Anonymous (Anonymous Trilogy Book 1) Read online

  Anonymous

  The beginning

  Sweth Water

  All rights reserved.

  This is a book of fiction. The characters and events portrayed in the book are either imagination or used fictitiously.

  No part of this book may be reproduced or utilized in any form or by any means, electronic or mechanical, including photocopying, recording, or by any information storage and retrieval system, without permission in writing from the author.

  Copyright © 2017

  To

  Family and Kiran

  Acknowledgements

  I acknowledge the following people for their help: My family, for standing beside me from the beginning to the end; Kiran, who encouraged me in the difficult times; Deepak Jaiswal and Shilpa, who supported me throughout the book.

  Content

  Prologue

  Chapter 1

  Chapter 2

  Chapter 3

  Chapter 4

  Chapter 5

  Chapter 6

  Chapter 7

  Chapter 8

  Chapter 9

  Chapter 10

  Chapter 11

  Chapter 12

  Chapter 13

  Chapter 14

  Chapter 15

  Chapter 16

  Chapter 17

  Chapter 18

  Chapter 19

  Chapter 20

  Chapter 21

  Chapter 22

  Chapter 23

  Chapter 24

  Chapter 25

  Chapter 26

  Chapter 27

  Chapter 28

  Chapter 29

  Chapter 30

  Chapter 31

  Chapter 32

  Chapter 33

  Chapter 34

  Chapter 35

  Chapter 36

  Chapter 37

  Chapter 38

  Chapter 39

  Chapter 40

  Chapter 41

  Chapter 42

  Chapter 43

  Prologue

  Gin had been in the room since morning. No-one interrogated her, but soon some police officers would come to ask her many questions. She didn’t know if she could answer all the questions or not. Hope she had, soon that would be gone.

  The door opened and a female officer came in. To her right side was a big mirror, behind where people would be seeing her and monitoring the expressions on her face. Gin leaned back and raised her hands to show she was handcuffed, and it was itching her wrists. Gin had never been in the police station, nothing happened something like that that forced her to go there. But, today, it happened in the morning.

  She was in her apartment when the cops knocked at the door. She had an apron around her neck and hands full of dust. Two female officers were also with them who showed up behind a bald man; he was terrifying and she stepped back. They searched her apartment and found nothing but one laptop and some hard disks with the latest movies and TV series. All were pirated. File sharing was easy these days.

  Not more than five minutes were given to her by the officer. For what crime she was arrested she couldn’t have said. Her lawyer, Bin, knew nothing of her arrest. The cops didn’t give her much time to call the lawyer.

  Here, sitting in the room, she wanted to tell them to call her lawyer. What type of methods they would be using she remembered from the newspapers she’d read.

  “You know why you are here?” the woman asked her. She was lean and was unmarried, Gin observed, and she had sharp features. She sat opposite to her, a table between them where she kept her mobile. “My name is Chase. I am not a very good person.” She waved her hand behind her back, “People behind that mirror know me more than anyone, even more than my mother. You also have the idea what is behind that mirror. No need of any surprise.”

  “What did I do? You people arrested me for what! I want to have my lawyer. Now.” Gin shouted. She was a little chubby and had a long nose and a round face.

  “You will have one when we are done.”

  “I am not telling you anything. You can’t arrest anyone without any proof. I want to get out of here.” Her brown eyes fixed on her as if telling who had the authority here.

  Chase’s expressions changed. “You didn’t hear what I said, I guess. You are staying here until we have our answers. Tell me when you started it.”

  “Started what?”

  “Hacking.”

  “I didn’t do any hacking. I don’t know anything about that.”

  “We found some illegal things on the hard disks that you have. Time is very less and we need to go to the depths of it. Many of you people are there behind the curtains. It is unfortunate that you tried to hit our city. Wrong city. Good people. You are going for a long time if you are not cooperating.”

  “I don’t know what you are talking about.” Gin faced to the mirror. “I will sue you all for keeping me here. I will have your names. Call my lawyer!”

  “Your hard disk. Tell me about that, and you can go home. No-one will stop you once you answered our questions.”

  “What about it? You talking about the movies?”

  “Yes.”

  “I downloaded them using a file sharing software. You don’t need to be a hacker to do that. It’s simple. Go to any search engine and that will send you to the needed sites. Simple click and download, and then you start sharing.”

  “You don’t have time to fool around here.”

  “You too.”

  “That will be taken as an offensive mark. You are running out of luck, lady. Tell me about it! We have a tech team which had been tracking the traffic from your network. You can’t just talk about the movies. We have not checked everything, but if I find even a single file which is encrypted, I will make your life a living hell.”

  Gin didn’t say anything. The hard disk that they had was not of hers. The people working with her would share the files using hard disks and flash drives. It’s better if she didn’t discuss it with her.

