Page 65 of Midnight Racers

“Better make it a double,” the disgruntled guy from earlier said. He interested me, so I took a covert picture to show my guys. They would ensure they spoke to him at the next race.

I lifted my bottle of beer to my lips but didn’t consume even a sip before setting it down again. “Bad day?” I said to Craig, who was getting himself a drink since they had left him out of the last round in his absence.

“I’ve had better.” He had his mobile phone in his hand.

Most people believed that you had to download something from the internet to get a virus on your phone. Technology had evolved and scripts of computer code gotten smaller. Most people had their Bluetooth turned on on their phones to allow them to connect to smart watches and car kits. What they didn’t realise was that it left their phone vulnerable to attack. I activated the programme on my phone and set it on the counter close to Craig.

The ping that sounded like a text message coming in let me know that it had connected with his phone. The virus would sit on his phone for a few hours undetected and then it would create a link to a site that would allow us full access to his phone and all the information contained in it. Nowadays, people lived their lives by the information on their phones.

I lifted my phone in the pretence of reading the message that wasn’t there and typed his name into the blank field so we knew who we were watching. With remote access to his phone, I didn’t need anyone to tell me anything about him, I’d get the information myself.

To avoid raising suspicion, I continued to sit there with my beer and watched the dynamics of the other team. The seemed to be tight, except that no one trusted Craig. I didn’t blame them.

My phone pinged and I glanced down at it.

Charlotte:Is it my imagination that people are constantly here?

Me:It’s your imagination. Those people have been working there for years.

Charlotte:Yeah, but not at the same time as me…

She was too smart for her own good.

Me:They’re worried about you after the other night. Let them fuss over you.

Charlotte:I knew it! I’m going to kick your ass.

Me:You wanna kiss my ass? No problem, my dick needs some attention as well.

Charlotte:Pervert.

Me:Seriously, let them think they’re protecting you and I’ll come and save you shortly.

Charlotte:Like a knight in shining armour?

Me:More like a demon on a Harley.

She replied with that strange squinty eye emoji that I could never figure out the meaning of. Was she pissed or was she doing the female Jedi mind-fuck of trying to see inside my head?

The bartender came to see if I needed another drink.

“No, thanks,” I replied. “That’s the missus on the phone wondering what time I’m coming home .”

“Always the way, man.” He wandered back toward the other end of the bar and I shoved my phone in my pocket and headed out of the bar.

I checked the website the spyware was attached to and saw a red dot with Craig’s name beside it. The tracker on his phone was operational. I just needed to wait and I would soon know exactly what he was involved with.

Charlotte was ignoring the world and working at the back counter when I arrived. I waved Joshua off since I was here, and he left without complaint as he normally wanted to get home to have dinner with his family.

My arm slipped around her waist, my hand delving into the front of her yoga pants she tended to wear under her overalls. She froze for a split second before melting into me. My lips attacked the side of her throat.

“You pissed at me?” I asked.

“No. I just don’t want to be a victim.”

My hand wrapped around her hair and I pulled until she stared up at me. “The only victims are the ones without a pulse. You’re a survivor.” My fingers delved deeper until she moaned when I found her clit and started to circle it. Her mouth fell open in an invitation I couldn’t resist.

The sane part of my brain knew that this shouldn’t happen in the workplace, but the madness that rampaged through my blood didn’t want to listen. My hand tightened in her hair and my fingers moved rhythmically between her legs.

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