Chapter 4: The puzzle deepens
The sun had long since set, casting a dark shadow over the city. I sat in my dimly lit study, surrounded by the trappings of wealth and success. But my mind wasn't on the lavish decorations or the stacks of cash in my bank accounts. It was on Kutie_pie3477.
Thomas had been digging deeper, trying to uncover more information about the mysterious user. But so far, we'd hit a brick wall. It was as if Kutie_pie3477 had vanished into thin air.
I sighed, rubbing my temples. This was getting frustrating. Who was this person, and why were they so determined to defend me?
Just then, my phone buzzed. It was Thomas.
"Sir, I think I've found something," he said, his voice low and urgent.
My heart skipped a beat. "What is it?"
"I managed to track down a possible IP address associated with Kutie_pie3477," Thomas explained. "It's not a direct match, but it's close enough to warrant further investigation."
I leaned forward, my eyes locked on the phone. "Where is it?"
"It's a small internet cafe on the outskirts of the city," Thomas replied. "I can meet you there in 20 minutes."
I nodded, already standing up. "I'll be there."
The internet cafe was a dingy, run-down place. The air was thick with the smell of stale coffee and burned circuits. Thomas was already there, sipping on a cup of coffee.
"Sir, I've spoken to the owner," he said, nodding toward a gruff-looking man behind the counter. "He remembers a user matching Kutie_pie3477's description. She was a regular here, always coming in late at night."
I raised an eyebrow. "She?"
Thomas nodded. "Yes, sir. The owner described her as a young woman, probably in her early twenties. She always wore a hoodie and sunglasses, so he couldn't get a good look at her face."
I frowned, my mind racing. A young woman? That wasn't what I'd expected.
The owner, a gruff-looking man with a thick beard, approached us. "You're the ones asking about the girl, right?"
I nodded. "Yes, we are. Can you tell us more about her?"
The owner shrugged. "Not much to tell. She came in here every night, always used the same computer. Never caused any trouble, just kept to herself."
I leaned forward, my eyes locked on the owner. "Did she ever talk to anyone? Leave any messages or clues?"
The owner thought for a moment before nodding. "Now that you mention it, she did leave a note once. It was on a piece of paper, tucked away in the computer she used."
Thomas's eyes lit up. "Do you still have the note?"
The owner nodded, disappearing into the back room. He returned with a crumpled piece of paper, handing it to me.
I smoothed out the paper, my heart racing. The note was brief, just a few scribbled lines.
"Meet me at the old warehouse at midnight. Come alone."
I looked up, my eyes meeting Thomas's. "What do you think this means?"
Thomas frowned. "I'm not sure, sir. But I think we should investigate further."
I nodded, my mind racing. This was getting interesting.
We left the internet cafe, the note clutched in my hand. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being pulled into a world of intrigue and deception. But I was determined to uncover the truth.
As we walked, Thomas turned to me. "Sir, I think we should be careful. We don't know what we're dealing with here."
I nodded, my eyes scanning the surrounding area. "You're right, Thomas. Let's keep a low profile for now."
We continued walking, the city streets seeming to grow darker and more menacing with every step. I couldn't shake the feeling that I was being watched, that unseen eyes were trained on me.
Suddenly, Thomas stopped, his head cocked to one side. "Do you hear that, sir?"
I listened, my ears straining. And then, I heard it too – the faint sound of footsteps, echoing off the buildings.
I turned to Thomas, my eyes locked on his. "Let's get out of here. Now."