Page 48 of Wyatt
“And you? What were you promised?” asked Ezra.
“Two percent of the profits.”
“Did you sign a contract?” asked Ani. The girl looked at her and frowned, then back at her father.
“N-no. They said it was a handshake deal.”
“God, you’re all idiots. They have no legally binding contract to force them to pay you. Don’t worry, it won’t matter anyway. That game won’t make it to market.”
“How old are these people?” asked Wyatt. “Sam, Joey, and Haley. How old are they?”
“Early twenties. Haley is the oldest, and she’s twenty-four.”
There was a deadly silence in the room, and then Ezra stood, staring down at his daughter.
“There’s nothing I can do now. Not a thing I do for you will make a difference. I’ll try to reach your mother and let her know as well. You’re probably going to jail.”
“D-dad!” she cried. He looked at the others, his hands shaking, tears falling down his cheeks.
“Call the police. My daughter should be read her rights.”
CHAPTER TWENTY-SEVEN
The crowds getting into the convention center were insane. The largest convention was usually the comic convention, but this had to be damn near the same.
Vendors were standing in the aisles with game controls, virtual reality goggles, special gaming chairs, consoles, and anything you could possibly want. Model planes and balloons were flying overhead, controlled by someone with remote controls.
Small cars and trucks were speeding through the aisles, avoiding pedestrians via cameras mounted on top.
“This is already giving me hives,” said Wyatt.
“I’m about to step on that damn car,” said Noa. “If it hits my ankle one more time, I’m going to fucking lose my shit.”
“Attention convention-goers! Please join us at the X-Patriot Games booth on aisle fourteen, booth one-twenty-one. We will be launching the latest reality game featuring amazing graphics, life-like movements, and much more!”
“Well, I think we just got directions,” said Ulani. “Surround the booth, make sure you identify the three we need, and do not let them go. I’ve called our friends at the San Diego Police and Fire Department to join us, as well as the Marines and Navy pilots. When they see their faces, they’re going to panic.”
“Well done, babe,” smirked Wyatt. “I can’t wait for this one.”
The crowds around the booth were nearly impenetrable, but when you bring your own personal brick walls, it’s much easier.
Rush, Noa, Christian, Ethan, and the others pushed and shoved getting and giving dirty looks to the much smaller, nerdy gamers who looked exactly as Bethany described. Not one person appeared to have seen sunlight in the last twenty years.
“It looks like a vampire convention,” murmured U-Jin.
“Well, when you’re staring at a computer for hours every day and don’t walk outside, that becomes a problem,” said Moose.
“They look nervous,” said Wyatt.
Everyone heard each of the others on comms and were communicating clearly in the enclosed space.
“They should be nervous,” said Ethan. “I’m going to kill them.”
The victims from the various agencies were slowly showing up, working their way towards the VG crew. When the girl, Haley, looked up, seeing one of the police officers, she paled, swaying as if she might faint.
“Something wrong, miss?” asked the officer.
“N-no. No, what could possibly be wrong?”
