Techno Crazed (Hacked Investigations) Read Online Free PDF Page A

couldn’t keep going, and she didn’t think they should sit around for long. Surely Ian’s home was the safest place they could be. He was a security expert. Yet doubt wiggled in.
    Her gaze caught sight of a bench farther down the sidewalk. She led him toward it and eased her body down, but even that hurt. Closing her eyes, she tried not to hunch her shoulders. That wouldn’t be good for the stitches.
    “Are you okay? Is there anything I can do?” Ian asked, sitting next to her and rubbing his hand over her back.
    “Besides from the obvious?”
    He grinned. “I’ll take care of you. I promise.”
    She smiled despite the pain. “You’ve been doing that. Thanks.” Another wave of agony ripped through her, and she barely swallowed a scream. “I think I’m good to continue on. Or let me rephrase that. I need to see your elf again as soon as possible.”
    Ian gave her a blank stare. “Gnome. Please, don’t say that in front of him. Elves and gnomes are mortal enemies. Elves tend to kill gnomes for being too intrusive and interfering with their magic.”
    “Oh… okay. No, wait… are you saying—” Her mouth dropped open. Was she hearing that right? Elves were real too? God. What next?
    “Afraid so. Not that I’ve met any, but Bernard mumbles about them. I figure if he’s real then he’s not bullshitting me about the other stuff.” He shrugged. “Hopefully he’ll be polite this time. But I wouldn’t hold my breath.” He stood and helped her up, which was harder than she’d imagined.
    Whatever Bernard had done was starting to wear off. Had he given her freaking metaphysical Advil or what?
    Ian wrapped his arm under her shoulders to help support her as she hobbled along. Right now, she really wished she still had a car as opposed to a burnt lump of metal.
    Sighing, she looked up at Ian’s apartment building. She could so curl up in a ball in his bed and sleep for a few days.

CHAPTER FIVE
     
    Silence filled the apartment, except for the occasional sound of raking drifting in from the patio, where a small garden had been set up for the gnome. Wow, a time when Bernard didn’t make trouble.
    Ian locked the door behind them and resealed the ward. “We’re back. Hannah’s not doing too well. We had a couple people chase us.”
    A red, pointed hat poked around the corner from the garden, and Bernard trudged toward them. “Yes, I see. While you were gone, we had some visitors. People were sniffing around in the hallway and looking at the door. They’ll be coming back.” He cocked his head to the side and stared way up at them from knee-height. “Come on, pretty girl, lie down for me!”
    Hannah raised both of her eyebrows and shot a glare at Ian. She walked over to the couch reluctantly. “Fine.”
    “Don’t forget to take off those CLOTHES.” Bernard followed her, watching her ass.
    “I’m not taking off my clothes. Work around them.”
    “But…”
    “No, she doesn’t need to get naked, Bernard. Don’t be such a pervert.” Not that he’d mind seeing her undressed. Ian walked to his favorite armchair and slouched into it, supervising them. He wouldn’t leave Hannah vulnerable while Bernard worked his magic. He knew Bernard could be pretty pushy when it came to getting touchy-feely.
    “Hrummmpft!” Bernard ran his hands near the blood-oozing wound. “Seems like you busted a few stitches. Exertion must’ve caused it.” The way he drawled out exertion made it sound almost vulgar. “I can fix this.” He chanted under his breath and held his hands over the wound but stopped. Glancing over at Hannah’s face, he chuckled. “Although, what do I get for helping, eh? Does Bernie get a KISS?”
    Hannah’s eyes widened, and she pushed him away. “Hell, no!”
    Sighing, he shrugged his shoulders. “Doesn’t hurt to ask. Unless, of course, pain is your thing!” Then he picked up chanting for a few more minutes. “I need my bag now.”
    “Do I look like your nurse?” Ian sighed but