ASHER'S INFORMATIONS

Trying to pretend like I'm not mortified, I say, “I’ll admit, I’m a little curious what you’ve been up to on here.”

He grins. "Come hang out," then heads for his laptop.

Dragging a second chair up beside him, I hesitate, unsure of what he’s invited me to do exactly. I look down at him and he looks back at me and a glint in his eye glimmers like Venus in the evening blue sky.

“You want to see it?”

I grin.You bet I do. Whatever it is. “Sure.”

My gaze lingers on his face a moment longer before turning back to the computer screen, on which a satellite image of a forest appears. “This,” he says with a hint of pride, “is the Ethan’s Pack’s home.”

What the fuck?

I lean closer and realize it’s not a picture, it’s a video feed. Tiny figures like black dots traverse roadways that cut through the woods. They pass between structures tucked in amongst the trees. “Whoa, is that—”

“Live? Mhm. Just hacked a few satellite systems to gain access to their feeds.”

I cut my eyes to his again, appreciating