The Hacker

"You've been watching my house?" I asked. He raised his hands up near his chest and started backing away. I had put too much ire in my voice. It wasn't directed at him, it was directed to Natalie. She just wasn't there to receive it.

"I'm sorry, I was just trying to clean up the yard," Jared confessed, "I see things. I tried to let it go and probably should have." His face was flushed and his eyes contrite. "Retired old man, with too much time on his hands. Maybe I should get some cats." He continued backing away. It looked like he wished he could run away.

"No," I said more calmly, "you were right." I added a fake smile since I couldn't find a real one. "I don't like hearing it, but it's something I should know. Thank you." He forced a smile and waved as he made a quick exit. It had embarrassed him greatly. I still had my arms crossed. I dropped them self consciously and struggled to lift the garage door.

"Who is the boy?" I asked Natalie. She was pulling chicken out of the oven.

"What boy?"

"The boy," I said sternly. I put my hands on my hips and stood like a statue. Natalie glanced up and almost dropped the cooking tray. After yesterday, I didn't like interrogating her. Raising a teenager was like that. Bonding one day; at each other's throat the next. She put the tray on top of the stove. Her expression went to defiance, then changed quickly to innocence.

"Dan Sampson; he's a senior," Natalie said with a semblance of pride. My instincts got the better of me.

"Are you sleeping with him?" I hated myself when it came out of my mouth. I should have asked it like a friend. It sounded more like an accusation.

"Mom!" Natalie almost shouted. I stood there, my glare on full. I still wanted to know the answer. Fear of the answer, fear of a barrier between my daughter and fear of my own failure as a mother was running through my mind. "No," she answered quietly. I saw her cheeks blush. But she wanted to. I sighed and let my shoulders relax.

"You like him a lot," I stated calmly.

"Yes."

"Invite him for dinner this weekend, I want to meet him." I tried to sound non-judgmental. Natalie was growing up, and I either met these boys or she would date them behind my back. The latter seemed terribly awful. She caught me by surprise by diving into my arms.

"I'm sorry I didn't tell you," Natalie said as she hugged me. She was so young, yet so old. She was trying desperately to not need me. I was trying desperately to hold her back. I hated high school, as much now as I did during my own trip through. I separated from her and pulled some plates out of the cupboard.

"Tell me about him," I said as I began to set the table. Dan Sampson had a wonderful publicist in Natalie. Her face glowed as she sang his praises. Every attribute a young girl desired was embodied in the Greek god that was Dan Sampson. Tall, slim, rich, had his own car, dances well and every other girl at school was green with envy. I had to smile. It was the same look she had at Christmas ten years ago. Tom had bought her a golden retriever puppy. Somehow, he had kept the dog quiet through the night and surprised Natalie in the morning. Scruffy, the dog, and Tom were both gone now. I really needed Tom back now. Someone to counter the new Scruffy.

"I don't like you and Dan being in the house alone," I said, after listening intently.

"Would you rather we went somewhere else?" Natalie asked. She was smart. Got that from Tom. She knew I imagined, in my mind, some cheap hotel room or the back of his car. I couldn't control what she did after school. I could try, but knew it would be a losing battle. Without back up, I compromised.

"You'll text me when he comes and again when he leaves." I had on my Mom face. Natalie was smiling like she just won a gold medal. "You will let Dan know that I know he is here and I want to meet him." She was nodding in agreement. This was no compromise, it was pure parental capitulation. How can a mother fight against the first real boyfriend? Tom would have put the fear of God in the boy. "We talk before it gets serious," I added. I lost my virginity at seventeen. I didn't remember conferring with my mother about it.

"Promise," Natalie said, putting her hand gently on her heart. I think she meant it. At least she meant it when she said it. Damn hormones. A strange thought entered my head.

"How rich is his family?" I asked. It caught Natalie off guard.

"I don't like him because of his money," Natalie insisted. Of course she didn't, no woman is impressed by a man with money. I almost laughed, though it wasn't my intention to question her morals.

"Someone paid off the mortgage." I qualified my question, "I don't know who. Do you think it could have been his family?"

"I don't think his parents like me," Natalie replied."Someone paid off the mortgage?" All I heard was his parents not liking my baby. That hurt.

"What do you mean they don't like you?" I asked quickly. "Have you met them?" I added. Why did they get to meet Natalie when I hadn't met Dan? What kind of mother am I?

