Finding Rowan

[Sage]

Sage sighed. "Three."

Sage pulled up an image of six people in the room they sat in. "Rowan." Sage pointed at Aiden's twin sister. It made Sage smirk, both of the men he was finding more with were twins.

The next image he pointed at was a man who was not even figuring in the thing. "He's just a thug. His name is Mikhail. He won't help you find Rowan."

Sage pointed at the girl with no past. "This is Ashavari. She has a name, and a drivers liscene and nothing else." Sage turned to look at Aiden and frowned. "The only people I know who have paper trails like that are Nox and Aurora and all connected to them." Sage suspected she was Atharim.

He looked back at the screen and pointed at the other man. Sage sighed, "This man is currently Alexis Trottier." He looked at Aiden. "I'm not in the habit of telling secrets. So I'm not. But he is not who he says he is. Aiden I'd love to tell you, but I don't tell others people secrets. Unless it has a point, and in this case it doesn't have a point. He can't help you anymore than the other two."

Sage pulled up the place the other two took Rowan. "She hasn't left this building yet. That is where you will find answers. Not those people."

[Aiden Finnegan]

The hologram changed over to security footage of the very room they were currently sitting in. Rowan, two women and three men, one with a scrambled face. Peculiar. Was the technology for that widely available? The paparazzi would be gagging if Aiden was able to employ its use. They were getting worse ever since that impromptu song battle at Jaxen’s club. On the flip side of things, Aiden’s fan base had seen a resurgence. Many were calling for a reunion of Blarney Stoned, and those that weren’t often asked for more webcomics or inquired about the novel. It was a good feeling.

                “Damn. She does look like an evil queen,” Aiden said as he pointed out the raven-haired woman, “Nothing on her, babe?”

                Sage went through the list and named off every individual in attendance besides the two mystery guests. It sounded like a questionable group. One woman had no paper trail… Atharim or someone that had a past they wished to escape? And a man that was ‘currently’ so-and-so? Sounded like grifters. Definitely strays Rowan had scooped up.

                “Babe, it’s fine. I respect that. Ethical hackers are rare… I assume… One more reason to adore you,” Aiden said with a playful smirk, “If that dude ain’t our lead, then I really don’t give a shit who he is. So long as he didn’t harm my sister. Forget the grifter… Rowan is there?”

                The hologram was showing a small building, it almost looked like a tool shed it was so small. What could it possibly hold? There had to be more to it.

                “She’s the one in the closet now…” Aiden said with a chuckle, “That place is tiny. What? Is there an underground bunker built beneath it? I’m assuming you’ve got coordinates, babe? Let’s not waste time, if you do. Gareth, you coming?”

                The butler looked up from the table he was cleaning and shook his head.

                “No, Master Aiden. It wouldn’t be proper… Although… I would not object to an update from you if you are successful in your endeavor.”

                Aiden handed his Wallet over to Gareth, “Put your number in and you’ll be the first to hear about it.”

[Sage]

Sage almost laughed at the thought of being an ethical hacker. He was hardly that. There were just rules he lived by - self imposed rules but still rules. And when the board was corrupted in his head he did things against those rules. And Sage regretted them now. He wasn't going to compromise his self worth because of it.

His rules were simple and very Sage-centric. No government facilities and unprofitable sharing of secrets was not something he did often. Things like turning in Rex for child porn was one thing. But a guy's secret identity? No that was something Sage found a great deal of interest in and the man's true identity would be found, and he'd hold that information. But there was nothing to gain from telling Aiden. And Sage was grateful Aiden understood.

Sage stood up and smiled at Gareth. "We'll let you know before anyone else." It wasn't much for Sage to use Aiden's wallet to hook into the so-called butler's wallet either. Aiden was actually turning out to be a wealth of information as well as feelings and romance Sage hadn't been expecting. "We have things to do so let's go find your sister."

[[ I'm following you're lead here. ]]

[Aiden Finnegan]

“Surely,” Gareth said as he handed the Wallet back to Aiden, “Do be careful, Master Aiden, Master Sage.”

                “No promises there, Gare, but I like being alive, so I’m sure my self-preservation instinct is all we need,” Aiden winked before grasping Sage’s hand. With a quick farewell, the two of them moved out of the room, through the hall, down the stairs and back out to the limo. Cooper was waiting expectantly.

                “Where to next, boss?”

                Aiden pulled his Wallet back out and sent the location to the limo’s GPS system.

                “Just follow that, Coop. We aren’t expected in the slightest. Give me a warning when we’re within a mile of the building,” Aiden said as he and Sage slid into the backseat. Cooper hopped into the front, pulling the stretch limo away from the curb almost immediately.

                Aiden gave a jaw-cracking yawn before settling his head upon Sage’s shoulder.

                “I think I’ll just-,” he yawned again, “rest my eyes for a minute or two…”

                The day was starting to wear heavily upon Aiden Finnegan.

---

((continuing this scene in Sisters of the Moon))