Page 1 of Find Me
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Hawke Foster strode through the maze of underground tunnels in midtown Manhattan, a place once used for illegal activities during prohibition. As he made his way down the stone-lined hallways toward Phoenix, an exclusive sex club that catered to voyeurism, he couldn’t help but feel the weight of its secrets hidden behind the thick walls. When he approached a large metal door on his left and saw the security guard sitting at her desk, he smiled. Only members had access to this door, which opened into the basement of the Phoenix and was one of four entrances scattered around the city.
Phoenix had strict security measures in place, including ID checks and surveillance cameras at all tunnel entrances. A team of watchful security guards made sure that only the wealthy and elite who met the expensive membership requirements could enter. The end of the tunnels led to a security system that rivaled Hawke’s experiences with the Navy SEALs, which was not surprising given that the security detail consisted of retired military personnel.
“Good evening, Hawke,” said Rosalyn, a brunette who wore a new color of eyeshadow every day. She’d worked the Phoenix’s West tunnel for as long as he’d been working there, which was going on nearly a year now.
“Hey,” Hawke replied. “How’s it looking tonight?”
“Everything’s in order,” Rosalyn said.
“Excellent,” Hawke replied. That’s the way he liked it.
After he exchanged some brief pleasantries, he entered the club and walked down the silent hallway, hearing communication between the security team through his earpiece tucked in his ear. As he passed by the women’s changing area, he heard muffled voices coming from inside, indicating that the performers for tonight’s show had arrived and were preparing. The voices grew fainter as he entered the next room on his left.
The room was a showcase of advanced technology, filled with rows of monitors and surveillance equipment. The soft light from the screens illuminated the faces of the four people positioned at their control stations, their unwavering attention fixed on their tasks.
Hawke’s gaze flicked to the man at the end of table. Archer Westbrook, head of security, stood with an air of casual authority. His broad shoulders and powerful frame exuded confidence while his piercing blue eyes held an almost predatory glint. Archer was the epitome of a retired United States Army Special Forces.
“Evening, Hawke,” Archer called, nodding in his direction. “All good?”
Archer was owner Rhys Harrington’s secondhand man, and Hawke was Archer’s, working under him as a security team lead. “Quiet so far,” Hawke replied. “I’ve done a sweep of all four tunnels and checked in with the team. No issues to report.”
“Good to hear,” Archer said with a firm nod. “We’ve done another sweep of the club and haven’t found any bugs.”
The last one they found three days ago had sent shock waves through the security team. How anyone got a bug in past security was still an unknown, as was who put it there.
Hawke nodded, aware the club’s security was at risk. Phoenix was an invite-only secret club with strict membership requirements, and it was this very sense of mystery and allure that drew people to its doors. Every member wore a mask, but not everyone managed to conceal their true identities. Last week, Hawke recognized an A-list celebrity and a billionaire CEO.
But that security was at risk because a few sophisticated bugs had been hidden in the sex-show room and the change room. No one on the security team took that lightly.
Hawke took pride in his role at Phoenix after he was forced to retire from the Navy SEALs when an explosive took his right leg. Now he sported a prosthetic leg, and he was determined to maintain the standard of excellence that had earned him the respect and trust of his fellow SEALs.
Failure did not sit right.
“Speaking of which,” Archer continued, lowering his voice, “Are you with Penny for the rest of the night?”
That would be Penny, the hacker that Rhys had hired to look into the breach in their security and to hunt down the mole. “If I’m dismissed to do so.”
“You are,” Archer said, simply. “Let’s get this resolved.”
“Copy, boss,” Hawke replied.
Archer tipped his head to the corner of the room, and once Hawke followed, Archer said, “Keep this between us, but while you’re working with Penny, look into her. Find out exactly who she is.”
Hawke lifted his brows. “You want me to look into your wife’s good friend?”
Archer’s lips thinned. He crossed his arms and frowned. “Elise trusts her. My gut tells me to trust her. But we also know nothing about her. Elise is very tight lipped where it comes to Penny.”
As a hacker, Penny had made it that way. From what Archer told him, the woman didn’t leave a digital fingerprint. She was like a ghost with no past. “I’ll get close to her.”
Archer scoffed. “That might not be as easy as you think.”
Hawke grinned in challenge. “Probably not.” But that’s what he liked about Penny. He had initially met her through Elise, who was her best friend. It wasn’t until they discovered the bugs, that he found out she was a skilled hacker who collaborated with Elise at her investigative firm.
“Excellent” Archer said. “Keep me updated.”
After a final nod, Hawke watched as Archer left. His gaze swept across the room, looking over the members of his team. “Everyone good here?” he asked the team.
