The other end of the line was silent for a moment before a voice, smooth yet with a curious mix of nasal tones, drifted through, "No. 13."


    The way his voice resonated, rich and mysterious, made it hard to pin down exactly how it sounded. But, oh, that rhythm he spoke with-it was downright captivating.


    Nathalie found herself momentarily caught up in that uniquely charming pause. There was something strangelyforting about it.


    That was until the officer next to her gave her a nudge, reminding her to speak up. Apparently, the guy she was talking to wasn''t one for chit-chat.


    Quickly, Nathalie said, "I''m here because I need your help. It''s a tough ask, so I''m giving you the chance to make three requests. I''ll do my best to meet them."


    "What you seek, I can assist with," No. 13 responded.


    Nathalie was taken aback. "Do you even know what I''m asking for?"


    Seemingly lost in his own thoughts, he continued, "I want Dawson International


    bankrupt, its former golden boy reduced to nothing."


    Nathalie almostughed out loud. This was truly a meeting of minds.


    "No problem."


    "And I want a lot of money."


    "Define ''a lot''."


    "When you''re livingrge at the top, I want your entire fortune."


    Nathalie was floored.


    What an enormous demand.


    Yet, for some reason, this boldness sparked something in Nathalie. Bringing Nathan back wouldn''t be a walk in the park. If he was asking for such a massive reward, maybe he really knew what he was doing.


    "Are you willing to let go of it?" he asked.


    "If you can truly bring Nathan back, I''d give you everything," Nathalie replied.


    There was a long pause before he spoke again, his voice rough, "Is he really that important to you?"


    "That''s not for you to worry about," Nathalie shot back.


    His tone turned a bit cheeky, "I''ll be waiting for your return."


    Nathalie wasn''t buying it, "You''re serving life, how can you help me?"


    "That''s why you need to earn money to clear my debts."


    Nathalie turned to Officer Ashburn, "How much did he take?"


    Officer Ashburn nced around and whispered, "He hacked into the Capital''s elite family ounts. He hasn''t paid back a dime. If you help him with the money, it''ll shave years off his sentence."  swnovel


    "How much are we talking?" Nathalie indulged her curiosity.


    "Over a hundred billion."


    Nathalie''s eyes widened.


    "I might never earn that much," she admitted.


    No. 13 seemed to mull it over,


    Offaps worried she''d bail, and t


    handle the rest." Content bobet


    "Just pay what you


    swnovel


    Nathalie breathed a sigh of relief.


    ????


    She had a score to settle with those families anyway, so this deal just sweetened


    the pot.


    "Deal," Nathalie said.


    Suddenly, No. 13 went quiet.


    But the line was still open.


    Curious, Nathalie asked, "Why''d you go silent?"


    "I''m worried you''ll keep me waiting too long."


    "Don''t worry," Nathalie assured him, "I''ll do my best."


    With that settled, Nathalie was about to hang up when Officer Ashburn


    took the phone, muffling the


    receiver, and whispered a reminder


    to her, "Don''t forget what I asked you


    to do."


    swnovel


    Recalling her promise, Nathalie picked up the receiver again, a bit awkwardly,


    "Mind if we chat a bit longer?"


    "Sure," came the raspy reply.


    "Just curious... how do you make money in prison?"