The Spy Devils by Joe Goldberg (top rated books of all time .TXT) 📕

immediately grabbed Spiros by the back of his bare neck, pulled the naked man halfway out of bed with one arm, made a fist, and cocked his arm, ready to punch him.

“Should we make Spiros less pretty? That would be a shame.”

“No, don’t,” Theo screamed.

“Then you need to pick between Spiros or Bondar. Now! Five. Four. Three—"

Sweat rolled down Theo’s pudgy face, making wet spots on his pajamas.

“Spiros! Yes, Spiros. Stop!” Theo shouted.

“Son of a bitch!” Demon growled with a mix of frustration and disappointment. He dropped Spiros on the bed like a rock.

“Good choice. You don’t want to upset him,” Bridger said, looking from Theo to Spiros to Demon. “Let’s go.”

Theo got out of bed one leg at a time, adjusted his floral pajamas, glided his feet into slippers, and walked out of the room into the dark. Bridger followed.

“Get up!” Demon commanded. Spiros stood immediately. Naked. “Ah, Jesus. Cover up, will you? I don’t want to see that. No one should.” Spiros put on a silk thigh-length robe—decorated with multi-colored seashells—and tied it around his waist. Demon grabbed Spiros by the ear and twisted it like a parent scolding an unruly child. “Move it, or I will snap you.”

The banker lived in a two-story villa in the Souni district of Limassol. In the dark, the moonlight detailed an interior of modern European designs and furnishings. They walked single file on the cold wood floors down the stairs and into a large living room. Theo’s slippers flapped on the hardwood floor, sending thwap sounds echoing off the walls.

“This is a nice place. You are doing well, Theo.”

Bridger and Theo walked to a cherry wood desk supported by thin aluminum tube legs. On the desk was a computer. Picture windows ran across one entire wall, providing a night view of the mountains and the sea. Around a glass table in the center of the room were a couch and two lounge chairs. Modern paintings of random circles and broad dark lines hung on the walls.

Demon tugged Spiros’ now purple ear and pointed him to the couch. Spiros understood the command and obeyed immediately.

“Let’s get this done,” Bridger said.

He was standing over Theo, who sat at his computer now. From the glowing screen, he could see Theo’s pink fleshy hands were shaking over the keyboard.

“Please wait, I have to—”

Without warning, Bridger touched the Devil Stick on the silk between Theo’s shoulder blades. The shock forced the banker to squeal like a castrated pig. When he tried to stand, Bridger put his palm on the top of Theo’s head and guided him back to the chair.

“Sorry about that. I really am. But come on, that was nothing—the lowest setting. A mosquito bite is more painful. I can make it much worse.” He paused for effect. “Now, take a deep breath and get started.” He leaned down and whispered in Theo’s ear. “If not, I will have my friend beat Spiro’s gorgeous face as raw as tartare—in about ten seconds.”

Theo instantly started clicking the mouse.

“I am in the system. All the files are here. Not everything, but most are all right here,” he panted after a few seconds, as he pointed to the glowing screen.

Bridger handed a USB stick to Theo. “Copy all of them and write down your passwords and access information. Open a document. I want to see it.” Bridger took a picture of the screen with his phone. “Go on, finish.”

Bone tired, Bridger turned and looked out the window. The slightest sliver of light was visible on the far horizon. Then he turned, checked out Theo’s progress, walked to the couch, and sat down next to Spiros. Demon rotated his position and stood by the banker, who was still tapping furiously on the keyboard.

Bridger crossed his legs, put the Stick across his lap, and put his arm on the back of the couch, resting it behind Spiros’ head. Bridger tapped the frightened man on the knee. With a squeal, he jerked away with Bridger’s touch. Theo’s head twisted in the direction of the noise. The pace of the clicking increased.

“Spiros. What I know about computers and software you could fit inside a golf ball. Hacking into this system would have taken way too much time. But I do know about people. Do you like computers?”

Confused, Spiros mumbled in a tenor voice, “Yes, I do.”

“People are a weak link, Spiros. People don’t have security software or applications, and if they are weak, you can’t upload a software patch. You can’t fix people.” Bridger stood and walked back to Theo and put his hand on his shoulder. The banker flinched. “So, Theo is the malware in the system they not only can’t fix, they don’t even see.”

“Let’s delete them when we are done,” Demon said.

Theo stopped typing and looked over his shoulder at Bridger.

“No. I said we would not harm you.” Bridger pointed a finger at Demon that read, shut your mouth. “Theo, do you have anything to eat? I am starving.” Bridger asked.

“What? No.”

“Beast is here,” Demon said, his hand at his ear.

The front door opened, and Beast walked in, no longer dressed as a Cypriot police officer, but with his face covered in a mask and glasses like his fellow Spy Devils.

“How’s our baby?” Bridger asked.

“Wet and babbling like a baby in the basement of the police station,” Beast said. “You guys really messed him up.”

“He deserved it.”

“Anything to eat here? I’m starving.” Beast looked around the room, then moved toward what he figured was a kitchen.

“If you find anything, bring me some,” Bridger said.

“I am done.” Theo let out a sigh as he sat back in his chair. He looked from Bridger to Spiros.

“Excellent.” Bridger took the USB drive from Theo and handed him another. “We are almost done. Who is Pavlo?”

“How do you know of Pavlo? I mean, I—” It was too late, he’d already messed up, and he knew it. Bridger knew it too. He looked at Theo with a smile.

“Now, Theo. Please,” Bridger started to point