"I'm too young and don't hold a royal title," Natalie said sarcastically. "Dan told me not to worry about it. His mom doesn't think anyone is good enough." I didn't like Dan's mom, though she was correct, Natalie was too young.

"Don't let anyone tell you you're not good enough," I said firmly. Natalie smiled. I panicked. "That doesn't mean you should... I mean that's not permission to..."

"I know what you meant," Natalie grinned. "I promise, we'll talk if it gets serious." She was getting way too old. I was getting senile. "Someone paid off the mortgage?"

"All if it," I answered, "I don't know who or why."

"That's good, isn't it?"

"Yeah, but it's a lot of money. I don't really know anyone with that kind of money." I shrugged my shoulders. "I don't even know who to thank, or if it's some kind of joke or scam."

==========

Natalie was true to her word. I received a set of texts every other day or so. Dan is here. Dan just left. I was hoping Dan, at least, thought I was hovering close by.

I met Dan on Saturday. He was an awkward boy to my mature eyes; Apollo to Natalie's. Polite in my presence and didn't seem to hover over my daughter too much. Not a bad looking boy, but still a boy. Thank God. Overall, I was uncomfortably satisfied. It was the best I could do. She was still my baby.

It was Thursday when more revelations appeared. My no-longer-feared mailbox coughed up two checks in non-red-inked envelopes. It was two medical companies returning my last partial payments. The computer-generated invoice claimed I had overpaid; my unpaid balance was reduced to zero. I knew I should feel joy. Fear filled me instead.

I dialed into MasterCard's computer system and requested my balance. I wasn't surprised to find out I was flush with an overpayment. I did some quick math in my head. Over a quarter of a million dollars of new gifts. I was shaking when Natalie came in the room.

"Everything is paid off?" Natalie asked, after I told her why I was scared.

"I think so," I replied, still in shock.

"Who is doing this?" Natalie asked. I shook my head. This felt worse than when we found the back door broken in. I should be jumping for joy; instead I felt like I was losing control. It was someone who knew everything about me, about us. I was being 'un-raped' against my will. It was an anti-crime.

I spent the next hour combing the house. I was looking for hidden cameras that didn't exist. I think Natalie thought I was losing it. I knew I was. I couldn't even go to the grocery store without thinking someone might be following me. Whoever it was had replaced my debt with fear.

==========

"Everything?" Betty asked.

"All of it, and it's getting really scary."

"And no one has come forward?" Betty continued being Ms. Obvious. I shook my head. "Linda, you need to just let it happen. There doesn't seem to be any downside."

"There's always a cost," I responded. I didn't know what it was, but nobody does something like this without a purpose. My phone rang.

"Mrs. Linda Henderson?" a female caller asked.

"Yes."

"I'm Detective Mary Adams with the Maryville police department." I cringed at her words. Horrible visions entered my mind. "First off, everyone is okay. There was an incident in your home involving your daughter. She's okay as I said, but it would be best if you came home."

"What happened?" I asked, my hands shaking again.

"We are still trying to piece that together. A fight occurred between a young man and your neighbor," the detective was speaking calmly, as if I was a victim. "Your daughter is pretty upset."

"She's okay though?" I asked. I felt my eyes water.

"Physically she is fine."

"It will take me twenty minutes to get home, I'm leaving now."

"Drive safely, I'll be here when you arrive." The detective had dealt with distraught parents before. I ignored the speed limit signs.

==========

Natalie was red-eyed when I saw her on the couch. Tears began anew when she saw me. My tears followed. My baby was hurting. A petite woman, gun holstered at her side, rose from the couch and stepped away as I pulled Natalie into my arms. We cried and I didn't even know why.

"What happened?" I asked, trying to straighten Natalie's hair. She had trouble speaking, the sobs were interfering. She collapsed back into my arms, so I held her some more. She calmed after a while.

"Dan and I were talking and..." Natalie obviously left out part. "I told him I wasn't ready." She started crying again. I hated Dan. I hated his whole family. I held my daughter. "He said he was tired of waiting. I thought he was going to break up with me." The tears began flowing heavy again. God, I hated Dan. "Then he grabbed me. It hurt and I screamed." Natalie couldn't continue.

"From what I understand," the detective interjected, "your neighbor, Mr. Thompson, heard the scream, entered the house and separated the two. A fight between Mr. Thompson and Mr. Sampson occurred. Mr. Sampson had to be taken to the hospital." I had a sudden deep appreciation for my nosy neighbor.

