Chapter 22 Redwire

• RedWire, as he was known online, crouched atop a fire escape three stories up. His real name? Lucas Reed. Sixteen, wiry, smart-mouthed, and always one step ahead of anyone trying to catch him online. But today wasn’t about code—it was about cameras. The high-end telephoto lens glinted in the moonlight as he zoomed in on the alley below.
• He adjusted his grip, the cracked vinyl of his gloves creaking. Below, Meadow Grove looked like any other gentrified downtown district. Gleaming storefronts. Neon cafés. Empty promises. But RedWire wasn’t here for the scenery. He was on assignment. A $2000 Venmo drop from a sketchy private number told him exactly where and when to be. All he had to do was photograph some rich girl pretending to be attacked. Easy money.
• He didn’t usually do field work. Blackmail databases, security footage alterations, dummy account creation—that was his realm. But his curiosity was piqued. The payment had come with a message: "Capture it. The blood. The drama. But don’t get involved."