  “You want to have your lawyer, call him,” Chase gave her cell phone. “When he looks at the proof that we have, he will go to jail with you. I am sure he knows who you really are, and he has been helping you. A life sentence for sure. One encrypted file, that’s all what I am looking for.”

  Without wasting a second, Gin took the cell phone and dialled the number. I don’t know how many of you are working against us. I can shut your mouth, but let it go for a few more minutes. How much you really know, woman? After five rings, Bin picked the phone.

  “Bin is speaking.”

  “It’s Gin, Bin.”

  “How are you?”

  “I ... I ...”

  “You all right?”

  “I ran into some trouble.”

  “Tell me. Cops?”

  Gin cocked her head and saw Chase’s face. She was calm as if expecting it to happen. Some people were behind the mirror, how many she didn’t know. Telling the truth to Bin might not help her. This officer talked about some proof that they had. What proof? She was innocent!

  “No. I ran out of money. Can you lend me some?”

  “Oh, Gin, you scared the hell out of me. I will give you. How much?”

  “Five thousand bucks will be enough. I will try to give all of it in two months. I am due for rent too. Hard time, Bin.”

  “Yeah, I will transfer the money to your account. The same account where I sent the money earlier?”

  “Yes.”

  “You will have it by evening.”

  “Thanks, Bin.” And she hung up.

  Chase took her cell phone and smiled. “So, what happened? Afraid of something, Gin?”

  “No. I just want to have a proper conversation with
you guys if you allow me.”

  “What do you mean?”

  “Tell me what you have against me, and I may tell you what I have for you.”

  “I knew you were not innocent.”

  “I am innocent.”

  “There shouldn’t be any proof then.”

  “I know.”

  “What are you implying?”

  The door opened and Base walked into the room, his face was covered with some paint or cosmetics, and he’d a gun in his hand.

  “What the—” Chase turned back.

  “Slowly, missy, you don’t want to get hurt, trust me. Very slowly, slide your gun to me. No hurries. Simple and slow. I am not a good shooter. Don’t know where it is going to hit.”

  Chase put the gun down and slid it to the man. “Who are you?”

  “Uncuff her.”

  “So this is what you really are?” Chase uncuffed Gin and stood behind her.

  “Let’s go. I don’t know how much longer we can hold them.”

  “We have to take her with us. She knows how I look. Our operation will be compromised.”

  “She is just a cop. She can’t do anything.”

  “I want her to go with us, that’s it!” Gin muttered under her gritting teeth.

  “So, you people have picked weapons now? Shame on you!”

  “‘People’? You know who we are?” Gin asked her.

  “Yes. You are an Anon.”

  Gin laughed loudly. “You must be a fool if you believe that. So, that’s what you have been saying. Stupid woman. You really have no idea what’s at stake.”

  “Who are you people?” Chase was shocked.

  “You will know soon.”

  Chapter

  1

  The room was dark and no-one was there. People who were supposed to protect it were on the ground floor, mostly talking. They had guns, but the people having knowledge always outnumber them. They had got the access to the server room on the fifth floor. It was not the room that they could have bugged with the tech systems that they had away from the building. No, there was a need to come here and bug it.

  Alarm systems they might have.

  “Remove the wire behind the door.” 137 said.

  Two more people were with him, a boy and a girl, as smart as he was. Their faces were behind the masks. Mask which was common in the world. He gave them the device to open the gate. If it was working correctly, and there was no malfunctioning in the design, the gate would open in two minutes. If it didn’t work, guards would storm there to arrest them.

  “Will it work?” 571 muttered and saw 137’s face, no expression was there.

  “It is designed by me with the help of 1039. It should work. We tested it on my systems before coming here. Don’t worry. We will get caught together.” 137 laughed.

  571 shook her head. “I will kill you before I get there in the room where they ask stupid questions whose answers they already know. Don’t try to provoke me. Everybody knows 571 doesn’t have any patience. Take this,” she handed him the gloves. “Take the thumbprint from 71 and press harder, no mistake here. I am counting on you.”

  “Yes,” he wore the gloves and opened the box that 71 had. Carefully, he took the fingerprint and pressed harder on the screen. 571 cut the wire and attached to the device, numbers on the screen trying to guess the password without putting anything.

  Genius people they were.

  “How much time?” 571 asked.

  “Two minutes.” 137 said.

  “How far is the police station from here?”

  “You mean if they come here when the alarm goes off?”

  “Yes. Those fools shouldn’t know the truth. Remember that.”

  “Ten minutes.”

  “What to do if we are apprehended?”

  “It won’t come to that. I have it covered. Every corner of this place is in my head. Practised it tens of times before sneaked into here.”

  “Like you did the last time?”

  “Mistakes happen.”

  “Not by us. We are not them.”

  “I know.”

  571 looked at the number when it stopped changing. “One, zero, four, seven, two, nine. Did you get that?”

  “Crystal clear.”

  “What you think?”

  “It might have been bugged a few weeks back.”

  “So it was known?”

