on a secure system whe you first plug it in."”
SUCCESS (Legendary Computers, rolled +2)
With a couple taps, Alex sends the preserved files to the old dot-matrix printer. It chatters loudly, laying down a clean paper copy without touching the laptop’s networked systems.
Mara Velez
That printer is older than some of the systems we are investigating.
Alex Mishyma
Completely grid free, no memory to search or salvage. I kind of dig old tech for that.
When the pages finish, Alex hands Mara one copy and keeps another beside his laptop. He loads the same files onto two thumb drives, one blue and one unmarked.
Alex Mishyma
This also comes password locked, so only you or I can access it. With 1280-bit encryption, it would take even me a year to decode a single sentence.
Alex holds out the blue drive. The printed version omits the child’s destination, while the digital copies preserve the agreed evidence set and its metadata.
Alex Mishyma
You get what you pay for. The password is my name, but definitely change it on a secure system when you first plug it in.
Receive Mara’s agreed payment
Quest Complete
Ensure both parties possess the paper sets and thumb drives
+ New Item Acquired
Paper evidence copy
+ New Item Acquired
Unmarked thumb drive