Leveling Up With My Rebate System

There was a moment’s pause before the golden screen appeared.

[Yes it is legitimate]

Nathan felt a small weight off his chest. But then he had another question.

’What’s the source?’

[Information on this is not available–]

Nathan let out a small sigh and willed the screen away. The system’s default response for avoiding questions was all too familiar to him now.

He gave a glance at Della who was in her thoughts. While it seemed she was alright with the answer he gave, a part of him felt she was still suspicious.

But all that could wait later. He cleared his throat and leaned back in the seat.

"Now it’s your turn. What’s your motivation? Why are you really investigating Specter?"

Della’s chewing slowed. She set her sandwich down and stared out the windshield for a moment.

"My father," she said finally. "He was arrested for a murder years ago. There wasn’t much evidence against him and like you, he swore he never killed anyone."

Della exhaled. "The case dragged on for a while." She looked down at her half-eaten sandwich. "I remember the times my mother and I would visited him in his cell and he’d assure us that he had never killed anyone."

Nathan remained silent, letting her continue.

"Then Specter joined the case," Della said, her voice hardening. "And within a day, my father confessed. Just like that."

"Did he tell you anything?"

"No," Della replied. "He was killed during his first day in prison before we had a chance to speak with him."

"Oh," Nathan said, lowering his face. "That’s rough. I didn’t mean to–"

"It’s alright," Della replied with a smile that didn’t quite reach her eyes. "The past is in the past I guess."

Nathan frowned in thought. "Was his murder Specter’s doing?"

Della shrugged. "I can’t say but he was the reason my father ended up there."

There was a moment’s silence as she took another bite of her food. A hero flew overhead, carrying an old man in their arms. Della scoffed at the sight.

Nathan exhaled, opting to ask some more questions. "Is that why you joined the force?"

Della nodded. "Yes, mostly. I’ve always wanted to be a cop because of him."

"That’s nice," Nathan said.

"It’s cliche," Della said with a chuckle which Nathan joined in.

He went quiet for a moment as he processed her words, thinking of his own confession in the court room. He knew first hand what Della’s father had experienced.

"I’m sorry," Nathan said quietly. "He must have been a good officer."

Della’s expression flickered as she blinked once. Then a strange smile crossed her face.

"Officer?"

Nathan frowned. "You said he was arrested. I assumed—"

"He wasn’t a cop." Della’s smile was tainted with something else. "My father was a thief, a criminal. He’d target wealthy people and use the money to help others."

Nathan resisted the urge to smile. "A modern day robin hood."

Della shook her head. "At the time, I used to think of him as some hero, but in the end, the law is the law." Her tone was cold with the words.

Nathan stared at her.

"But he never killed anyone," Della continued. "That was the one line he wouldn’t cross. And when Specter made him confess to murder, he took away the one thing my father had left."

She started the engine. "He died knowing people saw him as a murderer and I never got to clear his name."

She pressed her foot on the pedal. "Which is why I will do what it takes to ensure Specter gets what he deserves."

Nathan gave a smile and nodded in acknowledgement

The car pulled out of the parking lot, and the silence that followed was heavier than before.

Nathan let the information settle. Della’s father had been a criminal, but he’d been innocent of the crime he committed.

"He’ll get what’s coming to him," Nathan said quietly.

Della didn’t respond, but her grip on the steering wheel loosened slightly.

---

They arrived back at the Veridian Crown a short while later. Della parked in front of the entrance, turning off the engine.

"I’ll walk you up," she said, already unbuckling her seatbelt.

Nathan raised an eyebrow. "You don’t have to."

"I know. But I want to be there when you contact the hacker," She met his gaze. "And I have to check out the manuscript."

"I don’t know why you have a thing for a dead guy’s letter but suit yourself," Nathan said with a shrug.

Both of them walked inside, oblivious to the black SUV parked two blocks over.

They rode the elevator in comfortable silence, the glass case containing the manuscript tucked under Nathan’s arm. When they reached his suite, he swiped the keycard and pushed the door open.

The suite was almost as he’d left it but it was cleaner now. His gadgets and devices were kept neatly, his bed made and plates removed.

Nathan set the manuscript case on the table, then turned to Della. She was standing near the door, her arms crossed, her eyes scanning the room.

"Can I get you something to eat or drink?"

"No thanks," she replied, her grey eyes settling on the manuscript. She moved forward and picked up the glass case.

"It’s wonderful," she muttered.

Nathan raised an eyebrow then moved to get his laptop. He pressed the power button, waiting for it to fully boot.

Della stood close to him. "I wonder why the hacker wants this."

"Beats me. As long as they can dig up information we need on Specter then it’s all good." He turned to Della, retrieving the watch from his pocket.

He extended his hand to Della. "Here, this is for you."

There was a moment’s pause as Della stared at it. "Thank you but I can’t accept this."

Nathan frowned. "Why is that?"

She shook her head. "For many reasons. As an individual and an officer of the—"

Before she could finish, a loud, piercing alarm ripped through the suite.

BLARE! BLARE! BLARE!

Nathan shot to his feet. Della’s hand flew to her hip then she remembered her gun was still locked in the car.

"Fuck," she muttered under her breath.

"What the—" Nathan started.

Della moved to the door, fiddling with the knob. "It’s locked."

Nathan moved to the door. "Allow me..." he swiped his keycard but the door refused to open. A sickening familiar feeling of deja vu washed over him.

Just as he considered his options, a voice came through an intercom.

Nathan’s jaw tightened as he listened to the announcement.

[Attention all guests of the Veridian Crown, there has been a situation. Please remain calm and evacuate the hotel immediately]

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