Cipher by Aileen Erin Read Free Book Online

other guys, so he couldn’t actually be on something. At least I hoped he couldn’t.
    “Hey, baby. You comin’ to see the Crackhead?” he asked, standing when I approached him.
    Dear God. He was referring to himself in third person. “Yeah. I was wondering if I could have a word.”
    “Anything for Cipher.”
    “Have we met?”
    “You don’t know me, but I know you. Seen your stuff on the web. Seen you here at the club. Whatchuneed, baby? I can get you anything. Even serums.” He stepped away from the group to talk to me, and I was grateful for the relative privacy.
    “I don’t want any of that.” I tried not to be creeped out that he knew who I was. Maybe sticking around and destroying on the gaming systems had been a bad idea, but it didn’t matter. What was done was done. I hoped Sandra hadn’t led me astray. “I’m actually looking for a Knight7A9 processor. Any chance that you have one handy or could get me one fast?”
    He whistled. “Wish I had one for you, baby, but don’t right now. Too expensive to keep on hand. And Knights are rare these days. Word is the man has been caught up in stuff lately. But I can put some feelers out for you. Come back tomorrow and I’ll see what I can scrounge up.”
    Tomorrow night? I wanted something sooner. “Any way you can get it faster?”
    He thought for a second, and then swung his arms. It was like he needed to jerk his body before he could speak. “Tell you what. I got word a little bit ago that a guy’s going to be at the Trials. Arrives in the morning. He’s a dual helix, but he’s cool. Not too into the whole system, if you get what I’m saying. He’ll have what you need.”
    The Trials? I hadn’t even known they were going on. This made sticking around so much more complicated. They brought way too many helixes into the Voids. No helix could ever be trusted.
    What Crackhead was saying didn’t make any sense. If a guy was a dual helix and recruiting at the Trials, then he was definitely hardcore into the system. “I’m not stupid.” I started to walk away.
    “Wait.”
    I slowly turned back.
    “I’m not messing with you. For reals, baby. Trust me.”
    Crackhead was out of his mind. I nearly laughed. Of course he was. That was how he got the name. “Dude. I don’t trust anyone.”
    He jerked his body to the side, and I quickly stepped back, sloshing my drink over my right hand. I moved it to my left and wiped my hand off on my pants. Figured. I get a nice drink and spill half of it on myself.
    “Go check it out,” Crackhead said. “Meet the guy or don’t, but he’ll have what you’re looking for. He’s legit.”
    The fact that the Trials were public was the only thing going for them. There’d be witnesses and a crowd to disappear into if things went sour. I should still say no, but I was in a rush.
    Two reckless decisions in one night. Why the hell not? “Fine. Where will I find this guy?”
    “In the Black arena. He’ll be fighting there at noon. Watch him. You’ll know when you see him. If you want, stick around ’til he’s done, and he’ll get you what you need. You don’t like him.” He shrugged. “You go. It’s not like he’ll be able to come at you in the middle of a demo.”
    The first little tingles of electricity ran up my legs. I was nervous, and it was showing. I took a calming breath. “Fine, but you better be right about him.”
    He held up his hands. “Jeez, baby. For such a little thing, you’re tough. Scarin’ me.”
    I snorted. “Come on. You’re what—like three inches taller than me and skinnier than hell. You’ve got no room call me a ‘little thing.’”
    He stumbled back a few steps with his hands over his heart. “You wound me, baby.” He held out his hand.
    This guy was a total flirt. I shook my head. Was it possible that I kind of liked him? “I can’t believe it. I’m actually starting to like you, Crackhead.” I took his hand in mine.
    He stared at my hand for a second too long. I