One Month Later

Chicago, Illinois

"Yes, well, we'll call you if we think you're best for the job." The receptionist replied after reading Richard's resume. They would definitely not be hiring someone guilty of arson to work with their computers. "Have a nice day!"

"Right, you too." Richard sighed and left the building. He had been jobless for a little over a month now. No one wants to hire a man who's seen the inside of a jail cell. Richard mentally kicked himself. Ugh! You should've just stayed in Odyssey! But no! You had to go to Chicago.

Richard walked down the street in despair. He was so desperate for a job. With no money in his pockets and no place to stay Richard suddenly gave up. Leaning against the wall of a building Richard sank to the ground and buried his face in his palms.

Richard thought back to when his life first started going downhill. Ah yes, it was seven years ago. The day his adopted father, Alan, left him and his adopted mother, Rachel. That's the day Richard's heart split in two. How could his father do this to him and his mother? Who could be so cruel? Why? Why? Why? Why? Things at home fell apart from then on. Rachel had to get one, eventually two, jobs just to support her nine year old son and herself. Not to mention the baby that was about to enter the world. Unfortunately, the baby never came. Rachel had created so much stress on herself that she couldn't properly deliver the baby. After she found out the baby had died, Rachel Maxwell went into a stage of depression. She was kept at the hospital for months.

Where was Richard in all of this? He was forgotten at home and left to fend for himself.

As Richard sat there against the building, he recalled the biggest turn point in his life. The road to destruction, as he called it...

7 years ago

Chicago General Hospital

"Doctor! Doctor!" Unbeknownst to nine year old Richard, Rachel called the doctor from her death bed.

The doctor entered room #47 followed by two nurses.

"What is it Rachel?" The doctor asked,

"My...son," she gasped, "Take care of...him when I...when I'm gone..."

"Son? I thought you didn't have any children!"

"I never said I didn't." Rachel coughed, "My nine year old son Richard was adopted at infancy."

"Who is taking care of him?" A nurse asked,

"He's home alone."

"What?! You left you child home alone for months?" The Doctor exclaimed, "Kelly," he turned to the youngest nurse, "I want someone at that house asap!"

"Yes sir!" The girl rushed out of the room.

"I'm dying, as you know doctor. Please make sure Richard gets in with a good family in a good home." Rachel requested. She closed her eyes for the last time.

"The one thing they usually say is, 'tell him that I love him.'" The nurse said quietly,

"Yes," the doctor said, "Which helps me to better understand why he was left alone."

Richard sat on the doorstep of his house, wondering if his mother would come home today.

His heart beat rapidly when a police car pulled into the drive.

Richard shot up and stood, waiting for and explanation for this surprise visit.

The police man got out of the car and walked up to Richard.

"Are you Richard Maxwell?" He asked a bit too harshly,

"That depends, who wants to know?" Richard coolly replied,

"The Chicago Police Department that's who." The police snapped, "So are you or not?"

"Am I who?" Richard asked coyly,

"Richard Maxwell! Are you Richard Maxwell?!"

"Yes. I am." Richard replied, sticking his hands in his pockets.

"That's all I wanted to know. Come with me."

"Why? I didn't do anything wrong."

"It's your mother, she died in the hospital today and she wanted to make sure you were taken care of." The man stated simply as if death was nothing.

"What?!" Richard exclaimed. The blow came quickly and Richard's mind swirled. "Dead? What about the baby?"

"He died."

Richard blinked in astonishment. And the realization came. He was alone. There was nothing else for him here. He had to get away from everyone who tried to control his life! And fast!

Richard started running and he didn't stop or even look back when the police man called him.

From now on I'm in control of my life! Richard told himself, NO one controls Richard Maxwell!

"What am I going to tell the chief?" The police man thought, "That I didn't have the guts to run after the kid?" He looked around. "Nah. I'll just tell him that there was not kid and that the lady was crazy. He'll buy it, I think, since she was on her death bed. Yeah." He left with a plan and a smug expression.

Meanwhile, Richard kept running and running.

He ran into the hustle and bustle of the Chicago city life. He tried his best to dodge the people rushing to and fro. Richard had no idea where has was going but he didn't care.

Suddenly, Richard stopped running to catch his breath.

He clutched his stomach. He was so hungry because he hadn't eaten in days. There was always the option of stealing food. But no, if he was going to live on his own he had to be smart. Stealing money? No, there had to be a smarter way to get what he wanted. Forging a check? That was smart if you knew how to do it. Unfortunately, Richard didn't. One thing he did know about was computer technology. Maybe he could use that to his advantage. But he needed a computer. Richard thought hard. Hey! An ATM machine was just a big computer! He could use that to get money. And he knew how to do it too. All Richard needed was some glue and an ATM.

Richard quickly got what he wanted. Money. Enough money last him awhile!

What Richard didn't know was that a mysterious man had been following him and watching his still with computers and scams.

Yes, he thought, this boy is exactly who I need.

With pockets full and no evidence against him, Richard finally started to feel light hearted again. Finally! Thing we're going his way! Until he was suddenly grabbed from behind and brought down a dark alley.

A large hand covered his mouth and another hand held him captive. Despite the struggling, Richard couldn't get free.

"Do stop struggling, I'm not going to harm you." A maniacal voice said from behind.

Somehow, the words didn't ease Richard's mind and he continued struggling.

Then the hand released him and he spun around to see who his captor was.

The man was tall with black colored hair and a matching colored beard. The man looked intimidating to young Richard.

"Who are you and why did you capture me?" Richard demanded.

"I didn't capture you. I'm here to make you a business offer that will make you very rich." The man stated,

"Really? I'm listening." Richard already had quite a bit of money but he liked the idea of having more.

"I saw you today when you robbed from the ATM machine and-"

"You aren't going to turn me in to the police are you? Oh please don't!" Richard cried,

"Of course not. I think you are a very intelligent young lad and I want you to come work for me."

"Yeah? What kind of work?"

"Work that involves computers, power and lots of cash. Are you interested?"

"Hmm... what's my salary?"

"It will depend on the job you do, but in the end I believe you will find it very rewarding."

"Sure, okay, I'll come with you." Richard liked the idea of a great reward and hopefully someplace to stay.

"Excellent. Now I would like some intonation about you. Name?"

"Richard Maxwell."

"Age?"

"13." Richard lied. He knew the man would believe him since he had always looked four or five years older than his actual age. It worked now but Richard wasn't looking forward the time when he was 80 or 90. Then he'd look really old.

"And where are your parents?" This would be the worst setback if his parents were alive. But he doubted it since he didn't think a kid with parents would be robbing banks.

"They're gone." Richard lowered his eyes in sorrow.

"Perfect! So you have no ties to this city?"

"No, I'm in charge of myself."

"That opens up many more opportunities for you."

"Really?" Richard looked up. "Now I've gotta know something about you."

"Anything." The man replied,

"What's your name?" Richard looked at him trying to read his face.

"Blackgaard. Dr. Regis Blackgaard."