Disclaimer: (Deep breath) IownnothingIrecievenomonetarygainIcanonlyclaimtheplotandoriginalcharactersblahblahblah (exhale.) There. I think that covers it. Happy reading.

Chapter 3

"You better have all that code written and copied before sunrise, Penny. I expect that program to bep and running before John comes in to open, or else! And those hacks had better be done, too," Shane Wyeth barked from the door. He slammed it so hard the slightly loose panes rattled against the wood.

Penny Garcia stuck her tongue out at the retreating figure, then got up from her chair and checked the door. It was securely locked, as was the way it was supposed to be during the gaming center's closing hours. Penny leaned against the heavy oak and absently traced the designs on the door's glass. She watched as Shane's car drove by, sticking her tongue out at him again, knowing that while she could see the outside clearly, all Shane could see was the beveled designs, thanks to the tinted glass. The threats he made to her on a daily basis no longer frightened her like they used to. She knew he'd never turn her in, that he loved her in his own weird way, and because his illegal online activities rivaled hers, plus she was one of the most talented hackers he'd ever known.

Shane's car disappeared around the corner and Penny sighed and walked back to her workstation. She eyed the list of tasks he made for her and sighed again. She knew she'd be finished well before sunrise if she worked her best. She often underplayed her skills and pretended ignorance around her fellow hackers. She learned long ago from a very wise man that listening is a lost art and one learns many things just by being quiet and observing; things people usually didn't hear over the sound of their own voice.

Her heart cramped when she thought of the man who raised her. Her father. The pain of his death no longer felt like an ice pick straight to her heart. Now it was more like the involuntary jerk from a muscle spasm. It would hit her suddenly but after a minute of gut-wrenching pain she would try and think of a happy memory until the pain ebbed away.

Penny wiped her eyes before grabbing her purse, letting herself out and locking the door behind her. She walked briskly towards the 24/7 convenience store a couple blocks away. As she walked by, she looked into the alley to see if the homeless man who stayed there had come back. He hadn't been there when she usually stopped by and he still wasn't there. She really hoped he wasn't sick or hurt or something.

The streets were silent and only the sounds of a few alley cats disturbed the peace. This part of the village was bustling during the day but was dead at night. The store was the only thing open past 10pm. Penny waved at the familiar clerk as she entered. She poured her coffee and added her favorite flavored creamers before eyeing the bakery case. She plucked two donuts out and put them in a baggie.

"Working again tonight?" the clerk asked as he rang up her items.

"Yeah. The dictators insist we're on a deadline." She rolled her eyes and passed him the money.

The clerk chuckled. "Don't work too hard, hun."

Penny winked back. "Oh, don't you worry, sweet cheeks. I won't." She grinned when the clerk blushed and waved bashfully as she left the store.

The walk back from the store was even quieter than the trip to it. Even the cats and other nocturnal creatures of the night were silent. An involuntary shiver spasmed through her and she looked around for the potential source of her anxiety while walking faster to the gaming center.

She breathed a sigh of relief when she finally reached the door, the key already in her hand. She turned the key in the lock and pushed the door open, then tensed when a shadow fell over her. Before she could so much as gasp, she felt a large hand clamp over her mouth! She brought her hands up to fight back but then she felt something sharp stab the side of her neck. She tried to scream, tried to bite the hand over her mouth, tried to squirm away, but whoever grabbed her forced her inside the gaming center and closed the door shut behind them. Within seconds, Penny felt a sense of lethargy go over her body and she could no longer struggle and fight and scream. The assailant took his hand from her mouth, then laid her gently on the floor. She felt oddly detached from everything as she fought to keep her eyes open.

She watched the attacker's eyes through the dark ski mask that covered his entire face. "No, don't," she moaned when she felt her assailant pull her purse down her arm. He rummaged around in it, pulled her phone out, then dropped it on the floor. He slammed his foot down, shattering the screen, before grinding it down with his shoe and crushing it into a million pieces. He said this would happen. He would find her and do whatever he pleased to her. One of her biggest fears was really happening. She thought she was finally safe. Although Shane threatened her all the time, she always believed he would protect her. And she had been so careful. Hiding her tracks, keeping her circle close with a few people around. She didn't know how he managed to find her. She hoped and prayed with everything she had that he hadn't gotten her brother, too, like he had always threatened to do. Spencer wasn't her brother in the true sense of the word but they were close in age, liked many of the same things, and grew up together as siblings under the home of Jason Gideon. She had only loved two people her entire life had been cruelly taken from her and she was forced to hide from the other for both of their safeties.

Her attacker dropped the purse down next to her before leaning down and brushing her hair from her eyes. He caressed her cheek before getting back up and picking up the key she dropped by the doorway.

The last thing she saw before the drugs rendered her unconscious was her attacker closing and locking the door behind him.

A/N: Shouting out a "HAPPY 40th BIRTHDAY!" to my other half, my love, my partner in crime, and fellow geek, The Husband. I luuurve you!

A/N2: Thank you for your patience, my lovely readers. Summer is always a very busy time for me and updates will be slow, at least until August. My next appointment is the 20th and that's when get the date for jaw surgery.

XOXO,

Pita(The Wife)Cake