The Net: "The Need For Blood": Chapter 5

Every single gun was aimed at him. One of the policemen put his weapon away and handcuffed Jacob's hands behind his back. The others left the room and ran down the stairs Angela had taken with Mariano. Jacob was pushed out to a police cruiser and put in the back seat. The cop stood guard outside. A few minutes later Jacob watched as Angela and Mariano were led out in handcuffs along with a few of Mariano's men. Angela stopped by the police car that held Jacob.

"Can I talk to him for a second, please?" she begged the cop. He looked at Jacob with his sad face and opened the door. "Hey, don't worry," she said. "Everything's going to be fine. I'll get us both out of this fix and then we'll be free of this whole mess forever. OK?"

"So, you mean you really are A.B. and not L.M.?"

"Yes, Jacob, I really am Angela."

Jacob smiled quickly at her, before she was lead away to another police cruiser. They were all put into prison, each, at opposite ends of the building. For three days, Angela said nothing to anyone. She couldn't stop thinking about Jacob, and how he must be starving. But was he OK, other than that? Was he being treated OK? She had no way of knowing. No way at all. Nor did she have any idea how to get them all out of there.

"Ms. Bennett, there's someone here to see you," a guard said, unlocking the cell door.

"Jacob?" she asked, hopefully expectant.

"No. It's a Mr. Walter Cizelski."

"Who?"

"A lawyer or something. You're very inquisitive today, aren't you?"

Angela was quiet again on the walk to the interrogation room. Walter was there, in a plain brown suit sitting at the table.

"Are you my lawyer?" she asked. "Because of you are, there's another guy here who needs your help as well."

"No, Angela, I'm not your lawyer. Because you don't need one. Look, I'm here to give you a job opportunity, and if you take it, well, let's just say it's your 'get out of jail free card.'"

"Tell me more."

"Well, I work for the FBI and they want me to head up a subdivision of it, known as the CIC. Center For Internet Control. I would send you out to Quantico for training and then you'd work for me, policing the internet, and stopping computer crime. What do you say to that?"

"I…..this is too good to be true!"

"I have been studying up on your case. I know what you've been through. Look, I know you might not trust me, but right now, I don't think you've got any other choice. You know they'll put you away for life if they want. I wouldn't take those chances if I were you."

"If I take this, will you let my friends go?"

"Already done. I just watched Mariano and his buddies leave before I came in here."

"And Jacob? What about him?"

"I'm afraid he's going to have to stay. He's just a kid yet. A little jail time would do him some good. Teach him what he's done."

"No! You don't understand! You have to let him go! Look, I want both of us, Jacob, and I, out of here TODAY! If you can't handle that, then forget the job."

"OK, fine. I'll see what I can do."