9:32 am

It's been quite a long vacation and Wyatt came back to work with, not the pile of stuff in his inbox as expected, but just two envelopes, one taped clumsily to the other. As an added bonus, there was his new editor, Jim Cooper, eager to speak with him. Before Wyatt could open his mouth to speak, to explain his long absence, his editor chimed in, cut him off, "Chaser, this is the biggest story since the Manhater."

Wyatt looked at him strangely, confused, distracted, "What is?"

Jim tapped his fingers anxiously, "What's in those envelopes." He grabbed them and literally shoved them into Wyatt's chest. "You're quite the computer geek, I heard. You'd love this story."

Wyatt fell backward a little, but managed to grab a nearby chair with one hand for support. His other hand pressing the envelopes to his chest, "Fuck, Jim." He straightened up and opened the bigger, manilla envelope. Inside, he discovered photographs, obviously from a security camera. "You almost crippled me for this?" Jim remain quiet, though the smirk on his face relayed his message loud and clear.

Wyatt opened the other envelope and quietly read the ransom-note-like letter inside, "This is what computer geeks do with their swords. Better pictures to follow. For a price." Wyatt looked at Jim again, "I don't get the joke, Jim. Why do we care if someone - even someone possibly into computers - goes into a building. I hate to break it to you, but it happens everyday. I'll bet it's happening right now, as we speak. And again, and again, and again .."

"Shut the fuck up, will you, your arrogant bastard?" Jim took a deep breath, "We had the lab boys blow this up. It's Nicholas McAllister, CEO of MSI, the one the media keeps calling - get this .."

"the Sword guy, or The Knight in Shining Armour .. fuck, this is huge." Wyatt let out a sigh, his conscience biting him. "I'll get right on it." Tucking the envelopes into his jacket pocket, he walks out, shoulders a little hunched.

Later that evening

Wyatt knew where to find him. Nicholas was the shy one in the Squirrel. He seemed like a nice enough guy, even bought him a couple of drinks before. Wyatt had never experienced the potential destructive power of his profession this close before. Sure, he'd gotten letters, but nothing like this. In the background, the music droned on -

Apologies
Are all you seem to get from me
But just like a child
You make me smile
When you care for me
And you know......

Wyatt tried to put a spin on it, to make it sound positive, but he knew it wasn't going to be possible. He told Nic it was a warning, but couldn't promise not to print the photographs, couldn't even lie to him about that. And the way Nic was reacting, this story was huge. The CEO of a major corporation, caught possibly cheating on his wife, or selling secrets to his competitors. It was beginning to sound more like the latter though. Nic was too distraught to lie, to scared to make up something. He had been faithful to his wife, never been with another woman. Maybe he was exaggerating, but it sounded so obvious that it wasn't that far from the truth.

It's a question of lust
It's a question of trust
It's a question of not letting
What we've built up
Crumble to dust
It is all of these things and more
That keep us together

Wyatt, perhaps for the first time in his career, had doubts. His need for redemption, the one he thought that the Manhater had fulfilled cried out for satisfaction. She had forgiven him, yes, but will Nic ever forgive him? Why did it matter to him now, all of a sudden? Why did he care that this man's life was about to crumble into nothingness, that he would lose everything. He could already imagine the ensuing lawsuits. The trust this man had given him was about to be smashed into nothingness .. was ...

And then the scent in the air, so unmistakeable. The gentle whisper, luring him away from his tablemate ...