2026-08-23 20:52:43
Previous Chapter
Latest Chapter
163. The First Day
He sat down, switched on the Playstation and set it up. Then he used the wifi to download about five games on the PlayStation. Right after that was done, he immediately began testing the games one after the other.Before he could realise exactly what was happening, it was already 2am. He finally switched off the gadgets and went to sleepHe slept well.The first night in the new apartment, the new mattress, and a quiet night.He woke at 8:30 am, which was later than the last two weeks had permitted.He lay still for a moment and registered where he was.His apartment. Third floor. The desk was visible through the bedroom doorway. The fridge was humming quietly in the kitchen. After about ten minutes of laying in the bed, trying to rest for a bit, he finally stood up and entered the kitchen.He made tea.He opened Binance.Bitcoin: $40,200. Still stable. The market's quiet period was continuing after the crash week's turbulence. He looked at it, decided it required no action, and clos
162. The Work
Chris stayed in the room planning on how to arrange the room with his eyes. Drawing a mind map of the room and how to arrange the things best.The app notification came through at 5:17“Your order has arrived. The driver is at your delivery address.”Chris was in the middle of organising the wardrobes and working out what went where.He put down the shirt he was holding and picked up his phone.He went downstairs.At the reception desk he paused."Do you have porters, please?" he asked.The receptionist shook her head. "We don't, unfortunately. Not a service we currently offer.""Alright," he said. "Thank you."He went outside.A white van was parked in the loading area to the side of the entrance. The driver was leaning against the door, checking his own phone. He looked up when Chris came out."Order for Hayes?""That is me," Chris said.The driver got down. A second man, the assistant, who had been in the passenger seat, came around from the other side. They went to the rear of t
161. A New Beginning
The hotel room was exactly as he had left it this morning. Two duffel bags against the wall, a hotel bag beside them. The desk was clear; the bed was made from the morning service.He called Diane while he stood in the middle of the room.She answered on the second ring."I am ready to move in now," he said."Perfect timing," Diane said. "Everything is set already. Go to the reception when you arrive; they will give you your keys. Once you are settled, the reception will arrange for someone to come up and activate your fingerprint on the scanner. It takes about five minutes." A brief pause. "Is there anything you need before you arrive?""Nothing," he said. "I will be there in a few minutes.""We will be ready; my people will be waiting for you," she said.He ended the call.He stood in the hotel room one final time.He had been here sixteen days. This room had been safe when safe was what he needed.He picked up the first duffel bag.It was heavier than expected, which meant he had
160. Courtroom Success
The court's AV system was engaged. The USB drive was inserted into the court's secure terminal. The courtroom's screen at the side of the bench came to life.The footage ran.Three minutes and fifty-eight seconds of overhead and door-level camera footage. Five individuals in dark clothing and equipment consistent with law enforcement entered an apartment, conducted a systematic search focused on the bed, communicated by radio, and exited.The courtroom watched in silence.When the footage ended, the judge looked at the defence table."Mr Vance," she said. "Your position is that the department had no officers at this address on this date.""That is correct, Your Honour.""And you are suggesting the footage may be fabricated.""Or may depict a different date, or individuals who are not…""The plaintiff's submission includes timestamps embedded in the file metadata," Jessica said. "Which are consistent with the date claimed and which show no evidence of post-capture alteration per the
159. The Courtroom
MONDAY MORNING.The morning was clear and cold.Chris met Jessica at Sandra's building at 8:15. She was waiting in the lobby with a briefcase and court attire."Ready?" she said."Ready?" he said.“The driver I booked has already arrived. Let’s get going then."They took a cab together.The courthouse was a mid-sized building in the civic district.It was not the largest facility in the city, but properly imposingIt had stone steps, double doors and a lobby with wooden panelling that smelt of old documents and floor polish.Jessica moved through check-in quickly. Chris followed his lead quietly. They were directed to Courtroom 4, second floor.This was Chris’ first time in a court.He saw the elevated bench at the front, the judge's chair empty, the gallery benches behind the bar, and the witness stand to the right. The prosecution and defence tables are facing forward, perpendicular to the bench.A man was already seated at the opposite table.Mid-forties, well-dressed, clearly a l
158. The Move Out
Chris got back to the hotel.Saturday evening was quiet.Chris ordered room service, ate at the desk, and read for an hour. It was a dull evening for him. He simply used that opportunity to retake the day.Sunday.He woke up to an empty day just like the previous day. He ate breakfast downstairs, came back to the room, and read some more. He checked the Binance market. Bitcoin was holding at forty thousand, flat. The fund manager had sent a brief update confirming the dividend stock positions were performing as expected. The audit team had sent a brief status note to Sandra's channel: "Still working, first phase nearly complete.”Everything was running.Nothing immediately requiring his response.By midday he was restless.By one he was moving around the hotel room in the unproductive way of someone who has too much energy and nowhere for it to go.By three he had made a decision.He texted the landlord from the real phone before he left.“I am moving out. Please note I won't be re
You may also like
The Consortium's Heir
Benjamin_Jnr1.7M viewsThe Ultimate Doctor
Sammy X92.0K viewsSecretly The Billionaire Boss
Debbie chocolate 2.4M viewsRise Of The Student Billionaire
Dragon Sly237.5K viewsWar God in Disguise
Victoria Efe228 viewsThe Chains of Maya
ATTAR206 viewsThe Infinite Repairman
Queena138 viewsThe Subservient Genius
Djienaba Wone 247 views