Page 22 of The Bathhouse
“Only if it gets reported, and I’m sure you don’t want to share these with the world.I’m not playing games, Reed.I want $200,000 in small bills or these photos will get sent to your family, friends, and colleagues.”
Reed stared at Torres defiantly.“No way.”
“That’s fine.I’d almost rather forego the money and send these off, but do you really want to go that route?”He smiled thinly.“It’s your decision.”
“What guarantee do I have that you won’t send the photos anyway?”
“I’ll disappear and you won’t hear from me again.You’ll have to trust me.”
The throbbing in his temples wouldn’t let him think.He rubbed his head, tried to make a decision.“I… Uh, I need some time.”
Torres laughed.“Sure.I’ll be back tomorrow, same time.Have the cash in a duffle bag.Oh, and you can keep those photos.I have more.”He walked out and slammed the door behind him.
What would this do to my career and reputation?Reed sank back into the chair.He could afford the money, but he knew damn well that there was no end to blackmail.It was never one and done.Torres would use him again.He’d be living under constant threats and elevating demands.It would never stop.
And, at any time, Torres could decide to reveal his secrets anyway.There’d be no way to stop him.One morning, he could wake up and find the photos plastered all over the Internet.I’d have given him power over me for nothing.
Reed put his head in his hands.He had two choices: Pay up and give Torres this power over him, or break Torres’ hold by revealing his secret life himself.He wasn’t sure he could accept the consequences.
A knock at the door interrupted his thoughts.“Come in.”
Joseph opened the door and walked in smiling.He placed a bag of food on the desk.“You’re going to love this Pancit.It’s a simple dish but --”
Overcome by a wave of fury, Reed swept the bag off the desk.Noodles, meat, and vegetables spilled across the floor.
Joseph’s smile vanished, wiped away by shock.Silent, he stared at Reed, his expression like someone who had been struck in the face.
Reed picked up the photos and shoved them at Joseph.“I had a visitor while you were gone.”
Joseph shuffled through the pictures; his face became twisted with anguish.He collapsed into the chair and put his head in his hands.“I’m so sorry.”
Reed’s heart sank.Some small part of him had hoped that Joseph would explain this all away, but that hope disappeared.“So you admit to being part of this blackmail scheme?”
Joseph looked up; his face full of despair.“No.I admit I took these photos, but I was never going to use them against you.They were for me, no one else.Who gave you these?”
“Your partner, Dave Torres.”
“You’re my only partner.”
Reed laughed, a humorless vicious sound.“That’s a joke.I can see now I was wrong to trust you.There were red flags, but stupidly, I ignored them.”Suddenly, Reed’s anger was washed away by a wave of sadness.He sat heavily in the chair.“You should pack your things and go, Joseph.I don’t want to see you again.”
* * *
Joseph left quietly, but he was filled with rage against Torres.He’d probably lose his job now, but he didn’t care about that.Losing Reed’s affection and respect was so much worse.
Now he knew how his phone had gone missing.Torres had picked it up and hacked his way inside, looking for something he could use for revenge.Joseph wanted to kick that motherfucker’s ass.
Looking up Dave’s address was not a problem.Finding his apartment was.When he arrived at the address on record, a woman came to the door.She’d been renting for months and never heard of a Dave Torres.
Joseph felt frustrated, but not shocked.Being a lowlife lawbreaker, Torres would probably move around a lot.A setback for sure, but not time to give up.Joseph looked for a place he’d frequented when he was still searching for a job and needed computer access.Back then, there used to be dozens of Internet cafes, but now many stood empty or had been taken over by different businesses because of the pandemic.
The streets were crowded, and people pushed at Joseph.Evidently he moved too slowly, but he didn’t want to miss the small storefront that he remembered.He turned down an alley behind a building and spotted it, a large sign bearing the name CYBER CAFÉ in all caps.Greeted by a dim room filled with computers, Joseph quickly got to work.
His attempt to find Torres on Facebook failed, but he’d expected that.A criminal mind had to be secretive.
Googlinghow to find someonebrought up numerous results.At the top of the list wasOn the Hunt, a service that claimed it would search public records and provide a detailed report on any person you were looking for.It would cost him, but the good reviews promised it would be worth the expense.
Joseph entered Torres’ full name, and previous location.Up came a list of possible candidates.Selecting the one that matched the Torres he knew, Joseph submitted a background check request.
