Is this destiny?

Sarah was gnawing on her lower lip nervously while listening to the phone ringing on the other side.

Why is no one picking up? She wondered which one is more believeable, that this is the phone number of SP3CT3R, or that her father gave her a fake number.

Her father is in software development for a long time, but is it possible that he knows SP3CT3R? And even crazier is the possibility that her dad and SP3CT3R are on such good terms that SP3CT3R will do a favor for Edward without asking any questions.

After six rings, a deep male voice answered. "Yes?"

Sarah was startled. Someone answered!

"Is this… Specter?" Sarah felt silly for asking this. She just asked a stranger if he is the most famous hacker in the world. Even if he is, he would not admit it, right?

"Speaking."

Sarah froze at his answer and it took her a few seconds to regain the ability to speak.

"Mr. Specter… Uhm… My father gave me this number and… said to call if I need help."

"Your father?"

Sarah could hear that he smiled.

"Yes. Edward Hill." Sarah was not sure if this was enough. Should she mention Seattle and Orion Enterprise? Or maybe the man on the other side of the line has no idea who Edward Hill is. Why would they use their real names? How would that go?

Sarah imagined two people, facing each other, and shaking hands…

SP3CT3R: 'Hi, I am Specter, the famous hacker.'

Edward: 'Hi, nice to meet you, famous hacker. I am Edward Hill. Oh, by the way… I gave your private phone number to my daughter. I hope that is OK. She will call you and ask for a favor.'

SP3CT3R: 'Not a problem. Everyone has my phone number, I am so easy to reach, yet no one has a clue who I am. And I do favors for everyone! Hahahaha…'

Sarah exhaled while thinking about how this conversation is absolutely ridiculous. If she is keeping her identity as Sigma to a selected few, the circle around SP3CT3R should be even smaller. More like a dot, which is only the SP3CT3R himself. Why is the guy on the other side silent? He is probably thinking who the hell Edward Hill is or maybe he put his phone on mute and dumped it in a trash can… or maybe to the bottom of the ocean and soon the line will disconnect because it lost signal.

"What is your name?"

Sarah exhaled. He spoke, finally.

The silence was not longer than a few seconds, but to Sarah, it was like few eternities.

"Sarah White. I mean… Sarah Hill, but I'm married, so now I'm White." Sarah stumbled with the answer.

Another stiffening silence.

Sarah thought that she heard some shuffling, but it was so faint that she thought that she imagined it.

"What help do you need?"

Sarah's face lit up. It seems that he is willing to help. Or at least to listen to her request.

She was not sure why, but she had a feeling that the man on the other side of the line is reliable. She wondered if her feeling is correct or maybe she is so desperate that she is grabbing straws and holding onto them like a lifeline. But whichever it is, his voice was smooth and soothing, and it put her at ease.

"There is trouble in several companies. It looks synchronized. I would appreciate it if you can find out how the perpetrators got access to the information on how and where to attack. Tell me your price."

"Alright. We can discuss my price after the task is completed. Send me what you have on this email…"

Sarah ended the call and sent the most recent information they have, and she hoped that will be enough.

She was still not sure if the man she called is really SP3CT3R, but in the worst case, he will come up with nothing and while she waits for the results from him, she can focus on getting Eve back online.

~ Eastern Europe, the base of the Lebedev family ~

"Where are you going?" Stella asked Edward with a frown. She does not approve that he is getting out of the bed. "It's late and time to sleep. Whoever called, can wait."

Edward chuckled. "It was Sarah. She called Specter for help."

Stella's eyebrows shoot up in surprise. "Sarah needs help?"

Edward enjoyed Stella's exaggerated expression. Since they came to the base of the Lebedev family, she is either neutral or frowning. This is a pleasant change. "Jeff's, Charlie's, and Steve's companies are facing some issues."

Stella could not believe that Edward is so calm. "Why didn't you ask more questions? Are our kids OK?"

"If I asked more questions, I would risk revealing who I am."

Stella rolled her eyes. "She just spoke to you. Doesn't she know how her father sounds?"

Edward smiled smugly. "This is my special phone with voice-altering included. And our kids are fine."

Stella was getting irritated. "How do you know that they are fine if you didn't ask any questions?"

"Because Sarah was calm."

"Why would she ask you to investigate issues instead of using Eve?"

Edward paused at this question. He was so excited that the stubborn and always self-sufficient Sarah called him for help, that he neglected this detail. "That… I am not sure. But I will help her with what she needs and then look for other answers. The important part is that she was calm and collected, and that means all of them are safe. You know Sarah… if any of them was hurt, she would flip the country and beat up any survivors."

"You are only guessing. I want to make sure…" Stella pushed the covers away, ready to get out of the bed.

Edward pulled the covers back up and held the edge firmly over Stella's body, preventing Stella from leaving the bed. "If you call now, Sarah will get suspicious about the timing. She might even think that Lebedevs are behind this trouble." Edward looked Stella in the eyes. "Are they behind this?"

"No. How much I know…"

Edward leaned and kissed her on the lips. "Sleep now, sugarplum. Call our kids tomorrow and make it sound random."

Stella relaxed and nodded in agreement. She will call tomorrow to hear how Lia, Adam, and Valentin are doing, and then she will ask what else is going on. If Sophia does not talk, Stella will call JoAnna.

Stella pressed her lips into a line. She has five grandchildren, and instead of enjoying with them, she is stuck here. But if she goes to Los Angeles, who will be here and make sure that these wolves don't go after her children?

She watched as Edward walked out of the bedroom and exhaled. She agreed not to call, but how can she sleep like this?

Stella got out of the bed, put a robe on, and walked out. She will make a big pot of coffee and join Edward. Stella is not sure if she can help, but at least she can give him company and find out what trouble those kids got themselves into.

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