There was nothing.
Matt had been searching all night, Facebook, blogging platforms, searching his name in general databases and when he got truly desperate, venturing onto the deep web trying to uncover something, anything on his landlord. It was like Mello Keehl didn't exist. Matt would be lying if he said he wasn't at least a little impressed. It's difficult to stay completely off the grid especially in a city and yet this man had done it.
But that alone made Matt's stomach turn slightly. There was no point in making sure you were untraceable unless you were at risk of being caught for something, or in Matt's case, you enjoyed the challenge of erasing yourself from the governments knowledge. Letting out a frustrated sigh Matt leaned back in his chair, pulling his goggles up to his forehead so he could rub at his aching eyes. Readjusting himself in the cushy leather seat he leaned forwards looking over the data reports from the newest search, charts and graphs piling into tabs upon tabs of work. Putting another cigarette in his mouth Matt reached for his mouse only for his monitor to go dead. The constant whirl of machines died down to an uncomfortable silence and the soft glow of the lava lamp in the corner cut out letting only the illumination of the streetlights outside cast harsh shadows on the bare walls.
Matt groaned in exasperation, putting the waiting cigarette into an overflowing ashtray, he walked out of the flat and down the concrete hallway. A large metal door was at the end of the corridor with a small square hole cut in it and replaced with glass. Matt thumped on the glass, tapping his foot in annoyance. This wasn't the first time this had happened, in fact it happened rather often, whenever Mello had decided he had had enough of Matt's shit, he would flip the trip switch and he would lose all power until he could get his hands on the surly blonde and shout until it was turned back on with a grumble.
Nothing.
Matt could hear muffled voices on the other side of the door, a tinge of panic radiating through the heavy metal, not that Matt especially cared about their panic. He had bought a bunch of stock from a tip off and needed to get back online as quickly as possible so he could sell it off before the company tanked.
"Keehl open up!" Matt's fist thumped against the door again. All the voices went quiet and the deadbolt holding the door shut slid open. Mello pulled the door open, the usual look of contempt was already plastered on his face at Matt's presence. "I paid my bills. Turn the electric back on."
"Manners cost nothing Jeevas," Mello said, arms folded tightly across his chest. In his opinion Matt had a very punchable face, one that he could happily sink his knuckles into over and over until Matt's teeth littered the ground. "Besides this isn't me. The whole building's down."
"What?!"
"And unless you're an electrician you can fuck off." Mello said as he closed the door. "I've got no time for lay about low lives."
Matt's hands balled into tight fists at his sides, teeth grinding together to hold in the sudden wave of anger. A lay about low life, that's what he had been called. It was true to some extent and Matt was more than happy to indulge his lazy streak every now and then, but typing frantically for six, seven, eight hours until your fingers were cramped and the tips were burning against the slightest pressure applied wasn't a feeling a lazy person experienced. Too be called lazy by someone who knew nothing about him, Matt couldn't stand it. The anger broke through as his fist pounded on the door.
"Oi Keehl! Fuck you you self-absorbed prick." Matt yelled through the door. No response came back, leaving Matt to seethe alone. Gathering what remained of his dignity he returned to his apartment, envisioning torture methods ones which would make Mello beg for forgiveness, sticking toothpicks under his toenails and making him kick a wall seemed like such an excellent idea until he thought about it himself, his own toes curling inwards at the imaginary assault.
The room was still dark, the silence was overwhelming. It made Matt's skin prickle uncomfortably and a hard knot form in his stomach which swirled in an almost nauseating sloshing motion. The money which he was about to land his hands on, the money which would be able to support him for the next four years without worry, was slipping through his fingers.
Just because that damn Keehl wanted to play games with him.
Matt took a breath to calm himself. He would get his money back and since Keehl was kind enough to let his investment go belly up it only seemed logical that he would reimburse Matt of that cash.
Yes, that seemed fair indeed.