  “We would not be here if it were not true.”

  “That is not a mistake then. We are on the track. Let’s begin.”

  The gate opened and they went inside.

  Outside the building, the guards stood in a wintery night. This night was the coldest night of the year so far, if not for the people who worked in cosy rooms then for the people who worked outside. Fifteen of them were standing, eyes moving from left to right.

  “You want something to eat?” Eight asked Roach.

  Roach drummed his bald head and shook his head. “No. Had heavy dinner. It’s not been more than three hours. You hungry?”

  “No, I am tired. Did two shifts back to back yesterday. Thinking of stretching my legs and have some donuts.” Eight sighed.

  “How was your vacation last year?”

  “We enjoyed. Money means nothing if you don’t spend time with your family. My both daughters were happy, and wife too. We slept in the desert. It was not as warm as people assumed. You planning to go?” Eight scratched his arm with his fingers, he’d been having itching problem since he came back from the vacation. Few doctors he had appointments with, but they said nothing serious.

  “Yes, maybe next week. I have told the supervisor about it. It has been a year when I was on a vacation. These days we all are working hard to get extra money. Whenever the security level is high, we get paid more than usual. Not to be proud of, but can’t think anything else but money.” Roach smiled heartily.

  “Money and money, baby.” His laughter was a roar.

  “If you are going to get something, bring some donuts for me too.” Roach smiled.

  Eight nodded and turned back.

  Roach bowed his head, and then they heard the alarm.

  It was a deep roar that killed the tranquillity. Red lights were flashing on the fifth floor. It was a big building. Some of Roach’s colleagues said that there were some underground levels too. He didn’t care much. He was getting paid to protect it, that’s it.

  Roach stormed into the building, his gun in his hand.

  Eight turned and ran behind Roach. “Lock down the building. No-one goes out. Five men with me. Shut down the lifts. Call the local PD.”

  Roach ran along the hall where the stairs were. He had no idea what secrets this building had. Like a soldier he was, would protect it until he died. He reached the first floor.

  Lights were turned on by the guards in the monitoring room on the ground floor. He saw no-one and didn’t expect too. The alarm went off on the fifth floor. No need was there to search the first floor. Even if they missed to search the first floor, nobody could leave the building as it was locked down.

  His breath heavy in his chest, he took two steps at a time and was on the third floor. He didn’t look back for any support. Few steps more and then he would have someone who had a death wish. He had encountered these situations many times in his life. Every year he shot someone who was ready to run. Every time before doing it he wished they would not run, but he’d killed them because all the wishes don’t come true.

  On the fourth floor he stopped. Three people were going away from the stairs. “Stop right there.”

  They didn’t and he fired at the leg of someone, who he was didn’t concern him. When he said ‘stop’, you would have to stop if you wanted to live.

  The bullet hit the person, and the others stopped and raised their hands. The guy fell on the ground, screaming. Blood splattered on the floor.

  “On your knees, if you don’t have a death wish.” Roach shouted.

  “Handcuff them,” Eight told the guards behind him.


  “No trick. You are grounded.”

  Chapter

  2

  It was midnight. How many drinks Coal had he didn’t remember. It’d been more than two months when his wife died in a car accident. The Chief had advised him to take rest. The leave was for two weeks, when it changed to two months he didn’t know.

  Coal saw the clock on the wall. It was one o’clock. He remembered coming to the pub at nine o’clock. He drank and thought continuously; he was doing it to lose in the world of thoughts where only pain mattered. Grief is a hard price for anything. He wished no harm to anyone. Not even to any animal that’s why he never preferred non-veg food. He’d even participated in the march against animal cruelty.

  Still, God chose him for suffering. For pain. Why?

  He took the last gulp of the drink and took his coat from the chair. The bartender looked at him and smiled. In the blurring image, his smile was a monster face that Coal wanted to punch until he died.

  His car was parked away from the pub. Apart from the drinking, he had to pay for the parking too. And it cost more than drinking.

  He walked to his car. He was drunk, and he didn’t care. Even if he got caught, the Chief would release him. He knew what Coal was passing through, and Coal took full advantage of that.

  Once inside the car, he closed his eyes and tears rolled down to his cheeks. He punched the steering wheel and wailed. He was in a devastating situation. Before walking into the pub, he had thought that tonight would be different. Drinking would help him to forget his wife. It was just opposite. Memories flushed more than when he was not drunk.

  He ignited the engine and drove away from this place that gave him painful moments.

  In half an hour he reached his house. He didn’t even remember if he drove the car himself or someone else. For so many nights he’d done that. Never got caught and never hit somebody. So he remembered while driving? No. It was in the morning when he found the car didn’t have any scratch.

  He locked the door and slumbered on the couch.

  In the morning the headache was very severe. He would have a headache every morning after having the drinks at night. He couldn’t control it. Didn’t want to control it. Let it be if it helped to forget these days in his life.