"I thought he was going to kill Dan," Natalie cried, "I had to pull him off when Dan stopped moving." Natalie was shaking more than I. If I was home, Dan would have been dead. I knew where the kitchen knives were. I pulled Natalie closer.

"It's okay now," I lied as any mother would. I was about to add 'I'm here now,' but it would have fallen falsely out of my mouth. I wasn't here when it happened. I should have never let her have him in the house alone.

"Where is Jared now?" I asked the detective.

"He refused medical care and went home," she responded.

"He was hurt?"

"Nothing serious," the detective insisted, "a black eye mostly." I would have to thank him. He saved my baby. I felt weak not being here for her. At least I had a neighbor who was strong. Right now, Natalie needed me.

==========

I waited at Jared's door. It was a little past seven, but I didn't expect I was getting him out of bed. Natalie had finally calmed down which, in turn, calmed me. I wasn't sure what to say to my baby's savior. Something had to be said. 'Thank you' just didn't seem enough. When the door opened, I was at a loss for words.

Jared was barefoot, in jeans and white t-shirt. His left eye was swollen; the surrounding skin was a vivid red. His eye wasn't black now, but it would be in the morning. There was a dried trickle of blood that ran down from his left ear. It led to a small brown stain on the shoulder of his t-shirt. I couldn't help myself. I hugged him.

Jared was shocked at first, his back stiffening. Slowly, he gave in and his arms wrapped around me. I felt safe. For some reason, I cried again. He pulled my head to his shoulder and held me in the doorway. He let me cry.

I pulled away, not because it wasn't comfortable, but because I had overstayed. He had saved my daughter; he didn't need to save her mother. I wiped my tears with the back of my hand.

"Did you eat?' I asked, bypassing all the hellos and thank yous I thought the hug covered well.

"No, I hadn't gotten that far," Jared returned. I held out my hand.

"We're ordering pizza," I said, "we won't be able to sleep so it's going to be a movie night." Jared looked at me with questioning eyes. I liked how his eyes, even the swollen one, looked at me. I had seen eyes like those before, somewhere. I trusted those eyes. He reached over to the foyer table and snatched a set of keys. He took my hand, and I led my barefoot hero to my house.

It felt good to have a man in the house. Everything seemed more balanced, the way it should be. Jared was hesitant at first, looking like he was intruding. Natalie quashed that by doting over him. Everything had crashed down on her when Dan became aggressive. Jared put everything back in its place by protecting her. Jared relaxed and seemed to enjoy himself. All of us barefoot, sharing a couch, watching chick flicks with a large pepperoni pizza. It looked like it had been a long time since Jared had relaxed with friends. Maybe we all needed each other.

We were deep into 'Sweet Home Alabama,' one of my favorite cheesy movies, when my hand found his. It was an accident. I had leaned forward to put my drink on the table. When I had settled back, our hands occupied the same space between us. I left my hand there, on top of his, longer than I normally would. I began to reluctantly pull it back when I felt his fingers open and comb into mine. I did not fight the soft embrace; I encouraged it by settling my hand deeper into his. It was the first hand I had held since Tom had passed away. I had needed human touch more than I realized.

Jared looked over to me, his face held concern, an almost forlorn look of a boy who had taken things too far. I didn't want to lose his hand. I smiled. He relaxed and returned my smile. He confidently squeezed my hand and settled comfortably into the couch. My smile was all the permission he needed. His return smile burned deeper than he would ever know. I had been without someone too long.

"I am so thankful you were here for Natalie today," I said when Natalie excused herself to use the bathroom. Our hands were still entwined in each other's warmth.

"I didn't like the look of that boy," Jared admitted, "something about him seemed off." He gave me his embarrassed look again. "I kind of worked on your side of my house when he was around." He was nosy and protective.

"You knew something like this would happen," I said. I pulled his hand onto my lap and wrapped it with my other hand. I wanted to keep it. "I wish I would have listened when you warned me."

"Boys will be boys," Jared said, shrugging his shoulders, "that kid just looked over-confident, cocky, like he wouldn't accept the word no." I don't know what overcame me. The way he talked, the way he had protected my baby, his logic analyzing a situation I had screwed up. His reluctant strength overwhelmed me. My aggression was completely out of character. I leaned into his lips and kissed him, praying I didn't seem as desperate as I felt. His lips went from confusion to desire in a heartbeat. His hand broke from mine, ran up my arm to cradle my neck. I leaned into it as my passion surprised me. He wanted me. The doorbell rang.

