10:50 am
FBI Headquarters
Nikki was at the whiteboard updating her information to add Echo’s location:
Alpha: unknown
Bravo: Atlanta, GA
Charlie: Jacksonville, FL
Delta: Montgomery, AL
Echo: Charleston, SC
Foxtrot: ???
Nikki also went to her keywords and updated as well:
Angry, Sociopath, Intelligent, Hacker, Random, Justice, Practical, Planning. Nikki uncapped her marker and added the following: Killer, Tortured, Noble, Ethical.
This grouping of keywords doesn’t show up together in any profile that she has ever seen. Clearly Nikki is not the only one having difficulty showing disdain for Simon since he has become somewhat of a social media sensation. More people think what he is doing is morally acceptable than are against it, what does that even say about our society. But Nikki can’t condemn them when she is feeling the exact same way. Simon’s notification went off shaking Nikki out of the trance she was in staring at the words. After a few deep breaths to calm herself and get back in the moment, Nikki opened the email and read:
“Nikki, I am at a crossroad. I am sure you read the last blog, that came out of nowhere but as I said in the post, I am happy that my message is getting out there. The responses have been going out of control since I posted it. You of all people know I have a code that I live by, I am a stone cold killer and I don’t allude to anything else, but I also only unleash that fury on those entirely deserving of it. Foxtrot needs to be punished, he is no different than any of the others. I can make sure the family is financially ok, but her words struck me in my core, to everything I am and have been working for. I took the name Simon because that was the name my wife and I had always dreamed we would name a son if we were to ever lucky enough have one. I took Simon’s name to bring justice in his name for not even being allowed to be born, to not even have a chance. When fox was begging for the life of her son…
You asked me how this was going to end, I honestly don’t know. I’m not a politician and am not going to live my mission by approval ratings or what anyone else thinks I should do, I just don’t know anymore what it is that I want. I had that burned out hole in my chest welded shut with vengeance and retribution, but you found a way to crack that hole open and all of the pain is coming back out again. I shouldn’t care what she said, I shouldn’t.
What do you think my butterfly?
Yours always
Simon”
“I am so in over my head right now” Nikki whispered. She stood up and slowly walked to the whiteboard and made the following changes: Angry, Sociopath?, Intelligent, Hacker, Random, Justice, Practical, Planning,Tortured, Noble, Ethical, Killer, Compassionate???
Later that night after Nikki was halfway through her second glass of wine and had been staring into the webcam trying to see the haunting grey eyes looking back at her for the last half hour, she hit reply:
“Simon, dear Simon, you are the definition of an enigma. I can honestly only imagine the kind of turmoil you go through all the time but at the same time, you continue to surprise me. Enigma. I know you are not truly asking for my advice because we both know that it is only you that can take the next step. Is forgiveness and grace a possibility for you? Special Agent Monique Sebastian is duty bound to find any way possible to require your forgiveness and grace. Nikki would by her fondest hope that you could, but your Butterfly knows that you can. Be that man.
Where did you come up with Butterfly, I like it.
Good night Simon.
Butterfly”