Chereads / Damage Controllers / Chapter 50 - The Man in the Picture

Chapter 50 - The Man in the Picture

Jack returns to his apartment and the first thing he wants to do is to try to find out what Nitte could have possibly stolen from him.

He looks around and he doesn't notice anything. He is angry... but kind of more about himself. If only he didn't let Nitte down, then he wouldn't have to worry about her revenge. Yeah, she looks very upset. Gosh, she is kind of childish to be so upset about something so trivial.

Jack decides to call Bob. He wants to talk to someone.

"Hello?" Bob answers.

"Hi Bob, you busy?"

"Meh, I'm OK right now, what's up?"

"Can I come to your apartment?"

"It's like past midnight, dude, it's a little late to visit me. I'm not dressed," Bob laughs.

"Oh gosh, I don't give a shit what you wear. I just need to talk." Jack also laughs.

"Sure, come on over then."

Jack half runs, half walks over to Bob's apartment. He rings the door bell. Bob opens the door for him.

"So what do you want to talk about?" Bob says after closing the door behind Jack.

"First of all, two strange things. One, I found the hacker, his name is Dominic, and I tied him up and put him in a closet. An Estonian secret agent, Amelia, is kind of watching Dominic for me. Probably for herself, too, but she said she was giving up on capturing Dominic because she is fine turning Dominic over to the U.S. government. And she is more concerned about finding a legend."

Bob looks very surprised. He even touches his forehead, looking like he is trying hard to think.

Jack notices Bob's surprised look, but he continues, "Anyway, yes, Amelia says she already e-mailed me some info on that legend. I kind of think it has something to do with what Jie Ai told you about the other day. A ghost who has not died."

Jack then hears some noises, like water swishing in a bottle in Bob's room. But Jack ignores it.

Bob still has a surprised look, but he stares at his room and then stares back at Jack, "I see. Interesting information. What is the other thing?"

"The other thing is, I don't believe I've ever really described Nitte to you."

"Well, you asked me to look her up one time."

"Right. Nitte Hallow Horn. I don't think I mentioned it, but, she is a shapeshifter. Or Skinwalker. And she is a mind-controller, too." Jack speaks quietly, "She has other superpowers actually. I think she might be capable of more than she has told me. She could trick men into seeing some illusion or something," Jack blushes temporarily, "I don't know any detail, but it reminded me of a devious oasis mirage in the desert, bewitching the lost, thirsty travelers into a wrong course, making them further lost."

Bob laughs briefly, "Geez, Jack, quite a description you gave there. Did you personally suffer from her illusion, too?"

Jack scratches his head, "Well, I guess, I kind of did."

Bob nods, "Well, that's kind of interesting. A girl with superpowers. I wonder if there are more out there. If so, we should find another person with superpowers."

Jack raises his eyebrows, excitedly, "Actually, that would be cool. I'm kind of feeling a little uneasy because I think I upset her just earlier. Nitte says she stole something from me. And she is... un-arrestable!"

"She what?" Bob frowns at this made-up word.

"It's like, impossible to arrest her. She would call the cops on herself and then she can -- poof-- be gone. She is super unpredictable. And because she is mad at me right now, she threatens me that she will just recruit someone else to do stuff for her. I really worry what she is going to do."

"You are worried what she would be doing or you're jealous that she would be recruiting someone else." Bob smiles.

"Worried. Plus, Keith wants me to keep an eye on her. Keith says she might do something dangerous."

"Well, can't be too dangerous, maybe. I've never heard of her, so she's probably not some most wanted criminal. But you are right, not losing sight on her is a better idea."

They sit in a momentary break from the conversation. Bob then asks if Jack wants a beer.

"No. But can I borrow your computer? I guess I can check my e-mail when I get home, but now that I'm here at your place, I might as well check now."

"Oh yeah, sure," Bob then goes into his room, retrieves a laptop, and then comes right back out.

In this moment, Bob is actually very agitated and anxious. That Estonian agent, Amelia, is looking for him. Bob is the legend. Unless there is another legend. Bob has never wished that there is another legend out there, but right now, he really, really hopes so.

Because this is not good news. Why the hell would Estonia want to look for him? No one should ever try to look for him.

Jack might look a little immature sometimes, but Jack has connected the dots.

Unfortunately, Bob can't really stop Jack from checking the e-mail. Even if Jack doesn't check the e-mail right here right now, Jack can check it later. And it would be worse, because then, Bob wouldn't know what Jack's reaction is. And how much Jack finds out.

Jack now has logged into his personal e-mail account. He sees a few new messages, and one of them is from Amelia.

Jack opens it.

There are a lot of attached files. There is an old map of the old Soviet Union; some information on the attacks that Dominic made in Eastern Europe. And then there is a black and white photo of a man. And then there is a PDF listing all the things that they believe this man in the picture did.

Jack clicks on the photo to try to enlarge it. Hmm. Jack touches his chin.

"Hey Bob," Jack calls out without looking back at Bob.

Bob has been standing behind Jack. "Yes?"

"Who do you think this man looks like?" Jack asks.

"Um, I can't really say for sure," Bob answers.

"I think he looks very familiar. Don't you think?" Jack now leans back.

Bob has to decide what to say next.

Because the man in the picture looks like Bob himself.