I broke the embrace and let out the breath I was holding. Jared was smiling, his eyes, the swollen one included, lost in mine. The doorbell chimed again. "You better get that," he said softly, running his hand down my arm. I stood reluctantly, not wanting life to interfere.

"I better get that," I repeated him, and nearly ran into the table on my way to the door. I blushed when I saw Natalie silently smiling in the hall. God, she saw that. What she must think of me. I just danced on her father's grave. A tidal wave of guilt washed through me. I had just kissed someone who wasn't Tom. Detective Adams was at the door. I looked at the clock, it was half past ten.

"I'm sorry to intrude," the detective said, "your lights were on, and I'm trying to locate Mr. Thompson." Flustered, I opened the door wider.

"He's here," I said, welcoming her in with a wave of my hand. The detective entered reluctantly. I could see she really didn't want to be here.

"I'm sorry, Mr. Thompson," the detective said, holding up a piece of paper, "I have a warrant for your arrest."

"What?" I asked louder than I intended. Natalie came out of the hall and moved quickly to the couch. I don't know what she was intending, but tackling Detective Adams may have been part of it.

"Mr. and Mrs. Sampson are friends with the district attorney." The detective sounded apologetic. She wasn't enjoying this. "Their son is still unconscious; they are upset. They don't agree with your daughter's version of events. I have to take you in on assault and battery charges." I was speechless.

"They think I lied?" Natalie asked, her eyes fuming. "That bastard tried too..." Jared stood, still smiling from the kiss. He patted Natalie's shoulder to slow the start of her tirade.

"It was not unexpected," Jared said calmly, "do I have time to make a call?"

"Of course," Detective Adams answered. Her posture relaxed at Jared's easy compliance. "I came myself to try and make this easier." Jared pulled out his phone.

"This can't be happening," I said, and closed the door loudly, "is this because they have money?"

"I'm sorry," Detective Adams repeated, "I don't make the rules. I just enforce them."

"But it isn't right," Natalie added. I moved to my daughter.

"Will our statements stop this?" I asked.

"They won't tonight," the detective replied, "I am sure it will get straightened out in time."

"Frank, it's Jared, sorry to wake you," Jared began his phone conversation. "I have a Detective Adams here with a warrant." He paused for a moment. "Assault and battery." Another pause. "Ten in the morning would be fine." Pause. "Okay, I'll leave it to you." He put his phone back in his pocket and smiled to the detective.

"If you wait a few minutes," Jared said calmly, "I think we can avoid the arrest part." His confidence was unwavering.

"I have a few minutes," the detective smiled. My confusion must have shown on my face.

"I have good lawyers," Jared said to me, then looked back to the detective, "I thank you for not sending a uniform. I wasn't really anxious for the flashing lights and handcuffs."

"You expected this?" I asked.

"My lawyers did," Jared responded, "of course, they thought it would be tomorrow. The Sampsons moved quickly." That was the second time he used the plural for lawyer. Who has multiple lawyers? I had thrown myself at someone I knew nothing about.

A few minutes later Detective Adams's phone rang. She picked it up, listened and smiled. She put the phone back in its belt holder. "Well, Mr. Thompson, you do have very good lawyers." There was pleasure in her voice. "You have a ten AM appointment tomorrow at the municipal building, room 316. The warrant has been rescinded."

"I appreciate your tolerance, Detective," Jared said with a smile. I think Detective Adams was blushing. I didn't like how she was looking at him. She was wearing a damn wedding ring. I looked down at my own hand. I had never removed mine. More guilt.

I showed the detective to the door and said good night. Jared followed behind her. I didn't want him to leave, but I knew he shouldn't stay.

"Good night, Natalie," Jared called as he neared the door.

"Good night," Natalie smiled. Jared looked at me. For a second, I thought he would kiss me good night in front of Natalie.

"Slower next time?" Jared whispered. He smiled softly when I nodded. He leaned closer to me and whispered again, "It was a really nice kiss." I felt my face flush and could only give him another smiling nod. I didn't dare open my mouth. Something uncontrollable would have come out. I let him leave with only an awkward wave. I was a guilty idiot who wanted more.